Busan selects districts for vacant‑house art spaces and community farms

Busan city announced the selection of two districts for its "vacant‑house purchase and social‑infrastructure (SOC) creation" program and a new "Vacant‑House Plus Dream" project. Seogu and Busanjin‑gu were chosen for the SOC scheme, while Seogu also received the Plus Dream designation. The combined budget is 1.4 billion KRW, with the city covering 70 % and the districts 30 %.

The Seogu project, named "Sunrise to Art Road," will convert a long‑abandoned house on a steep slope into an art‑creation and exhibition venue. The Busanjin‑gu initiative, "Vacant‑House Love Filling Garden," will remodel a derelict house on a school commute into a smart‑farm and community garden offering green space for residents. The Plus Dream site, "Cheonma Mountain Road Art Road," will be redeveloped into a cultural‑creation hub in partnership with the Busan Cultural Foundation.

City Housing Bureau chief Bae Sung‑taek said, "The growing issue of vacant houses affects the whole urban environment; by reusing them we can prevent out‑migration and create a virtuous cycle that attracts new residents." The projects aim to improve downtown living conditions, revitalize neighborhoods, and counter depopulation trends.