Oh Se-hoon "Eliminate Semi-basements" vs Won Hee-ryong "Where to Go If Eliminated"

On the evening of the 8th, around 9:07 PM, three family members were trapped in a semi-basement apartment of a villa near Gwanak-gu, Seoul, due to flooding caused by heavy rain, and despite reporting the incident, they ultimately died. According to residents, a sinkhole formed right in front of the villa where the accident occurred, causing water to flow rapidly inside, isolating the family and preventing their rescue. The photo shows the accident scene.

Amid the recent heavy rains in the central region that have once again highlighted underground and semi-underground housing as a key issue in housing policy, the differing approaches of Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul, have drawn attention to the future direction of the policy.

The first to announce measures was the Seoul Metropolitan Government. On the 10th, Seoul decided to consult with the government to amend the Building Act to prohibit the use of underground and semi-underground spaces for residential purposes. Regardless of whether the area is prone to flooding, regulations will be strengthened to prevent people from living in basement floors.

Mayor Oh Se-hoon inspecting the landslide site

Additionally, Seoul plans to implement a "sunset policy" for semi-underground housing. This system will grant a grace period of 10 to 20 years for existing permitted underground and semi-underground buildings, gradually phasing them out. After current tenants move out, the buildings will be encouraged to convert to non-residential uses. Measures such as supporting remodeling for conversion to neighborhood living facilities, warehouses, parking lots, and other non-residential purposes are also being considered.

The city also announced plans to provide opportunities for current semi-underground tenants to move into public rental housing or to use "housing vouchers" that partially support monthly rent for low-income households as alternative housing solutions.

Mayor Oh Se-hoon emphasized, "Underground and semi-underground housing is a backward housing type that threatens vulnerable residents in all aspects, including safety and living environment," adding, "It must disappear now."

In contrast, Minister Won Hee-ryong expressed the need to slow down the "semi-underground housing measures," asking, "If semi-underground housing is eliminated, where will those people go?"

On the 12th, Minister Won posted on his Facebook, stating, "Semi-underground spaces are also places where people live."

He pointed out, "Many elderly, patients, and people with disabilities who find it difficult to travel long distances actually live there," and added, "It is not easy for them to maintain their current lifestyle and find housing that is this affordable."

Minister Won Hee-ryong Visits Flood Damage Site in Sangdo-dong

He said, "I also know well what it means to live in semi-underground housing, having moved through several such places after coming to Seoul over 30 years ago," and added, "We cannot repeat the past where many people had no choice but to move to semi-underground housing due to the elimination of hillside and moon village neighborhoods."

Minister Won emphasized, "The most important thing now is to ensure the safety of semi-underground residents and improve their living environment with realistic measures," and said, "While providing immediate support for repairs and renovations, since the living conditions vary between homeowners, jeonse (long-term deposit lease), and monthly renters, effective measures that allow landlords and the private sector to work together with the government must be prepared."

He declared, "Fundamentally, policies should be developed to increase the availability of various types of housing in the market that those wishing to relocate can afford," and added, "All policies will start from respecting the residents' lives as they are."

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is also preparing measures for semi-underground housing and is actively considering including these housing welfare policies, such as the "semi-underground housing measures," in the "2.5 million+α (alpha)" housing supply plan to be announced on the 16th.

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