Assemblyman Shin Seongbeom: "Vacant Home Improvement Needs Systematic Measures That Reflect Regional Characteristics"

Flags provincial vacant-home figures at parliamentary audit... South Gyeongsang ranks among top three nationwide in all three surveys
Proposes funding for local governments, stronger management responsibilities for owners, and region-specific management approaches

Assemblyman Shin Seong-beom (Geochang, Hamyang, Sancheong and Hapcheon in South Gyeongsang Province) called for measures to improve vacant homes that reflect the characteristics of each region during a parliamentary audit of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on Oct. 7.

According to data on vacant homes by province presented by Shin, based on materials from the National Assembly Research Service, South Gyeongsang Province ranked among the top three nationwide in all three surveys, despite differences in their methodologies.

[Photo provided by National Assembly member Shin Seongbeom's office] On the 7th, National Assembly member Shin Seongbeom called for systematic measures to address vacant homes that reflect local characteristics during a parliamentary audit of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

In the housing census as of November 2024, South Gyeongsang Province had 138,490 vacant homes, the third-highest number after Gyeonggi Province, with 288,631, and North Gyeongsang Province, with 140,774.

In surveys of vacant homes conducted by mayors and county heads from 2020 to 2024, South Gyeongsang Province had the highest number nationwide, at 10,540. It was followed by South Jeolla Province with 10,377 and North Gyeongsang Province with 6,364.

In an administrative survey of vacant homes as of December 2024, South Gyeongsang Province had 15,796, the third-highest number after South Jeolla Province, with 20,006, and North Jeolla Province, with 18,300.

However, the surveys showed considerable differences in the number of vacant homes because they used different criteria, 대상 and methods. Shin pointed out that these discrepancies limit the use of the results as basic data for formulating vacant-home policies.

“A common finding is that non-metropolitan and non-urban areas, including South and North Gyeongsang and South and North Jeolla provinces, rank among the regions with the most vacant homes compared with the Seoul metropolitan area and major cities,” Shin said, calling for measures focused on areas facing population decline.

On the same day, Shin proposed three areas for institutional improvement related to vacant-home management. First, he said, separate support criteria, including budget assistance, should be established to enable local governments to carry out vacant-home improvement projects.

He also proposed institutional changes to strengthen vacant-home owners’ responsibility for managing their properties, taking into account potential disputes over private property rights and complaints that could arise during demolition.

He added that urban and rural areas differ in both the scale and causes of vacant homes, so improvement and management methods should vary by region, taking into account the number of vacant homes, their degree of deterioration and local conditions.

“Vacant homes can pose safety risks if left unattended, but they can also be used as idle spaces depending on how they are repurposed,” Shin said, urging the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to comprehensively review the relevant systems and policies.

In July 2024, Shin hosted a policy forum at the National Assembly titled “What Should Be Done with Vacant Homes in Areas Facing Population Decline?” He has also sponsored bills related to vacant-home improvement.

Although the estimated number of vacant homes varies depending on the survey method, South Gyeongsang Province ranked among the top regions in all three surveys. Accurately assessing conditions and establishing improvement standards that reflect local circumstances are therefore emerging as key challenges.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.