On-Site Report 1. Abandoned Houses Standing Openly Within Suwon Special City

[News S=Kim Chung-young] The problem of neglected vacant and abandoned houses is occurring throughout the country, affecting both rural and urban areas alike. Many local governments are devising various solutions to address this troublesome issue. Suwon Special City is no exception. Scattered vacant and abandoned houses have become eyesores, severely damaging the city's landscape. Suwon, in particular, is home to Hwaseong, an outstanding historical site designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it urgent to develop countermeasures. To this end, this newspaper will conduct on-site reports to examine the current situation and review how local governments nationwide are handling vacant and abandoned houses and implementing solutions. (Editor's note)

Jung Jae-jin (80) and Park Jin-soon (75), a married couple living in Haenggung-dong, Paldal-gu, Suwon (address: Maehyang-dong 16-9), are troubled by a collapsed house and vacant properties near their home. The alley where Mr. Jung lives is a neighborhood village with 13 houses centered around a naturally formed 2-meter-wide road from the 1960s and 1970s. Because of this, the residents treated each other like family, sharing major and minor life events as neighbors in this dead-end alley.

However, starting in the 2000s, the neighborhood village began to deteriorate. The problem began when Hwaseong was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, prompting Suwon City to halt building permits around Hwaseong until a redevelopment plan could be established, citing the need to prevent disorderly construction. This measure led residents to believe that reconstruction and renovation were not possible within the Hwaseong area.

Unable to repair their homes further, house owners found it difficult to attract tenants for the deteriorated properties. As living in these run-down houses became increasingly uncomfortable, homeowners moved to their children's homes in the city, resulting in more and more vacant houses. Over time, empty houses began collapsing one after another. Eventually, six vacant houses were created, and four of them have collapsed over the years.

Moreover, due to a heinous incident that occurred in Suwon years ago, residents were even frightened when returning home late at night. When spring arrives, vine plant branches become completely tangled through the collapsed roofs, transforming into a massive forest by summer. Furthermore, as night falls, the ruins become a haven for wild birds, cats, and insects of all kinds, creating noise and foul odors that persist, turning the area into complete ruins.

Mr. Jung has lived in this house since 1961—63 years now. Starting from the mid-1980s, he served as the neighborhood chief for over 20 years, while his wife Park has served as chief for about 10 years following her husband. While serving as chief, Mr. Jung has continuously proposed the issue of abandoned house removal to administrative agencies whenever opportunities arose, but for over 20 years, the only response he has received is that nothing can be done about it.

The road here formed naturally, resulting in a width of just 2 meters with a length of 70 meters as a single dead-end alley. Because of this, even when trying to bring in materials to repair houses, no work can be done due to the narrow passage through which barely two adults can squeeze, let alone pass an automobile. Moreover, even demolishing the collapsed house remains a dream, as heavy equipment like excavators or trucks cannot enter.

There is another place suffering damage from this abandoned house alley. Only 10 meters away from here stands Samilgong Industrial High School (Principal Kim Dong-su). As a result, the collapsed abandoned house located right in front of the classroom emits foul odors in summer and becomes a haven for pests and cats, not only ruining the school surroundings but also severely damaging students' study atmosphere, according to school officials.

Principal Kim Dong-su stated, “Students' emotional stability and educational rights are being violated, making urgent countermeasures necessary,” and added, "Educational environment and students' rights to learn must be protected as a top priority under any circumstance." He continued, "As a school adjacent to the world-renowned cultural heritage site Hwaseong, I hope the administration will urgently demolish the abandoned houses and construct new roads so that students, residents, and visitors can all feel safe and secure."