| Title |
Urban Development and Social Significance of Hyeop-dong Housing in Seoul, 1974～1988 |
| Authors |
송유빈(Song, YuBin) ; 전봉희(Jeon, BongHee) |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5659/JAIK.2025.41.7.289 |
| Keywords |
Hyeop-dong Housing; Self-reliant Redevelopment; Multi-household Housing; Multi-unit Housing |
| Abstract |
This study analyzes the historical and policy significance of Hyeop-dong Housing in Seoul between 1974 and 1988. Introduced under the
1973 Act on Temporary Measures for the Promotion of Housing Improvement, Hyeop-dong Housing aimed to upgrade substandard housing
through a self-reliant redevelopment model. The government provided basic infrastructure and reorganized land parcels, while residents were
responsible for constructing their own homes with limited financial support. To improve land efficiency, Seoul grouped four households on
small, fragmented plots into a Hyeop-dong Unit, consolidated their lots, and encouraged the construction of compact, multi-story housing. This
model embodied the self-help and cooperation ideals of the Saemaul Undong movement. Despite its early promise, Hyeop-dong Housing was
phased out in the late 1980s due to the financial strain placed on residents. However, its transitional legal status was significant. Although
functioning as multi-unit housing, Hyeop-dong Housing was regulated under single-family housing laws to ease construction burdens. This
legal compromise paved the way for the institutionalization of multi-household and multi-family housing in the mid-1980s, models designed to
serve low-income residents on small urban lots. These housing types became widespread in low-rise areas, but ongoing deregulation led to
overcrowded neighborhoods and declining living conditions. This trajectory mirrors the earlier decline of Hyeop-dong Housing, much of which
was demolished as housing quality worsened. The case highlights the need for policies that strike a balance between urban density and
residential livability in low-rise zones. |