[Exclusive] Pohang City Initiates Forced Acquisition Procedure for 'Earthquake Collapse' Heunghae Apartments... Some Owners Oppose

Construction of Disaster Relief Center After Apartment Demolition in Yakseong-ri, Heungha-eup
Compensation Disputes for 6 out of 90 Households... Project Stalled
Gyeongbuk Land Expropriation Committee Receives Reconsideration Request... Demolition P

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] Pohang City has entered compulsory acquisition procedures against some owners who are in compensation disputes, as it is promoting the construction of a multipurpose disaster relief center in an apartment complex that was declared 'destroyed' after the building framework was twisted by the 2017 earthquake.

According to Pohang City on the 29th, a disaster relief center that can be used as a sports facility during normal times is planned to be built on three plots totaling 3,830㎡, including two buildings of the Gyeongrim New Somang Town apartments in Yakseong-ri, Heunghae-eup, which suffered the greatest damage from the magnitude 5.4 earthquake on November 15, 2017.

There were a total of 90 households living in the two apartment buildings, but all residents were evacuated due to cracks that nearly led to the buildings' collapse.

The problem is that the project has been stalled for almost a year and a half since the disaster relief center construction was decided in November 2018, as compensation negotiations with some owners have not progressed. Among the 90 individual households in the apartments, six households are in conflict with Pohang City over compensation prices.

In this regard, Pohang City was confirmed to have submitted a request for a decision to the Gyeongbuk Provincial Land Expropriation Committee on the 27th after receiving a 'project recognition' notice from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for the site on the 19th. If the Gyeongbuk Land Expropriation Committee accepts this, the usual procedure follows about one month later, including collecting opinions from the owners, reappraising the property, and forcibly transferring ownership.

A Pohang City official emphasized, "The apartments are somewhat far from the city center and have been left as eyesores, turning into a high-crime area with stray cats swarming and homeless people coming and going," adding, "Demolition is urgent before construction begins."

Meanwhile, the apartment owners in conflict with Pohang City are complaining of double damage, as the compensation amount is far below the purchase price and they are not recognized as actual residents, thus excluded from relocation settlement support (6 to 12 million KRW per household).