After Han Dong-hoon Left... Dal-dongnae Residents Say "They Should Know the Struggles of Ordinary People Before Leaving"

Handonghun Volunteers Distributing Briquettes in Baeksamaeul
About 100 Remaining Residents in Baeksamaeul Live in Harsh Conditions
"Thankful for Donations but... Don't Trust Politicians"

The sun was shining, but the air was still cold. Around 3 p.m. on the 8th, Mr. Kim (73, male), whose hair was graying, came out barefoot and wearing slippers into an open space in Baeksamaeul, 104 Junggye-dong, Seoul. Although five cars were parked there, suggesting people might be around, Baeksamaeul was completely silent. Mr. Kim, seemingly with difficulty in his legs, took small hurried steps with a stride less than half a foot. As he walked, whenever he thought he heard some noise, he would turn his head and then refocus on walking. Seeing a man over 70 slowly walking through the wide open space in such a profound silence that not even white noise could be heard felt as if time had stopped.

On the afternoon of the 8th, Ms. Jo (63, female) introduced the structure of Baeksa Village, including the open space where the People Power Party leadership volunteered to distribute briquettes. / Photo by Gong Byung-seon mydillon@

Just three hours before Mr. Kim’s walk, Baeksamaeul had been bustling. Han Dong-hoon, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman, along with the leadership of the People Power Party, visited Baeksamaeul to volunteer in delivering briquettes. Chairman Han personally pulled a cart and delivered briquettes to each house for over an hour starting at 10:30 a.m. He also promised to donate about 60 to 70 million won annually for briquette donations. After finishing the delivery, People Power Party officials expressed their determination to win the upcoming April general election and encouraged each other.

"So, politicians came again?" Mr. Kim waved his hand dismissively when asked if he knew about Chairman Han’s visit. While he appreciated the visits and briquette donations, he raised his voice questioning whether politicians could truly care about Baeksamaeul with the war-like general election just around the corner. He also said he had lived in Baeksamaeul for over 40 years and began reciting the history of politicians who had visited. "At first, it was former President Roh Tae-woo, right? He came and promised redevelopment, but nothing was accomplished. Later, presidents and Seoul mayors took turns promising various benefits, but again, nothing happened. Now, I don’t have much hope anymore."

People Power Party Emergency Response Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon is volunteering at the 'Warm Korea Together National Companionship' love briquette sharing event held on the morning of the 8th in Baeksamaeul, Nowon-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Baeksamaeul is Seoul’s last shantytown, created in 1967 when people living in shantytowns in Yongsan, Cheonggyecheon, and Anam-dong were forcibly relocated. The name Baeksamaeul was hastily taken from '104 Junggye-dong.' The talk of redevelopment in Baeksamaeul has been ongoing for over 40 years. The redevelopment project seemed to gain momentum when it was designated as a housing redevelopment zone in 2009. However, in 2016, Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH) gave up its qualification to implement the project, citing low profitability, and former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon shifted the project’s direction from redevelopment to preserving the area’s original form, causing redevelopment to face continuous difficulties.

During this long period when redevelopment projects could not even break ground, internal conflicts grew. On the day Chairman Han was delivering briquettes, two elderly men appeared before him and shared two major grievances. The first was a request to ease regulations to allow higher-rise apartments and larger complexes. The second was a claim that the Residents’ Representative Committee, which holds representative rights for homeowners, was mismanaging operations. While the two men spoke, others shouted from elsewhere, "More than 95% of homeowners support this project, but the opposition is making these claims. Chairman Han, you must verify the facts." Chairman Han replied, "I will understand the situation in a balanced way."

"Redevelopment? I think it will only start after I die," Mr. Kim scoffed when seeing people fighting over redevelopment. He warned that if redevelopment proceeds without considering the residents, it would be delayed again and again.

The village residents said that out of about 1,100 households, only around 100 currently live there. Most have moved elsewhere in anticipation of redevelopment management and disposition approval. Those remaining have no means to move and thus stay in Baeksamaeul. Many are elderly, in poor health, and lack financial resources. Mr. Kim himself, being old with no income and no support from children, plans to stay in Baeksamaeul as long as possible. "Even if I move into a rental house, I’d have to pay a deposit, monthly rent, and heating bills. The expenses would be much higher than now." Above all, he feared that those living in unauthorized buildings might physically resist demolition work.

There are holes in the slate roof of Ms. Jomo's (63, female) house due to heavy snowfall. Some of the holes have been temporarily covered with electrical tape.
Photo by Gong Byung-sun mydillon@

"Oh, politicians came today?" Ms. Jo (63, female), who was cleaning the floor after organizing briquettes, did not know if politicians had come that day or who they were. When asked what she would want to say if she met Chairman Han, she simply said she wanted to fix the holes in her roof because of the heavy snow. Looking at the ceiling, there were several small holes, some temporarily covered with electrical tape. The ceiling was not the only problem. In summer, water overflows inside the house and insects keep her awake. In winter, cold wind blows through the door gaps, making it miserable.

"The holes in the ceiling are a problem, but the biggest hole is the mouth," said Ms. Jo’s husband, who turned 70 this year and left for Paju, Gyeonggi Province early in the morning. Despite his age, he works daily wages at construction sites. It takes nearly an hour by car from Baeksamaeul to Paju. "We can’t starve, so my husband goes far to work. Politicians must understand the hardships of ordinary people like us."

After the politicians left, Ms. Jo cautiously went out to shop and looked around the empty Baeksamaeul open space. Just as the reporter was about to say goodbye and leave, someone shouted, "Young man! Young man!" Turning around, Ms. Jo was holding paper and a pen. "Since politicians came today, I have to tell my husband. That politician’s name was Han... something?"

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