1. Study Objectives and Method

￮ The purpose of this study is to present policy alternatives by identifying the current situation and management status of aged apartments such as ‘small-scale multi-family housing’ in blind spots of management as they are excluded from the [Multi-Family Housing Management Act] despite the aging of buildings, facilities, and equipment of the apartments.

￮ Aged apartments account for 49.8% of all apartments in Jeollabuk-do, South Korea and the number of households living in them accounts for 54.6% of the total households. Among the non-obligation management apartments, which account for 40.3% of entire apartments in this region, 76.1% of those apartments are older than twenty years which is higher than that of compulsory management apartments of 53.1%. Therefore, a systematic management is required for those aged apartments.

￮ In addition, the older apartments, the lower the rate of installation of welfare facilities, especially community activities are insufficient due to the high percentage of residents without community spaces.

￮ In order to investigate the current status of aged apartments in Jeollabuk-do, statistical data from Statistics Korea and Jeollabuk-do were analyzed to determine the current status, and related policy trends and literature on previous research were reviewed to derive implications.

￮ Types of apartments were classified according to the type of mandated management (compulsory or non-compulsory), region (city or county), age since completion (twenty to thirty-nine years or over forty years), and management contract types (contracted, self-managed, etc.) to understand the status of aged and management status. From March 23rd to April 12th, the physical aged status of the apartments was investigated by visiting each type of apartment, and interviews were conducted with the management managers on the actual condition of apartment management.

￮ Through consultation with related experts, the actual condition of aged apartments, and the support system and policy measures necessary for the management of aged apartments are sought.

2. Conclusion and Policy Suggestion

￮ Analysis of the current status from data and management status based on field surveys led to problems such as aging of facilities, lack of management workforce, lack of professional management system, and lack of community space in aged apartments.

￮ In order to solve those problems according to the management status of aged apartments, the management system establishment, manpower support, management support, and community activity support are proposed as the policy direction, and policy proposals are presented.

￮ To establish an aged apartment management system, the ‘Jeollabuk-do Province Multi-Family Housing Management Support Center’ is proposed to be installed and operated for non-compulsory management apartments that lack systematic and professional management workforce. This center will provide management workforce, technical support, trainings, and counseling services.

￮ A survey and management information system for aged apartments are need to be established to understand the exact status of management. Also, for a practical, systematic, and professional management support system, the ‘Grouping/Coupling Management Support’ is suggested to be implemented by grouping non-compulsory management apartments within a certain area or by pairing non-compulsory management apartments with adjacent compulsory management apartments.

￮ To support professional management personnel, a policy is proposed to provide trainings on management expertise and skills for those management workforces without professional qualifications such as housing management certification. Consulting on administrative and technical management difficulties in managing aged apartments can be provided by dispatching professional management personnel.

￮ In order to provide practical support for the management of aged apartments, the costs of safety inspection should be subsidized for non-compulsory management apartments that do not have sufficient repair reserves. A support system is recommended to allow apartments in need of construction to jointly place orders for a large-scale construction or lease of large-scale construction equipment, which is difficult for aged, small-scale apartments to independently order.

￮ Lastly, programs should be provided to organize, nurture, and activate the community in order to support the development of aged apartment management and the revitalization of the community. The establishment of community facilities should be supported as an activity space for sustainable community activities.

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