In the capital’s heaviest rainfall in over a century, the floodwater completely swallowed cars and some low-income houses as daily life for many Koreans came to a screeching halt. During this time period, a total of 13 Koreans lost their lives, including one family with two middle-aged women (one with Down Syndrome), and a 13-year-old girl.
That family, was living in what the locals call a “banjiha”, or a basement home in translation. Usually the homes for some of the poorest citizens in the entirety of Seoul, the residences make up approximately 5% of all households in the city.
In 2012, similar flooding occurred throughout the capital, and once again, the heated topic of banjihas were brought up again. With real estate prices going through the roof, the idea of removing and replacing banjihas were soon gone. After 2012, more than 40,000 more houses have been created to accommodate to the steadily rising population.
President Yoon Seok Yeol visited the banjiha where the family of three drowned to death with police and other members of security. He quipped during inspection about how he does not understand why the people in the low-elevation areas of Seoul such as this place did not evacuate sooner. The remark has since gone down as a heavy insult to poorer citizens, who believe that the president is not familiar with the situation at hand.
President Yoon plans to ban banjihas over the next 10 to 20 years, which experts see as unattainable. With several of these locations throughout Seoul and tens of thousands of families living in them, not to mention the increase in the price of housing, banjihas will continue to be popular places for people to live in. Perhaps the president should look for safer ways to maintain banjihas, such as creating flood prevention mechanisms or exit routes.
Regardless, we hope that all of South Korea is safe and will quickly return to its state of normality.
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Image Credits: YONHAP
