This file photo taken on Aug. 12, 2022, shows a “banjiha” house in southern Seoul after torrential downpours hit the capital city of Seoul last week. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Korea Bizwire) — Following the announcement that semi-basement apartments, better known as “banjiha” in South Korea, vulnerable to heavy showers would gradually be phased out, the Seoul Metropolitan Government also introduced migration plans for residents currently living in banjiha houses.
The city announced Monday that it will incorporate as many policy options as possible to help residents move out of semi-basement rental housing without having to pay more.
The city will first conduct a study to locate all 200,000 semi-underground homes and measure the risk of submersion, the social status of residents and the number of renters and owners to come up with a comprehensive roadmap for supporting migration to another home.
In addition, the redevelopment of 258 aging rental housing complexes, or 118,000 homes, will result in the supply of more than 230,000 new homes by 2042, the city said.
The city will also consider prioritizing areas with a heavy concentration of semi-basement homes for the selection of redevelopment and renovation projects.
The city plans to provide housing subsidies to residents of semi-basement homes. By creating a ‘special voucher’ for migrating semi-basement home residents, the city will provide monthly support of 200,000 won for up to two years.
The city plans to coordinate with the central government to expand the eligibility and increase the amount of housing subsidies for low-income households making less than 46 percent of the median income.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
