Residents of the Siheung Janghyeon 19 public rental apartment complex in Gyeonggi Province have faced significant inconvenience since moving in September 2020 due to problematic entrances. The north entrance only allows one-way traffic on a single-lane road, while the west entrance requires a 560-meter detour through a school zone, causing daily difficulties. In July 2023, 87 residents filed a collective complaint with the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) seeking a solution. The ACRC responded by organizing an on-site mediation meeting to address the issue.
On May 23, 2024, the ACRC, led by Acting Chairperson Han Sam-seok, held a mediation session at the Janggok Social Welfare Center in Siheung, attended by city officials, LH (Korea Land & Housing Corporation) representatives, and resident delegates. According to the “Public Housing Business Handling Guidelines,” district unit plans must be maintained for five years after completion, but as of April 2024, changes are now permitted. This legal shift enabled stakeholders to negotiate a resolution.
Under the mediation plan, LH will complete a traffic improvement study by the first half of 2026 and share the results with tenant representatives. The representatives will gather resident opinions and hold a meeting to decide on the construction of an additional entrance. If approved, LH will propose a district plan change to Siheung City. Meanwhile, the city will actively cooperate with LH’s requests and strengthen illegal parking enforcement to minimize inconvenience until the new entrance is built.
Acting Chairperson Han Sam-seok stated that this mediation marks a turning point in resolving residents’ safety concerns and inconvenience over the past five years. He emphasized the importance of creating a safe passage environment with residents’ safety as the top priority. This case is seen as a model for inter-agency cooperation in resolving collective complaints. The upcoming traffic study and resident consultations are expected to lead to practical improvements in the apartment’s entrances.
The resolution of the Siheung Janghyeon 19 entrance issue highlights the flexibility of public housing policies and the value of resident participation. Adjusting legal frameworks to accommodate real-world needs demonstrates the effectiveness of mediation by agencies like the ACRC. This case sets a precedent for swift, collaborative solutions to collective complaints, suggesting that similar approaches could benefit other public housing communities facing systemic challenges.