Rural areas are becoming increasingly quiet, with vacant houses losing their warmth, schools once filled with children’s laughter now abandoned, and industrial facilities that once buzzed with activity now at a standstill. According to the 2022 Agricultural, Forestry, and Fisheries Census by Statistics Korea, the proportion of elderly people aged 65 and over in rural areas stands at 49.8 percent, much higher than the national average of 17.5 percent. This indicates that rural areas in Korea have already become an ultra-aged populace according to UN standards. Furthermore, as the population concentrates in urban areas, the rural population continues to decline, leading to an increasing number of abandoned spaces no longer utilized by people.

     Efforts to revitalize the increasing number of abandoned rural buildings due to declining populations are ongoing. As part of efforts to address rural underdevelopment, the Rural Space Restructuring Act will be implemented starting from March. However, before the enforcement of the law, there is a need for a perspective that ensures the effective application of relevant laws by examining the issues of abandoned spaces. Abandoned spaces not only remain unused by people but also become hotbeds for crime, increase residents’ sense of helplessness, and worsen the economic situation in rural areas, leading to additional problems. Therefore, The Argus aims to analyze the various problems caused by abandoned rural buildings and to contemplate appropriate solutions to effectively address demographic changes and regional imbalances in development.

Empty Houses

Problem) Increasing Vacant Houses

In contrast to the traffic congestion in major cities every morning, mornings in rural areas are quiet. At first glance, the peaceful rural landscape reveals vacant houses scattered throughout. The increase in vacant houses is attributed to the phenomenon of the low birth rate and aging population, coupled with population concentration in urban areas. According to the Rural Development Act and the Special Act on Vacant and Small Houses, legally, a vacant house refers to rural buildings confirmed by local governments to be unoccupied or unused for over a year, excluding unsold houses. According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) as of 2022, the number of vacant houses in rural areas has increased steadily to 66,024, about 70 percent more than the 38,988 in 2018.

     The occurrence of vacant houses in rural areas is related to the population structure. As of 2022, 49.8 percent, approximately half of the rural population, is 65 or older. Therefore, many residents leave their homes due to long-term hospitalization, admission to care facilities, or death due to illness. According to a report by the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI) titled “Status and Policy Issues of Rural Vacant Houses” (2020), houses typically become vacant during the inheritance process when the children of residents inherit the property. These vacant houses are often left unmanaged and neglected, posing a problem mainly because rural housing tends to be more deteriorated compared to housing in urban areas. According to the 2019 Housing Census, the proportion of aging houses in rural areas is higher at 26.7 percent compared to 15.7 percent in urban areas. Consequently, many vacant houses in rural areas are not usable, and many require demolition due to severe aging. As a result, children residing in other areas are reluctant to move to rural areas, and there is low demand for renting or selling due to low real estate value. Ultimately, as the number of neglected houses increases and the population ages further, vacant houses become symbols of rural decline.

     Regarding this, Professor Lee Jae-soon from the Graduate School of Venture at Hoseo University stated, “Since 60-70 percent of the total land is used for residential purposes, improving the vacant house problem is crucial.” Areas designated for residential use in land use plans are where people are active, with urban areas having the highest proportion of residential areas, making it problematic when houses intended for occupancy become vacant.

     Meanwhile, local governments are making efforts to address the issue of neglected vacant houses, but significant improvements are not evident. Local governments are taking measures such as purchasing vacant houses, demolishing them, or providing support for remodeling. However, vacant houses are private property, making management difficult, and the unclear management authority leads to similar or overlapping projects. In other words, the proportion of utilized vacant houses is very low, with the majority remaining neglected.

Extension of Problem) Increased Crime Utilizing Vacant Houses

From a safety and sociological standpoint, the surge in vacant houses can contribute to an uptick in crime rates. Particularly in rural areas, burglaries often occur during the farming season when residents are away. Without intervention to address these criminal opportunities, the prevalence of vacant homes in rural areas is likely to exacerbate crime rates. Indeed, many instances have been documented where vacant houses in redevelopment zones serve as staging grounds and hideouts for criminals. For instance, in 2011, a criminal who sexually assaulted and robbed a woman in the city of Iksan, North Jeolla Province, 180 kilometers south of Seoul, was apprehended while hiding in a vacant house. Moreover, in proximity to the Koreatown neighborhood in Los Angeles in the United States, vacant houses slated for demolition have been repeatedly targeted by arsonists, with homeless individuals taking refuge in these properties, engaging in drug use, and causing disturbances.

     One theory that explains this phenomenon is the “broken windows theory,” proposed by American criminologists James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling. According to this theory, if a single broken window is left unaddressed, it can lead to a cascade of crime. Criminologists suggest that individuals inclined toward criminal behavior are more likely to act in areas characterized by signs of neglect, such as broken windows, graffiti, and litter, perceiving them as indicators of lax community supervision. Furthermore, there is a concern that these neglected spaces may serve as a temptation for further criminal activity, symbolized by the metaphorical “breaking of the other window,” ultimately escalating into larger social problems due to perceived deficiencies in community control measures.

Solution) CPTED System

If we cannot immediately reduce the number of vacant homes in rural areas, we must explore strategies to deter their use for criminal activities. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is being considered as a proactive approach to prevent vacant homes from becoming targets of crime. CPTED is an architectural design methodology aimed at creating environments that deter criminal behavior from the outset. By incorporating crime-preventive elements into the design of buildings and urban spaces, CPTED aims to make it challenging for criminals to operate, ultimately enhancing residents’ sense of safety and well-being within their living environment.

     The core principles of CPTED encompass natural surveillance, natural access control, and a sense of territory. Firstly, natural surveillance entails enhancing visibility within the layout of buildings or facilities. Unlike security personnel, natural surveillance utilizes elements such as lighting and strategic placement of common areas to increase visibility. This heightened visibility enables residents to detect intruders and respond accordingly, thereby reducing the likelihood of criminal activity. Secondly, natural access control involves directing people toward common areas using roads, landscaping, and doors, effectively filtering out potential intruders and impeding access to criminal targets. Measures may include reducing the number of entry points in an apartment complex or implementing access control mechanisms. Lastly, territoriality encompasses the concept of residents utilizing, occupying, and asserting ownership over imaginary territories. Boundaries delineate d through features like fences, signage, landscaping, and lighting serve to define territory and establish a sense of ownership. This fosters a sense of community among residents while deterring unauthorized individuals from encroaching upon their space.

     Furthermore, there is a growing trend of implementing CPTED projects in rural areas. For instance, the city of Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, 333 kilometers south of Seoul, has initiated CPTED initiatives in villages like Jinsung Woljeong Village, Munsan Safe Village, and Geumgok Dumun Village. These projects involve the installation of wall lights, which are mandatory in rural areas, to enhance visibility, along with environmental enhancements such as murals. Additionally, solar road stud lights have been installed to improve lane visibility on roads. Kang Dong-soo, director of Munsan Safe Village, highlighted the positive impact of these measures in an interview with Gyeongnam Ilbo, stating, “The installation of wall lights has reduced safety incidents, especially for elderly residents walking at night. Furthermore, there has been no damage to crops, making it even more beneficial. We hope to see these initiatives expanded to other villages.”

Closed Schools

Problem) Schools Closing Their Doors

The aging of the rural population means fewer children, which in turn leads to a decrease in the school-age population, which is a big reason for the disappearance of traditional schools. According to the Statistics Korea’s “2020 General Survey of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries,” of the 37,563 rural villages in the country, only 8.8 percent of elementary schools, 3.8 percent of middle schools, and 2.7 percent of high schools are located within an administrative district, commonly referred to as a “village.” In the case of high schools, only 39.8 percent are located within a “township,” a regional unit larger than an administrative district, meaning that students often have to commute long distances to high schools in other regions. As for the criteria for closing schools, the Ministry of Education (MOE) categorizes elementary schools with fewer than 60 students in rural areas or villages, fewer than 120 students in towns, and fewer than 240 students in cities as being subject to closure and allows each local education office to decide whether or not to close them. In South Gyeongsang Province, one of the regions with the highest number of closed schools in the country, the South in Gyeongsang Provincial Office of Education recommends closing elementary schools with 30 or fewer students or merging them with neighboring schools, while actively promoting closure and consolidation of schools with 20 or fewer students. According to the Special Act to Promote the Utilization of Closed School Properties, a closed school is a public school under Article 2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that has been abolished for reasons such as a decrease in the number of students or the consolidation of schools.

     However, many of these closed schools are no longer utilized and are often abandoned. The former Daesung High School in Gochang County, North Jeolla Province, 238 kilometers south of Seoul, was closed in 2004 and has been neglected ever since. Only on February 2, 2023, after 19 years, was a task force composed of representatives from the Gochang County Office and the Gochang County Office of Education Support, as well as the chairman of the local board of directors, organized to discuss the use of the school, and the first meeting began. According to Do Jong-hwan, a member of the National Assembly’s Education Committee, an analysis of the “Status of Closed School Properties of Local Education Authorities Nationwide” showed that the percentage of closed schools owned by local education authorities was 26.8 percent, or 358 schools. This means that one out of every four abandoned schools is neglected. However, this statistic is based on schools owned by the MOE, and the number is expected to be much higher if we include schools that have been sold to other entities but are not being utilized. In the case of Gubong Elementary School in Jinan County, North Jeolla Province, 195 kilometers south of Seoul, which was closed in February 1998 and sold in December 2005, the schoolyard remains overgrown with weeds due to years of neglect.

Extension of Problem) Growing Helplessness of Residents

Rural school closures are devastating for both local students and local communities. The schools that are closing are often the alma mater of rural residents, who often contributed to their creation. Thus, in rural areas, schools are more than just educational institutions.

     Students in rural areas are often in the same school from elementary school onward, forming small communities with strong emotional ties. According to the “2022 Statistical Yearbook of Education” of the Korean Educational Development Institute, 95 percent of the nation’s elementary schools are small, with 60 or fewer students, and are located in rural areas. In some cases, multiple grades occupy the same classroom, so there is a high degree of intimacy between teachers and students. Teachers do not just impart knowledge but often are familiar with their students’ home situations in detail. Not only students but also rural residents feel helpless due to the closure of schools. The elderly, especially those in their 80s, understand the inevitability of school closures but express sadness that the schools they and their families attended are closing. In a study on “The Impact of School Closures on Rural Communities” (2017) by Seo Hyung-joo of the KREI, a resident of south village in Jeongseon County, Gangwon Province, 155 kilometers south from Seoul, said, “I was very sad when I heard that the school was closing because it had a long history. My sister-in-law, children, and husband all went to school here. I felt a lot of loneliness when it was closed. There is a building but no students...” she said.

     Why do students and residents feel so powerless? According to “A Study on the Ecological Sociology of Education” (2009) written by An Seung-dae, this network of relationships between local people and schools is due to the ecological principle of learning communities. In ecological education theory, the state, schools, teachers, and students are connected in a web of interdependent relationships, just as leaves, stems, trees, and forests form a community of life in an ecosystem. In addition, parents, businesses, and local people are connected in a network of relationships with educational actors, and they should work together to promote learning. In particular, the report “A Study on the Impact of School Closures on Rural Communities” (2017) found that rural residents felt that the schools being closed were often their alma mater and that they felt they were the common property of the village because they had watched the school being built or had a direct influence on its construction. They also felt a sense of loss when school and village sports events, such as the tug-of-war, which were held as a village-wide feast before the school closed, disappeared. In other words, in rural areas, schools are not just a means of individual self-actualization through education but also serve one of the many functions that make up society.

     Considering the importance of schools to rural communities, the current law mandates a process to reflect the opinions of residents in the school closure process, but often the disagreements between the school closure entity and residents result in prolonged discussions on utilization and a sense of powerlessness that is not easily resolved.

Solution) Utilizing Closed Schools That Coexist with Rural Communities

Many rural residents feel attached to schools that face closure, highlighting the need to repurpose these institutions in a way that benefits local communities. Eco-planning offers a solution, allowing abandoned schools to blend harmoniously with the rural environment and serve purposes desired by residents, thereby preserving their sense of belonging. Rural schools, often intertwined with nature, provide an ideal setting for eco-friendly planning concepts, as outlined in “A study on the Utilization of Regional Closed Schools Applied Ecological Concept” (2008) by Jung Jin-ju, Lim Jae-han, and Lee Ji-young. This approach emphasizes architecture that complements the natural surroundings and minimizes the environmental impact. For instance, the “Sunlight Whispering on the Stone Wall” project transformed a closed elementary school into a pension, utilizing the existing layout and terrain to create a serene atmosphere. Additionally, initiatives like the Eumdari Cultural Village repurpose materials from old classrooms, demonstrating the potential for eco-friendly and sustainable reuse of abandoned school buildings in rural areas.

     Consequently, efforts should be made to utilize abandoned schools with the input of rural residents. To date, there have been three main types of utilization of abandoned schools: sale, lease, and self-use, including demolition, and the types of utilization include educational facilities, income enhancement facilities, cultural facilities, welfare facilities, and sports facilities. According to the Special Act to Promote the Utilization of Closed School Properties, residents and alumni associations must be consulted when selling or leasing closed schools. However, Yu Jin-sang, a professor of Architecture at Changwon National University, told Hello Vision TV news that residents often think it would be best to provide cultural facilities, but they have a variety of ideas of things they want, such as places for threshing grain or repairing farm machinery to an ill-placed parking lot. Yu emphasized the importance of finding out what residents want first through participatory design.

Idle Industrial Facilities

Problem) Idle Industrial Facilities Gathering Dust

Rural areas are getting poorer. Unused and abandoned warehouses and abandoned factories are a silent witness to a countryside that is losing its vitality. Abandoned warehouses and abandoned factories are among the most idle facilities that were once used for commercial purposes. An idle facility is a building that has outlived its function and role and has been neglected and abandoned without being actively used. These idle industrial facilities further depreciate rural economies that are losing their vitality due to depopulation.

     The Rural Development Administration’s 2013 study on idle industrial facilities in rural areas categorizes them into three types by the factors: aging, declining industrial competitiveness, and declining production. Aging facilities, like village communal storage centers built in the 1960s and 70s, deteriorate faster in rural areas due to population outflow and an aging population, leading to a lack of maintenance manpower. The second type, those with declining industrial competitiveness, include abandoned facilities unable to keep up with changing industrialization trends, with manufacturing moving to urban areas since the 1990s. Lastly, declining production results in idle facilities due to factors like soil contamination, environmental pollution, and reduced agricultural productivity, affecting village communal storage and other facilities.

     Additionally, rural facilities could be examined in the context of changes in national policies. In the 1990s, the opening of markets for agricultural products increased, and projects such as rural road maintenance were implemented in line with policies to improve rural conditions. In the 2000s, rural experience facilities, agricultural production infrastructure, and processing facilities were established, focusing on the multifunctional nature of rural areas. However, facilities such as rural experience centers, common warehouses, and farm machinery maintenance centers have become superfluous, as they do not meet current social and economic needs due to changes in the times. As the use of these facilities has decreased, they impose a burden on residents with associated management costs rather than generating profits.

Extension of Problem) Economic Impact of Increased Idle Industrial Facilities

An increase in abandoned industrial facilities means an increase in idle economic capacity. Idle economic capacity is the unused part of economic production capacity, which expresses how much industrial production capacity, housing, and employment remain unused and idle. In this case, the idle economic power of companies and the labor market can be identified through the capacity utilization rate. Idle capacity encompasses various indicators such as unemployment rate, number of employed people, factory operation rate, number of new enterprises, and investment growth rate, and idle industrial facilities such as abandoned factories in rural areas worsen these indicators.

     How do abandoned industrial facilities hinder rural development? The abandoned spinning mill in Yesan County, South Chungcheong Province, 99 kilometers south of Seoul, has been abandoned for approximately 20 years since its closure. Fortunately, its demolition was confirmed in February 2023, as it was selected as a target by MAFRA’s “Rural Space Maintenance Project,” which overhauls long-term abandoned buildings in rural areas and improves the environment, but in the meantime, the area failed to develop and declined. The factory was built in 1975 on a site of about 48,000 square meters and steered the local economy of Yesan County during the 1970s and 1980s as the textile industry boomed. However, the factory was closed in 2001 following the 1997 Korean Currency Crisis, and the local economy was devastated. The factory’s employee apartments were abandoned, and schools were closed as residents moved away. Naturally, clothing stores, restaurants, and bookstores around the factory also closed, leading to a decline in the local economy. The apartments that were being built around the factory were also abandoned and became eyesores. The local government tried to take action, but the large amount of money required for land acquisition and factory demolition hindered the development of the area, and the harmful substances from the factory caused extreme damage to local residents.

Solution) Supporting Youth Entrepreneurship

Creating startup or cultural spaces for young people is crucial to bolstering the active population in rural areas. This is vital for boosting economic activities and tapping into the untapped economic potential of abandoned industrial facilities. While other countries have successfully repurposed abandoned warehouses into cultural facilities, Korea has faced challenges due to a focus on civic bonding over economic gains when utilizing idle facilities. For instance, the Book Museum in Yeongwol County, Gangwon Province, 137 kilometers east of Seoul, initially opened in 1999 using classrooms from a closed elementary school. However, due to operational challenges, the museum faced closure and relocated. This illustrates that cultural facilities often struggle to generate direct economic benefits and may not be sustainable. Therefore, local governments can offer entrepreneurship spaces for young people in rural areas, attracting outsiders and revitalizing commercial areas.

     In the city of Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, 294 kilometers south of Seoul, a startup space was created for young people by utilizing an abandoned warehouse. Suncheon Brewworks and Youth Store are similar examples. Suncheon Brewworks is a cafe that was created by renovating the “151-31 Jogok Neighborhood Nonghyup Warehouse” and has been in business since 2018. Built in 1993, the warehouse served as a Suncheon Nonghyup granary for two decades before being repurposed into a cafe. Similarly, the nearby Youth Store, originally constructed as a grain warehouse in 1945, now functions as a mixed-use space, providing a platform for young entrepreneurs aged 19 to 39 to establish stores. As of 2020, the monthly rent for the space was around 10,000 won (US$7.4) and allowed for a two-year stay, easing the burden on young entrepreneurs. Despite store closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2023 Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo facilitated the rental of the entire store, leading to a remarkable 138 percent increase in monthly sales compared to 2022. This is a representative example of creating new economic value by utilizing idle industrial facilities and contributing to the revitalization of the local economy. Professor Lee said, “While some local governments have demolished abandoned spaces for parks or parking lots, this approach has limitations. Repurposing abandoned rural spaces to reflect the region’s uniqueness could create sites that revitalize the local economy.” Another option to similarly support entrepreneurship is to operate a vertical smart farm in an abandoned warehouse. A vertical smart farm is a system that artificially controls the growing environment for crops within an artificial structure such as a greenhouse or building. Smart farms can be utilized to lower the initial entry barrier for people in their 20s and 30s who want to farm. It also makes it possible to create jobs by providing education related to smart farms.

     “When people come to a region, consumption occurs, and the region is revitalized, and since the space that people need the most is residential space, we should utilize empty houses to attract people to the region,” Lee said. She also added that even if rural vacant houses are not used as primary residences, they should be expanded to support the concept of workcation, which is a concept that combines “work” and “vacation,” aligning with trends like telecommuting and the four-day workweek. This approach can address multiple needs, providing space for entrepreneurship, employment, and relaxation. By inviting young people to rural areas and reducing vacant houses, communities can naturally thrive.

The issue of rural exodus includes abandoned spaces like vacant houses, schools, and industrial facilities, resulting from an aging population and urban migration. This neglect leads to social issues, perpetuating the cycle of rural decline. To break this cycle, new approaches to repurpose abandoned spaces are crucial. While addressing the root causes of rural abandonment, such as an aging population, is important that practical solutions also be explored. The Argus urges readers to recognize how demographic challenges affect both rural and urban areas, emphasizing that rural development is integral to societal progress.