Transforming Korea's Housing Landscape
Addressing Exclusivity and Social Disparities
In Korea, the approach to solving housing issues often focuses on building more high-rise apartments or increasing the floor area ratio. (Could this be because living in a taller building is associated with a higher social status?) While Australians may prefer spacious detached houses, Korea's limited land availability makes high-rise apartments a more practical choice. Additionally, having more people living close together allows for better communal spaces, which often end up being reserved for the residents of the same apartment complex.
Korean apartments are known for their efficient design, often featuring amenities such as resting areas, underground parking, playgrounds, fitness centers, and even saunas. The higher-end apartments tend to offer more upscale community facilities, making them more desirable and popular. Furthermore, shared management of tasks like waste separation and minor maintenance adds convenience for residents.
These apartments are usually located in prime areas with excellent transportation access. In Korea, the better the public transportation infrastructure, the higher the apartment prices tend to be. This reflects a cultural emphasis on efficiency and aligns with the "pali-pali" (hurry-hurry) mentality.
Ultimately, desirable living areas in Korea are those where amenities are within walking distance and public transportation is easily accessible. However, the biggest challenge with these areas is the high cost. Housing prices in convenient, well-connected locations are extremely high, and those who cannot afford to live there may feel socially "left behind."
People living in smaller townhouses, villas, or public housing often experience exclusion and marginalization. Even if they live near upscale apartment complexes, they may find themselves unable to access the community facilities. In some cases, exclusivity is further reinforced by fences installed around apartment complexes to keep outsiders out.
Korean housing culture is becoming increasingly exclusive. There are even matchmaking groups within some luxury apartment complexes where residents arrange marriages for their children. Such trends are further entrenching social divisions based on residential location.
How Might We Change This Situation Together?
Addressing these issues requires more than just policies or plans; it requires a collective effort to create change together. We need to work on making public spaces more inclusive and ensuring that different people can come together in shared areas. Additionally, exploring new housing models where diverse income levels can coexist would help to bridge social gaps associated with different housing types. By doing this, we can move towards creating communities that welcome everyone.
Reimagining Housing Together Through Doughnut Economics: Creating Spaces for Thriving Communities
From the perspective of Doughnut Economics, sustainable housing policy should focus on meeting everyone's needs while respecting ecological limits. This begins with recognizing housing not merely as an investment but as a fundamental human need and a foundation for community well-being. By embracing regenerative design and discussing how we can transform urban spaces together, we can find ways to accommodate more people while also protecting nature.
Now, it’s time for us to come together, ask better questions, and explore new possibilities in our search for solutions. For example, questions like "How might we ensure that everyone has access to safe and affordable housing in our city?" or "What would it take to create housing that is easily accessible by public transit for everyone?" can lead us toward meaningful change.
When we work together to shape our housing environment into a place where everyone can thrive, and when we bring different ideas to the table to envision a better future, that’s when real transformation begins.
That's a really interesting perspective and contrast to the Australian attitude to apartments.
There's a difference between the shared space within the complexes, and the shared public space open to all. In Australia, a lot of people think of the big shopping centres as public space but it's really private space. They exclude people who aren't there to shop and often children and teenagers who just want a place to meet their friends.
Thanks for sharing this perspective. It is so fascinating to see how similar issues and values manifest themselves differently in South Korea. While you talk about exclusivity in apartment buildings, we talk about exclusivity in suburbs. We have the same issues with poorer and younger people being pushed to the extremities because of affordability, although perhaps we are not as far down the track in terms of physically excluding people from what may otherwise be considered public spaces. I think it is a manifestation of the same set of issues but just had to take the shape it has in South Korea due to land constraints. I'm curious as to what it is about humans that we seek 'exclusivity'? Is it some evolutionary thing, like survival of the fittest? Who can explain this?