Efforts Towards a People-friendly Seoul - a Model for Other Asian Cities
A team from CITYNET Secretariat, ACHR (Asian Coalition for Housing Rights) and ASAG (Ahmedabad Study Action Group) visited Seoul from 1 to 3 June 2011 based on an initial indication of support and mutual goal from the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) to further promote a more 'people-friendly' city. The mission of the visit was to secure commitment of the city government and various key players to take concrete steps to improve the living conditions for some of the poorer settlements. It is hoped that this plan can be achieved within the next few years and be an important milestone as the CITYNET Secretariat prepares to relocate to Seoul in 2013. According to a survey by NGO Asian Bridge, there are more than 38 vinyl-house communities scattered throughout the Seoul area. Note: vinyl-housing settlements refer to communities squatting in empty vinyl greenhouses or those who have built new houses between existing farming-vinyl greenhouses.
Over the last few decades, Korea has been experiencing rapid economic growth which has contributed to its massive increase in GDP. Despite its shining example of economic growth, there are still a number of small communities in Seoul and other cities in Korea who still live in poor conditions. Most vinyl-house communities have access to electricity and some water supply (about 30% of communities do not receive water supply); while more than 50% use pit latrines. Some also own utilities such as TVs however the overall living conditions are inadequate such as water quality, lack of heating and vulnerability to disasters such as severe rainstorms and hurricanes.
CITYNET is collaborating with civil society members ACHR, ASAG and other groups as their wealth of experience and resources are necessary in order to ensure action is taken on the ground. CITYNET believes that in order for real change to occur ideas need to be realised and not only generated.
“The challenge of Seoul’s poor settlements is not as big as many other growing cities in Asia. The issue is not resources, but how to reach that small little corner and manage it well,” commented Kirtee Shah from ASAG.
The team met with the vinyl-house communities, Asian Bridge, the Chairman of Seoul City Council, city officials from Seoul Metropolitan Government, Land and Housing Corporation, as well as a National Assembly member and city council members from Gwancheon to explore the possibility to work together on creating ‘Inclusive Cities.’ The Chairman of Seoul City Council said that according to the city’s policy for low income housing, there is a plan for housing stability in Seoul. The City plans to build 135,000 housing units by 2018, stressing smaller sized units and 188,000 public rental housing units by 2018. In the last two years, a plan has developed for the building of public rental housing for those who have an income lower than 70% of the average monthly income. By 2015, 5000 units will be built, the plan is to provide 5,000 public rental units for those on public welfare programmes. There are also plans for rental housing catering to various vulnerable groups, with the following number of units:
- 750 for college students
- 240 for international migrants
- 300 for migrant workers
- 3,000 for those on public welfare or single parents
There is also a plan for housing finance: for example, for those in basement dwellings/substandard housing/renters being evicted from housing projects/ those who no longer qualify for public housing. Seoul plans to spend 27 billion won for 40,000 families, by 2015. Even though the team was unable to meet with the Mayor of Seoul, there was a strong indication of openness and a willingness to work together to make CITYNET and Seoul more people-friendly.
Somsook Boonyabancha from ACHR highlighted Thailand’s experience where different types of housing were provided which allowed the underprivileged community (demand side) take the lead. This has resulted in the reduction of costs of housing construction as people built the houses themselves, with government as facilitator. ACHR is engaged in projects in 20 Asian countries and 150 cities that demonstrate city-wide upgrading in a particpatory and replicable way through innovative demonstration projects.The challenge for the vinyl-housing community in Seoul lies in the mismatch between demand and supply. Therefore, the community needs to discuss amongst themselves first and make a strategic plan, look for solutions and cooperate closely with the government. On the other hand the government needs to shift to supplying modern types of housing instead of conventional types. Furthermore, the government needs to see the poor settlement improvement programme as an investment that goes beyond social benefits which subsequently builds a much stronger society in Seoul.
As a follow-up, a workshop tentatively titled ‘Inclusive Cities – Housing for All,’ is being planned to be organised in Seoul in October this year. It is expected the workshop will be the platform for governments and communities to interact and find the solutions together. As a small but symbolic beginning, the improvement of 4,900 vinyl-housing families will be a strong indication of support for Seoul’s mission as a model for people-friendly city in Asia and the Pacific region. However, the initiative will only be successful if all urban stakeholders are committed. Authorities, agencies, communites and civil society will need to work together to find a workable, replicable, upscaleable and sustainable solution to the issue of the 'housing for the poor.'
