• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.27-36
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• 2024

Many houses have been left vacant in cities worldwide due to changes in the economy, society, and urban composition. The increase in vacant houses causes social problems and decrease in the value of real estate. Considering the cost of preparing a new residence because the existing residence no longer functions, it is an important problem to solve empty houses in the existing residence. Accordingly, policy attempts and studies to reduce and utilize vacant houses are in progress in various countries. In South Korea, the ratio of vacant houses was 6.4% of all houses as of 2021, and in Jeolla-buk-do, it was 11.6%, which is higher than the national average. Jeollabuk-do conducted a fact-finding survey on countermeasures against vacant houses; 17,732 vacant houses (2.4%) were surveyed. The urbanization, population, and terrain of Jeollabuk-do, consisting of 14 cities and counties, were considered. The ratios, types, grades, and spatial autocorrelations of vacant houses were analyzed after classification into city areas (focus, small, and medium) and county areas (plains and mountains) areas to derive policies according to the distribution of vacant houses. The average difference in ratio, type, grade, and spatial autocorrelation of vacant houses was used to analyze the characteristics of the distribution of vacant houses according to these classifications. There were significant differences in the averages of the ratios, grades, and spatial autocorrelations between city and county areas. The autocorrelation of vacant house distribution exhibited differences between urban and county areas.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to examine the policy direction and execution plans of the Japanese central and local governments for the use of vacant houses after the enactment of the "Special Act on Vacant Houses." It also seeks to provide suggestions for establishing vacant house policies in Korea by identifying the characteristics of the Japanese policies, and to suggest policy alternatives that can contribute to environmental improvement and regional revitalization through the use of vacant houses. For this purpose, we examined Japan's "Special Act on Vacant Houses," the process of establishing vacant house policies in the Japanese central and local governments, and the contents and direction of these policies. Below are the results of this study. First, the Japanese government revised mid to long-term policies related to housing after the enactment of the "Special Act on Vacant Houses", thereby providing ground for local governments to establish vacant house policies. Second, the government actively supported the operation and funding of related associations so that the private sector rather than the public sector could address vacant house problems. Third, the government subsidized administrative expenses such as cost of finding vacant house owners to prevent neglect of vacant houses, and showed its will to address vacant house problems by revising taxes such as property taxes and transfer income taxes. Fourth, the government has enacted distinct ordinances for each local government and made it possible to perform customized policies such as allowing residents and local stakeholders to participate in the establishment of vacant house policies. Fifth, the government made it possible to manage vacant houses efficiently by allowing the vacant house bank to provide all information related to the use of vacant houses. It is necessary for Korea's central and local governments to refer to these precedent cases and create efforts to reduce trial and error when establishing vacant house policies.

• Journal of KIBIM
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2020

The vacant houses commonly observed in urban aging are considered to be representative signs of urban decline. Vacant houses are themselves vulnerable to security, and in particular, they are exposed to disasters due to poor management, which can accelerate the decline of the area. This study is to classify the area and analyze the causes and characteristics of the occurrence of vacant houses by type based on the data through the survey on the vacant houses in Incheon. This research analyze vacant house data survey so to characterized and categorized types of vacant houses. The criteria of vacant houses analysis are population density, population growth, aging extent. In conclusion there are four types of region in Incheon area according to housing types, hazard classes, building age and building areas. Type A is inner city, type B is mixed, type C is expandable and type D is unsular types.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.1-12
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• 2014

This study has analyzed overseas projects of building rural communities using vacant houses. It is aimed at identifying the roles of NPO in the community-building projects and providing implications applicable to Korea. In recent years, there has been a spike in the number of vacant houses in rural areas. It is due to rapid urbanization and uneven distribution of the population across the country. Those are the reasons that prompted community-building projects. To solve the vacant house issue, there has been rising interest in building communities through vacant houses as rural resources and effectively integrating them as useful resources. However, the roles of key entity that pursues community-building projects using vacant houses have not been discussed sufficiently. Thus, this study deals with the 'Vacant House Recreation Project of NPO Corporation in Onomichi' in Hiroshima, Japan. Through the case study, the following are introduced as NPO's roles in community-building projects using vacant houses. First, pursuing promotion and attracting attention by making the utilization of vacant houses sensational; system improvement; offering information. Second, enhancing the perception of local residents by offering local services using vacant houses; offering community-building items. Third, forming a place of public discussion to solve conflicts during community-building projects using vacant houses; offering alternatives to building communities. Above all, such roles have led to the key status of NPO during its community-building projects using vacant houses. It offers the following implication for Korea: Future vacant house-related policies for rural revitalization should be done from community-building standpoint and include establishing the roles of NPO.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.17-24
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• 2015

Vacant houses are increasing across the country, but the appropriate measures have not been set up yet. Accordingly, vacant houses are left unattended for a long time, and become deserted to degrade the residential environment. They are often used as the space for the deviation of youth or even for crimes, threatening the safety of rural society. Vacant houses are not only personal properties but also public assets that form the residential environment of a town. Therefore, the problem should be better taken care of with appropriate policies. In this study, the present situation of vacant houses in Korea, the causes of the vacant house and the limits and lessons of the improvement projects were reviewed, along with the vacant house improvement systems in the UK and Japan. The most significant difference between the cases in Korea and other countries are the method of vacant house improvement. In terms of policies and support, Korea focuses on demolition, whereas other countries focus on reuse. In addition, the vacant house improvement projects in Korea are performed mostly by government agencies, whereas local governments and private organizations in other countries cooperate to improve vacant houses and go beyond mere residential environment improvement towards the local revitalization. Based on the study results, the following are proposed to efficiently improve and use the rural vacant houses. First, the Rearrangement of Agricultural and Fishing Villages Act, which allows the vacant houses to be left unattended and not improved, should be revised. Second, the intermediate support organizations that connect the demand and supply should be fostered and supported so that the use of vacant houses can be vitalized and privately led. Third, the best practices of using the vacant houses should be found and promoted, and the vacant house remodeling technique should be developed and propagated. Fourth, a special law should be enacted to comprehensively plan, support and execute the vacant house improvement, as in Japan. Finally, the value of the vacant houses as public properties should be shared in public so that all citizens can participate in addressing the vacant house issue to derive the detailed plans to solve the problem.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.67-78
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• 2020

The aim of this study is to minimize the various social problems caused by the growing number of vacant houses in the urban areas and suggest ways to improve the legal and institutional system for promoting the maintenance and utilization of vacant houses. Due to changes in social conditions, the vacant houses continue to increase, and urban regeneration is emerging as a policy tool for renovating old and deteriorating built-up areas. In the face of the necessity of the managing vacant houses and its surrounding areas, it was suggested that vacant housing should be defined as "housing and buildings", not just "housing", since there are limitations on the maintenance of them. In addition, statistics on vacant houses are causing confusion because of the difference between surveyed data and vacant houses, which are recognized as problems in urban areas. Therefore, it was suggested to improve the accuracy and reliability of vacant housing statistics. In order to promote the maintenance and utilization of vacant housing, it was proposed an amendment of vacant housing-related laws that grant substantive tax benefits to enable more active participation of vacant homeowners and people who participate in vacant housing maintenance.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2019

This study is to seek for the reuse of vacant houses in the old settlement of urban area, focused on the Andeokbeol in Cheongju city, Korea. The following results were derived. Firstly, the maintenance and reuse methods of vacant houses are made for a number of house type as well as a variety of locational characteristics(flatland, gentle and steep slope) of the Andeokbeol. Secondly, reuse plans of vacant houses are established for a variety of classes such as local residents, artist and youth activist around cultural complex(Cheongju old cigarette factory), and outsiders. Thirdly, owners, users and intermediaries of vacant houses should find a solution to the reuse of them in company with Andeokbeol residents. And also institutional and administrative support measures are established for reuse of vacant houses.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2022

In rural areas, changes in the agricultural structure began to appear as the vulnerable class increased due to a decrease in population such as a decrease in fertility and aging, and the elderly were unable to engage in agriculture. The number of farmers and farmers is steadily decreasing, and the elderly population living in rural areas is steadily increasing. Rural houses are left empty due to the moving, hospitalization, and death of the elderly population. The purpose of this study aims to present the current status of vacant houses in rural areas, problems of vacant houses policy in rural areas, and improvement plans. The purpose of this study aims to analyze the population status and aging of rural areas, and to present a plan to improve the trend of vacant houses with cities and the problems of vacant house policies. This study was conducted in the following process. First, the definition of vacant houses in rural areas should be redefined. Second, it is necessary to analyze the causes of vacant houses in rural areas and plan the use of vacant houses linked to them.Third, the management system of vacant houses in rural areas should be clear.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.25-33
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• 2017

This study aims to find out the change trend of the existing vacant houses in the small and medium sized farming city. And the using method of those houses is proposed in this paper. Especially to find out the change trend ratio of vacant houses in the case, the historic conservation area - Keumma village is selected as the research target area. To carry out this study, it was surveyed in 2013 when they were not designated as the special area first. And it is reviewed in 2017 when it is designated. The contents of the survey were their use, old age, structure, materials, color, roof of the main building and wall. they were surveyed by direct and interview survey. And thew were analyzed and synthesized. It is concluded that the 142 vacant houses in 2013 were declined 46houses in 2017. It is caused by the government support. And they will be declined continuously. The architectural statues of vacant houses between in 2013 and in 2017 are almost same in it's use, old age, structure, materials, color, roof of the main building and wall. In the use ratio of the vacant houses that of residence is most high, and that of warehouses, commerce are followed in turn. The reason of that statues is moving out is the first and the death of house holder, the difficulty of managing are followed. As the their re-use plan of owners, the selling is the first, constructing new buildings and the renovation them are followed. As the method of their use, re-use, community facilities, managing in the vacant houses bank are proposed. As the vacant houses are the reason of bad elements in the rural landscape in the farm village, the method of its improvement will be carried out.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.25-38
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• 2022

Urban problems are constantly occurring around the world due to rapid industrialization and population decline. In particular, as the number of vacant houses is gradually increasing as the population decreases, it is necessary to prepare countermeasures. A plan to utilize vacant houses has emerged to restore the natural environment of the urban ecosystem where forest destruction, damage to habitats of wild animals and plants, and disconnection have occurred due to large-scale development. Through connectivity analysis, it is possible to understand the overall ecosystem flow based on the movement of species and predict the effect when vacant houses are converted into green spaces. Therefore, this study analyzed the green area network to confirm the possibility of greening of vacant houses neglected in Jeonju based on circuit theory. Using Circuitscape and Least-cost path, we tried to identify the connectivity of green areas and propose an ecological axis based on the analysis. In order to apply the resistance values required for analysis based on previous studies, the 2020 subdivision land cover data were integrated into the major classification evaluation items. When the eight forests in the target site were analyzed as the standard, the overall connectivity and connectivity between forests in the area were high, so it is judged that the existing green areas can perform various functions, such as species movement and provision of habitats. Based on the results of the connectivity analysis, the importance of vacant houses was calculated and the top 20 vacant houses were identified, and it was confirmed that the higher the ranking, the more positive the degree of landscape connectivity was when converted to green areas. In addition, it was confirmed that the results of analyzing the least-cost path based on the resistance values such as connectivity analysis and the existing conceptual map showed some differences when comparing the ecological axes in the form. As a result of checking the vacant houses corresponding to the relevant axis based on the width standards of the main and sub-green areas, a total of 30 vacant houses were included in the 200m width and 6 vacant houses in the 80m width. It is judged that the conversion of vacant houses to green space can contribute to biodiversity conservation as well as connectivity between habitats of species as it is coupled with improved green space connectivity. In addition, it is expected to help solve the problem of vacant houses in the future by showing the possibility of using vacant houses.