New tactics against evictions?
Residents in redevelopment zones get help from Federation Against House Demolition (Jun Chul Yun).
Nationwide, there are 424 cases in which evictees are battling property owners and developers for better compensation.
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/feb/09/world/fg-korea-squatters9
Most redevelopment projects here are led by private developers and cooperatives of landlords seeking a quick profit with an aggressive schedule of demolition that does not often allow for public discourse, housing advocates say.
When we consider the prevalence of the cheonse system, making up 68 percent of the rental market, that requires a deposit or ‘key money’ of 60 percent to 75 percent of the price of the house or the wueolse system that requires 10 times to 20 times the monthly rent as a rental deposit, both signify a high threshold that is only possible for those who possess high financial sufficiency to meet. For many, the only option left is to rent a goshiwon (a room around three square metres or 1.5 pyeong that may involve access to a shared bathroom and kitchen on the same fall or somewhere in the building )or a hasuk (boarding-style house typically located near universities) and neither of these are suitable for most families or households with multiple members.
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_opinion/374225.html
HOUSING, EVICTIONS AND THE SEOUL 1988 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES
Lisa Kim’s research focuses on the urban geography of Seoul and other large cities, with focus on urban inequality manifested in spatial patterns of residence and use of urban space. Current projects are concerned with affordable housing, community organizations, popular and feminist perspectives on the built environment, gender and public space, and housing. Prior to joining the faculty of University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Geography, and the UCLA Center for Korean Studies in 2006, Lisa completed research on the legacy of the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games in terms of city planning and housing.
