'2026 South Gyeongsang Province Aging City Future Housing Regeneration Forum' held

Deterioration concentrated in Changwon, Jinju and Gimhae; vacant buildings eyed for community use

South Gyeongsang Provincial Government headquarters [South Gyeongsang Province]
South Gyeongsang Provincial Government headquarters [South Gyeongsang Province]

South Gyeongsang Province has launched a push to develop policy solutions addressing the deterioration of low-rise residential neighborhoods in regional cities and to build a sustainable future housing model.

The province held the "2026 South Gyeongsang Province Aging City Future Housing Regeneration Forum" Monday afternoon at the Korea Land and Geospatial Informatix Corp.'s South Gyeongsang regional headquarters in Changwon. About 100 people attended, including provincial and municipal civil servants, representatives from related agencies and urban regeneration officials.

As of 2025, the deterioration rate of low-rise residential areas in South Gyeongsang Province stands at 74.98 percent, above the national average. The problem is particularly acute in major population centers such as Changwon, Jinju and Gimhae, where aging housing is heavily concentrated.

The forum focused on a proposed "South Gyeongsang-style new urban regeneration model" aimed at improving living conditions in single-family housing districts within planned cities such as Changwon. The core idea is to repurpose vacant buildings within residential areas to provide residents with shared facilities and amenities comparable to those found in apartment complexes.

The province plans to formally petition the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to revise the relevant system based on the new residential regeneration model developed at the forum. Because the current government urban regeneration framework does not include such a category, the province intends to pursue its adoption into national policy, including through the ministry's research project selection process.

"Improving aging low-rise residential areas goes beyond simple housing upgrades — it is a core task for enhancing living conditions and restoring vitality to our communities," said Park Il-ung, administrative vice governor of South Gyeongsang Province. "We will create a sustainable residential environment through tailored urban regeneration policies that reflect the region's characteristics and the needs of its residents."


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