한국어 번역 - 클릭
The fact that Kahoi-Dong has been designated as an area where traditional Korean single-storey houses, 'Hanoks,' are to be preserved with government support creates an opportunity to manipulate land values to the disadvantage oflocal resident-owners and to the advantage of construction companies and their customers.
The process is quite simple.
Step 1: The owner of a hanok receives a visitor who offers him slightly better than the going rate for his property. The visitor reminds the owner that he is living in an official "hanok preservation area" and so the future increase in land valuation is likely to be lower than elsewhere since only traditional single storey houses are allowed. The visitor often comes from a real estate agency connected to a speculative construction company. If the owner turns down the offer, repeated telephone calls follow.
Step 2: Eventually, the owner is persuaded and sells his home.
Step 3: The construction company promptly files plans to demolish the existing house, claiming it is in a dangerously dilapidated condition. If, as is usually the case, the hanok is in good condition, it will be intentionally damaged. New plans are submitted for the site to erect a new two-storey residence which will have some hanok features on the top floor. Working closely with local government officials, they develop the plans so that they meet an interpretation of the relevant laws and regulations that officials at the Seoul Metropolitan Government have devised.
Step 4: At this point, the value of the land effectively doubles(at least) and the construction company has the opportunity to market a very modern house in a very fashionable part of central Seoul and to realise a substantial profit. Obligingly, government officials say they will classify erection of the new building as "Preservation and Redecoration" of a traditional hanok - providing an immediate cash grant of Won 30 million and a long term interest-free loan of Won 20 million.
Step 5: Since the new buildings will be expensive, and to help their marketing, Seoul Metropolitan Government officials also indicate that they will be willing to grant business licenses, once a proper application is submitted, so that the owners of the new buildings can maximize the commercial value of their new acquisitions.
Present Values: According to local real estate agents, prices for land in Kahoi-Dong start at KRW50 million per pyong (about 3.3 sq. metres).
The Losers: The original owners, cheated into selling their homes at low prices relative to what will be charged to new buyers later on. Many former owners sold at prices ranging from KWR 5 million to KRW 9 mllion per pyong..
The Winners: Speculative construction companies.
The Questions to ask: Who is behind the officials at the Seoul Metropolitan Government who enable favored construction companies to treat their local residents in this way? Who do the Seoul Metropolitan Government officials really serve - residents of of the city, or the construction industry, or local politicians?
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