Guryong Village Residents Unable to Leave... Served With "Eviction Notice" Instead of Carnations

After the Fire, Guryong Village Faces Eviction Lawsuits
Nearly 20% of Residents Still Unable to Leave
Lease-to-Own Public Housing Demanded... SH: "No Legal Basis"

On the afternoon of May 6, Guryong Village in Gaepo-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. At the entrance to the village, where traces of the fire that struck this area in January this year have yet to fully disappear, banners displaying messages such as "Land First Sale" and "Recognition of Residency" fluttered. After a brief stay in temporary hotel accommodations, the displaced residents who lost their homes to the fire have returned here. What awaited them was a notice of eviction lawsuit sent by Seoul Housing & Communities Corporation (SH).

A resident of Guryong Village in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, who lost their home due to a fire in January this year, is living in a temporary shelter made of a tent. Photo by JaeHyun Park

According to SH on May 8, 178 out of 1,107 households remain in Guryong Village. Nearly 20% of residents have still not left. SH filed eviction lawsuits against these households who have not relocated as of March. An SH representative stated, "Eviction lawsuits are part of the standard compensation procedure during redevelopment," adding, "There is a voluntary relocation period until mid-June, and for households that do not move out, compulsory execution may be carried out."

Guryong Village is a densely populated area of unauthorized housing that began forming in the late 1980s. It is regarded as one of Seoul’s most well-known shantytowns. After passing a maintenance plan in 2011, Seoul Metropolitan Government designated the area as an urban development zone in 2012 and pushed for redevelopment; however, conflicts emerged between local authorities, residents, and landowners over compensation plans.

Recently, with SH taking the lead, a plan to create a residential complex comprising 3,739 units has been finalized, putting the area at a crossroads of change. The complex will include 1,107 integrated public rental units for existing residents to resettle, 941 units for sale, and 1,691 long-term lease units for newlyweds. The city of Seoul is pursuing the project with the aim of breaking ground next year.

On the afternoon of the 6th, a steel watchtower with a banner was erected at the entrance of Guryong Village, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jaehyun Park

Since 2017, SH has supported temporary relocation for Guryong Village residents, but many residents are not receptive. When the project is completed, the final eligibility for move-in will be determined based on income and asset criteria, with rents differentiated accordingly. Residents are concerned that future deposits and rents, set in line with income levels and the prices of nearby apartments, will be unaffordable. Kangil Lee, chairperson of the Guryong Land Residents' Association, said, "Even if we accept temporary relocation support and leave, the real problem comes after completion. If eligibility is assessed at that point, the security deposit and rent will become prohibitively high according to market prices and income brackets, ultimately forcing us to leave."

A significant number of Guryong Village residents are seniors in their 60s or older. Since retiring, they have made a living through simple manual labor, such as collecting recyclable waste. Yang, a 68-year-old resident, said, "I pick up cigarette butts and clean public baths, but no one wants to hire someone like me, so even if I find a senior job, all I get is 300,000 won. With that much, even if I move into public housing, I’ll end up on the street due to the high rent," he sighed.

The situation is even harsher for residents whose homes were destroyed by the fire. They live communally in tents next to their former home sites, assigning duties and establishing rules. Choi, who has lived in Guryong Village for nearly 40 years, said, "I can’t even tell my daughter that I live in a tent because she would worry. My property has all burned down, and now I’m being told to leave empty-handed. If I don’t at least receive a right to purchase, people like me with no money to pay rent are essentially being kicked out." Cho, age 78, added, "Even the wedding gifts I prepared for my son have turned to ashes. For now, it’s bearable, but once summer comes with rain and heat, I’m not sure I’ll be able to endure."

An area near the former homes where residents of Guryong Village in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, have been living together in a tent since a fire in January. Photo by Jaehyun Park

Some residents are demanding lease-to-own public housing units, but there is no clear legal basis for this. Many are unauthorized residents without land ownership, which excludes them from eligibility for housing supply under the Land Compensation Act. SH is firmly refusing the residents’ demands on these grounds. Establishing a regional housing cooperative is also effectively impossible, as urban development law requires a completed land use plan.

Experts point out that policy improvements are needed to resolve the residential rights issue that has persisted for over 40 years. Hwangsoo Choi, adjunct professor in real estate at Konkuk University, said, "After completion, rents must be adjusted to a level residents can afford, or assistance should be provided to help them move to other rental housing in areas where rents are relatively lower. However, SH and the local government need to carefully consider fairness issues."

Meanwhile, in observance of Parents' Day, a small party for seniors is being held in Guryong Village. Hyunggon Kim, the Democratic Party candidate for Gangnam-gu mayor, and Hyunki Kim, the People Power Party candidate for Gangnam-gu mayor, visited the village to hear residents' opinions. Cho, age 78, shook his head and said, "Politicians only show up around election time, but nothing ever changes."

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