Jongno-gu launches its first emergency housing remodeling project
SH-owned property sat unused for 6 years after acquisition
University students volunteer through completion, set for early Sept.
Four units available rent-free for up to one year
Climbing a narrow, steep alley in Changsin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Wednesday afternoon, a single-family house at the end of the lane came into view — its gate freshly coated in bright yellow-green paint by university student volunteers. The once-gloomy gray structure seemed to come alive with that single splash of color. Inside, more student volunteers were laying flooring and applying finishing materials, their T-shirts soaked through in temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, yet every face wore a smile.
The 158-square-meter house — with one below-ground floor and two above-ground floors — had stood empty for more than a decade. Built in 1974, it was abandoned after its residents left for reasons that remain unclear. The Seoul Housing & Communities Corporation (SH) purchased the property in 2020 but left it unused for six years while deliberating over how to put it to use.
Last year, Jongno-gu proposed to SH that the house be converted into emergency housing for residents who suddenly find themselves without a home due to fires, flooding, evictions or other crises — and the remodeling project was born. The house is the district's first emergency support housing unit.
A standout feature of the project is the involvement of a 16-member student volunteer group made up of architecture students from universities across Seoul. Since last month, they have been designing the renovation together and carrying out the physical remodeling work through to completion.
Kang Min-gu, 26, a student at Hongik University, said the scale of the neglect was initially daunting. "At first, I couldn't even imagine how to transform this place — it had been abandoned for years," he said. "But watching it change, piece by piece, has been really rewarding. At school we only learn theory, so actually placing a bookshelf I built myself in a real space has been a lot of fun."
Jongno-gu is funding the renovation with a total budget of 25 million won ($18,100), drawn from the Jongno Residential Welfare Center and private donations. Once complete, the building will accommodate four households — two on the first floor and two on the second. Residents may stay for six months, with an extension of up to another six months available through consultation. Use of the units is free of charge; tenants cover only their own utility bills. The district aims to wrap up construction by Sept. 6 and hold a completion ceremony in mid-September.
Jongno-gu District Mayor Yoo Chan-jong visited the remodeling site the same day, joining the student volunteers to paint the gate and assist with finishing work.
"It is a meaningful project in that a vacant house within the district is being transformed into a sturdy shelter for neighbors in crisis," Yoo said. "We will continue to create more emergency housing units and build a residential safety net where vulnerable residents can feel secure."
ikson@heraldcorp.com
