1st Edition

The Unfulfilled Promise of Public Housing in Seoul Dongja-dong and the Right to Live

Edited By Mun Young Cho Copyright 2027
200 Pages 20 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

This book examines contemporary Korea's housing crisis through Dongja-dong, a Seoul district, exploring how the most vulnerable urban poor navigate precarious housing circumstances and presenting an unconventional yet potentially effective solution to this pressing issue. Readers gain unique insights into the complex conflict between multiple stakeholders: residents of  jjokbang  (tiny... Read more

Section I: The Intersection of Policy and Activism

1. Public Development of Seoul Station’s Jjokbang Enclave 

Mun Young Cho, Myungbin Choi, Heungjun Kim, Minjae Kim, Chaeyoon Lee, Jiwon Lee, Yujin Lee, Jueun Seo

2. Reshaping Development Through Housing Rights Activism

Mun Young Cho, Kyuchul Hwang, Mihyun Kang, Chaeyoon Lee, Yubin Moon, Dongchan Park, Yejin Shin, Jihyeon Yun

Section II: Frictions Over Publicness 

3. Evolving Networks of Publicness 

Mun Young Cho, Myungbin Choi, Minjae Kim, Heungjun Kim, Chaeyoon Lee, Jiwon Lee, Yujin Lee, Jooeun Seo

4. “Buying is the Only Way to Succeed”

Jeyeon Ban, Mun Young Cho, Insun Hwang, Chaeyoon Lee, Hojae Lee, Jihyun Lim, Haemin Moon

Section III: The People of Dongja-dong 

5. Who Counts as a Landlord? 

Jeyeon Ban, Mun Young Cho, Insun Hwang, Chaeyoon Lee, Hojae Lee, Jihyun Lim, Haemin Moon

6. Homes Built by Jjokbang Residents

Yewon Bang, Mun Young Cho, Woohyang Kang, Jinha Kim, Myungjae Kim, Chaeyoon Lee, Kyungchan Park, Seoyeong Ryu, Chaewon Yoon

Afterword

Yewon Bang, Mun Young Cho, Woohyang Kang, Jinha Kim, Myungjae Kim, Chaeyoon Lee, Kyungchan Park, Seoyeong Ryu, Chaewon Yoon

Biography

Mun Young Cho is a Professor in the Department of Cultural Anthropology in Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.

Sandra Choe is the translator of this book and a member of the National Society of Professional Korean Translators.