As the summer monsoon approaches... Only 8% of Seoul's 'basement flood-risk' residents relocate

As the summer monsoon season approaches, it has been revealed that only about 8% of semi-basement households in Seoul, which are highly vulnerable to flooding damage, have relocated to above-ground residences. In response to criticism that flood prevention measures have been insufficient, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to increase the number of purchased rental housing units and continue encouraging semi-basement residents to relocate.

Last August, items flooded by heavy rain were scattered in front of the semi-basement window in the Sillim-dong area of Gwanak-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 12th, Seoul held a brief briefing session at Seoul City Hall and announced this information along with the flood and typhoon countermeasures for this year.

After suffering significant damage from heavy rain in August last year, the city conducted a full survey of all 238,000 semi-basement homes in the city, dividing them into four stages to identify flood-vulnerable households. Measures such as installing flood prevention facilities, moving residents into public rental housing, and providing specific vouchers for semi-basement residents were implemented. Stage 1 included 370 households with severe disabilities, Stage 2 included 695 households with children and elderly residents, Stage 3 included 27,000 households at risk of flooding, and Stage 4 included the remaining 210,000 households with almost no flood risk.

As of the 5th of this month, flood prevention facilities such as water barriers have been installed in 74 out of 204 Stage 1 households (36%), 147 out of 437 Stage 2 households (34%), and 6,089 out of 19,700 Stage 3 households (31%).

Kwon Wantak, Director of the Water Circulation Safety Bureau of Seoul City, is explaining the '2023 Seoul City Flood and Wind Damage Countermeasure Implementation' at the Seoul City Hall briefing room on the 12th. Photo by Kang Jinhyung aymsdream@

Regarding relocation, a total of 2,250 households had completed moving by the end of last month. Among them, 1,280 households moved into public rental housing using support programs such as interest-free loans for deposits and cash payments up to 400,000 KRW for moving and daily necessities. For those relocating from semi-basements to private housing above ground, a voucher program providing 200,000 KRW per month for up to two years was implemented, benefiting 970 households with a total expenditure of 248 million KRW. However, the relocation rate remains about 8% of the 28,000 semi-basement households vulnerable to flooding. When calculated based on the total 238,000 semi-basement households, it is less than 1%.

As of the 5th of this month, the number of flood-risk semi-basement homes purchased by the city through the Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH Corporation) stands at 98, which is only 2.8% of this year’s target of 3,450 units. Contracts for 597 units are currently underway. To accelerate relocation from semi-basements, the city plans to actively secure public rental housing through purchases by SH Corporation and the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH Corporation). A Seoul city official explained, "Starting this year, private rental housing can be utilized, and with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s related guidelines expanding the supply regulation for purchased rental housing from 15% to 30%, additional quantities can be secured."

The city also plans to propose to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to revise standards that prevent the purchase of illegal semi-basement buildings and improve the application and review procedures for purchases. Currently, the purchase standard requires buying more than half of one building; this will be relaxed to allow purchase of a single semi-basement unit or a 1:1 ratio (semi-basement to above-ground unit). Discussions are also underway with the ministry to raise or remove the purchase price cap for semi-basements, which currently ranges from 350 million to 450 million KRW.

Han Byung-yong, Director of the Seoul Housing Policy Office, stated, "About 150,000 semi-basement units will be eliminated over the next 10 years until 2032 through redevelopment zones, redevelopment projects, general construction, purchases, and environmental improvements. It is not easy to eliminate all 230,000 units at once, so we are proceeding with a phased plan."

Regarding the expansion of flood prevention facility installations, the city plans to collaborate with local community centers to actively persuade residents, as there have been difficulties obtaining consent due to opposition from owners worried about stigmatization of flood-affected areas and resulting property value declines. The total of 55 rainwater inlets will have their cleaning frequency increased from twice a year to at least three times a year, and special patrol teams by district and a 24-hour citizen reporting system will be operated.

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