Development of Dongja-dong Gosiwon Area Stagnant for 15 Months... "Afraid We Might Be Evicted Like This"

Ministry of Land's Public Development Announcement in February Last Year
Anxiety Over Delay in Public Housing District Designation
Encouraging Residents to Join Resolution Rally on 11th
Ministry of Land: "Delay Due to Private Land Negotiation Process"

On the 10th, residents of the jjokbang village located in Dongja-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, are distributing flyers to promote a rally urging the public housing project.
Photo by Oh Gyumin moh011@

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] "A press conference at Samgak Station? Since it's for a good cause, I should go."

Near the shantytown located in Dongja-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, around 4 p.m. on the 10th. Residents of the shantytown, including Baek Gwangheon (63) and Kim Youngguk (64), were encouraging other residents to participate in the upcoming "Public Housing District Designation Urging" press conference scheduled for the next day. They handed out flyers while passing through alleys less than 2 meters wide and climbing steep stairs. They saw a building with white paint peeling off the walls, looking as if water might leak through. Looking at the building, Baek said, "This is still decent," but sighed, saying, "If places like this don’t exist, people like us have nowhere to go and will all die."

In February last year, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced the "Public Housing and Urban Regeneration Project for Improving the Residential Environment of the Seoul Station Shantytown." The plan includes building 2,410 housing units in the area, including 1,250 public housing units to allow existing residents to resettle. Through the urban regeneration project, welfare facilities supporting shantytown residents such as self-sufficiency and counseling centers, as well as public sports facilities and other convenience facilities for residents, will also be installed.

However, even after 15 months, the designation of the public housing district has been delayed, and no groundbreaking has taken place. Residents are anxious, saying, "At this rate, won’t we be driven out by private-led development?"

Baek said, "In winter, water pipes freezing is a given, and even if you live in a shanty in the middle of the building during summer, you have to endure the heat without windows," adding, "Rent for such a place is 240,000 won." He continued, "About 800 residents live here," and said, "The government promised to provide some public housing to us, but if private development happens, it’s certain we will be driven out like other shantytowns."

There are also building owners who support the public housing project. Mr. A (67) said, "Due to the speculation scandal involving Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) employees, it is difficult for public-led housing projects to gain public support," but added, "(If the public housing project proceeds) land prices will rise, and dilapidated buildings will be newly constructed, allowing coexistence with shantytown residents."

As the Ministry of Land’s promised "public housing district designation within 2021" has been delayed, shantytown residents have been conducting activities urging the public housing project. The "2022 Homeless Housing Team," composed of 15 organizations including Homeless Action, held a press conference on the 19th of last month in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, where the Presidential Transition Committee is located, stating, "Residents are deeply worried that the project might be derailed because the People Power Party, which produced President Yoon Seok-yeol, has a history of opposing the public housing project alongside some property owners." In response, the transition committee reportedly replied that they would "reflect the residents’ opinions."

Related organizations will hold a "Resident Resolution Rally Urging the Designation of the Dongja-dong Shantytown Early Relocation and Virtuous Cycle Public Housing District" at 2 p.m. on the 11th in front of Exit 13 of Samgak Station, Yongsan-gu, stating, "If President Yoon wants to work in Yongsan, he must first understand the issues in Yongsan, and the new government must promptly promote the public housing project."

A Ministry of Land official said, "The primary goal of the Dongja-dong shantytown development project is clearly the stable residence of shantytown residents," adding, "Since the area is privately owned land, negotiations with landowners are delayed, but if negotiations go well, shantytown residents will be able to live stably."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.