Transformation of neglected empty house in rural village into new cozy house at low rent

The first house that was remodeled through the “Empty House Project\

"As we, a young couple and a child, moved into a village with only elderly people, we got a lot of attention, and my house became a hot spot in the village."

Ms. Kim (34) is the first tenant of the "Empty House Project," which was first launched this year by Cheongyang-gun, South Chungcheong Province. Kim, who married 10 years ago and lived in her in-laws' house after returning to her hometown Cheongyang, applied for the project that renovates and rents out empty rural houses without hesitation while she was looking for a house to live after moving out from the in-laws’ house.

The 80-square-meter detached house in Yongmari, Namyang-myeon, which they moved into on July 1, is the new home for Kim’s family. The house has two rooms, one living room, and one bathroom, and the rent is 10,000 won per month with no deposit.

Kim's house, which I visited on August 7, is a single-story house that is just the right size for a newlywed couple or a couple with one child. The light gray interior wallpaper and laminate floor gave it a clean look. The kitchen, which is open to the living room as you walk through the front door, looks like it was customized for a family with young children.

Kim expressed satisfaction with the house. "The idea of renovating a vacant house that could easily turn into an eyesore and providing a new home for local people was attractive to me," Kim said. "Since there are no young couples and children in the village, the elderly come to the house with curiosity, and acquaintances also want to see the house, so we are organizing housewarming parties.”

"There is a small pond near the house and the scenery is beautiful, which is perfect for my child to experience ecology," she said. "If the project is revitalized and young people move into rural areas, it will help revitalize rural villages which are in danger of disappearing."

The vacant house rental project promoted by Cheongyang-gun targets vacant houses that have been abandoned for more than a year. It remodeled the houses with a budget of less than 100 million won and rented them out to local youth and newlyweds at affordable prices.

The county finds empty houses that are listed on the building register and have not been lived in or used by anyone for more than a year and remodels them, including interior, exterior, and facilities (electricity, boiler, water supply, drainage, etc.).

In addition to Kim's house, there is currently one vacant house in Cheongsan-myeon and Mok-myeon, respectively, and the first residents of the houses moved in last month. The residents can live in the houses for up to three years through contract extension.

Those eligible to move into vacant houses of the project are limited to young people under the age of 45, newlyweds within seven years from the date of marriage registration, prospective newlyweds who are planning to register their marriage within three months, and villagers who have lived in urban areas for more than a year and have moved to Cheongyang-gun less than five years ago or are planning to move to the county.

A county official said, "As more and more empty houses are left unattended in the region every year, we have decided to push ahead with the project to prevent the destruction of the village and the local area and to attract young people. Compared to the average monthly rent of 400,000 won in the downtown of Cheongyang-gun, the cost of staying is virtually free, so more than 100 inquiries were made after the announcement."

He added, "We are still trying to find vacant houses that can be remodeled so that we can continue the project successfully.”

※This article has undergone review by a professional translator after being translated by an AI translation tool.