Government planning meets spontaneous adaptation: a study of post-Korean War refugee settlements

초록

This study examines the evolution of four post-war refugee settlements constructed by the South Korean government: Jeongneung-dong in Seoul, Pyeonghwa-dong in Gimcheon, Yukdan-ri in Cheorwon, and Changyong-ri in Asan. Approximately 165,000 permanent houses were built through the "National Housing" and "Resettlement Housing" projects to stabilise refugees and support their integration as productive citizens. This study highlights the differences between these projects, examining how distinct policy objectives, geographical settings, and socioeconomic conditions shaped unique characteristics in individual settlements. Furthermore, it traces how government-led plans gradually intersected with residents' spontaneous adaptations. Through methods including a literature review, geographical analysis, fieldwork, and in-depth interviews, this study explores the spatial, architectural, and social changes that these settlements have undergone over the past 70 years. The findings show that urban areas have increasingly integrated into metropolises, gaining more infrastructures, while rural areas have experienced slower development and stronger spontaneous modifications. The intersection of government planning intervention and user-led adaptation has resulted in hybrid landscapes where formal planning and informal adaptation coexist. It reveals both resident resilience through improved living conditions and economic benefits, as well as challenges, including disorderly growth and a weakened community identity.

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