"‘Die if it rains’... Shocking semi-basement house right below the sewer"

A basement studio room in a multi-family house located in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, has sparked controversy after it was revealed to be situated beneath a storm drain grate. This has raised safety concerns amid recent nationwide heavy rains exceeding 100mm per hour.

A view of a semi-basement studio apartment in Gwanak-gu, Seoul. The kitchen is located below the external rainwater drain.
[Photo by YouTube channel 'Jipgongryak']

원본보기 아이콘

Recently, a real estate YouTube channel called 'Jip Gongryak' uploaded a video titled "A realistically affordable home for a dirt spoon attached to Seoul National University." The video featured studio rooms, semi-basements, and multi-family houses in the Gwanak-gu area where Seoul National University students and young professionals could live.

The issue centered on a room with a deposit of 3 million won and a monthly rent of 420,000 won. Before entering the building, the real estate agent showed the exterior first. There was a green rainwater grate, which is usually installed on eaves. When the producer asked, "Isn't this just a sewer?" the agent replied, "It is a sewer, but it's covered, so..." trailing off.

Part of the rainwater grate was covered with a wire mesh, apparently to minimize insect intrusion. The mesh had cup-shaped holes for smooth drainage, and when the camera was placed close to these holes, a metal cover typically used for sewers was visible, and beneath it was the studio room's kitchen.

A view of a semi-basement studio room in Gwanak-gu, Seoul. The kitchen is located below the external rainwater drain.
[Photo by YouTube 'Jipgongryak']

원본보기 아이콘

The interior of the house was even more appalling. Mold resembling down feathers was observed from the front door, and the bathroom and kitchen had no windows, causing voices to echo. Despite being a semi-basement where humidity control is crucial, no air conditioner was installed. The most shocking fact was that the kitchen ceiling was directly connected to the building's sewer rainwater grate. The surprised producer asked, "Is this where ventilation is supposed to happen?" The agent awkwardly responded, "This is the only opening in the house. It might not be the best place for the dreams and hopes of our country to live."

The video resurfaced recently amid growing concerns about semi-basement flooding. Netizens reacted with comments such as, "Did they build it like this just to drown when it rains?" "The house structure looks like it would be full of mold," "You wouldn't be able to ventilate on rainy days," "So many bugs would come in," and "Whoever approved such a place should be revealed."

Meanwhile, in August 2022, a family of three died in a flooding accident in a semi-basement villa in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul. Since then, the government and Seoul city have implemented measures such as installing flood barriers in vulnerable areas. However, as of June last month, only about 30% of the approximately 20,000 semi-basement houses in Seoul at high risk of flooding have had flood prevention facilities installed. Although the Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH Corporation) is actively purchasing semi-basement houses, criticism is growing that these efforts are insufficient to address the root causes.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.