Korean Job Discussion Forums

[RACETRAITOR]

I got a new scooter recently so I took it out for a ride last weekend.

I was driving around Sindaebang area, when something caught my eye up a side road. I went to investigate and found a large section of demolished buildings and some more recently abandoned.

Behind that fence that snakes up from the left is a small road that connects the main street to the still inhabited apartments further up.



This church was totally surrounded with rubble.



Encroaching high-rises.



An apple to whoever has the best translation for this.



Formerly a house.


From the top of the area looking back down. You can see how obviously the church has been spared.


Some abandoned homes I decided to explore.


Now uninhabitable. There was broken stone and glass everywhere. Someone wanted to make sure the floor would never be a proper floor again.



A less safe way up.


The kitchen sink.


Everything behind the garage doors has been destroyed.


When I left the danger area, a worker approached me and asked "Why?" I told him in Korean I was a photographer. He didn't know any more questions and I didn't know any more answers.

I went back up the hill to return to where I left my scooter, and all these kids were playing. I tried to find a way out where I wouldn't pass the destruction, but it was a dead end. I suspect these kids' homes will be destroyed next.


If you need to see even more pictures of this area, the full gallery is here:
http://www.daehanmindecline.com/digital/20070616.html

[PRagic]

It has been demolished because the entire lot is up for redevelopment. This happens quite a bit. There is a similar area right around Hapjeoung St., too.

[RACETRAITOR]

I know all about it. This isn't the first site I've visited.

One of my friends goes by this one every day and says it hasn't changed in about half a year. I wonder why they destroy the homes and chase the residents away and then don't do anything for months.

[Mashimaro]

I really thought Korea was sparkling too

[PRagic]

Oh, and the grafitti loosely reads, 'F*cK oFF A$$hole'.

[RACETRAITOR]

[PRagic]

Yup. I just provide loose translations on the fly. It's all about the feeling

[seoulsucker]

Gentrification...happens everywhere. There are tons of clusterF***** neighborhoods all over Seoul that could use a good urban planning facelift. Yes, it sucks for the families who have probably been squatting there for 50 years, but it's good for the overall development of the city.

Of course, not doing anything once the place is leveled does kind of suck. Makes you wonder if they processed all the paperwork correctly. I can imagine some dude contacting these families a few months later saying, "Oh, sorry. We actually weren't allowed to/supposed to do that."

[HapKi]

the last 4 characters are Kae Sae Ki Nom
Literally, baby dog
Figuratively, azz hole, fooker... take your pick
So roughly- "Fook you, evictors, or (de) construction workers."

[PRagic]

Those families either 1) sold their property for a hefty sum or 2) have an option to take one of the new apartments (plus, in some cases, depending on the property value, a buy out on top of that). The developers/government pay for the moves, and in some cases, a stipend for the interum housing. Usually benefits the land owners.

Renters on that property also get an option to take a new place, and get moved for free. Pain in the butt? Yup, but, then again, better than the treatment given to people in redeveloped neighborhoods in the States IMHO.

[maximreality]

[RACETRAITOR]

[bosintang]

[kiwiduncan]

demolition son of (female dog) (pr*ck)

There was a neighbourhood nearby like this when I lived in Sangdo Dong. Used to go mountain biking there and had no choice but to cycle (very politely however) through people's yards, as some houses were built right across the public pathways.

[Julius]