An Empty House in Jinseo-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
While visiting Buan's Byeonsan Peninsula, I stumbled upon an empty house.
The Byeonsan Peninsula offers a striking view where islands appear beyond the sea, creating a surreal landscape as if mountains float upon the water. This house was positioned to overlook that very sea perfectly.
While driving to Naeso Temple, I nearly passed it by. I managed to make a U-turn just in time, got out of the car, and was met with a view that left me speechless.
The photos couldn't capture the sheer grandeur I witnessed firsthand. The open sea, the mountains beyond, the mist and sky… It was the kind of view exiled scholars might have beheld.
And there, in front of it, stood a single empty house
Inside, two large windows faced the sea—a view straight out of a fairy tale. It felt like the perfect space to sit quietly at a desk, reading books, writing, and resting all day long.
Judging by its interior, it didn't seem to have been vacant for that long, but the surrounding area was completely neglected and abandoned. The moment I thought about starting a regional hub project based on this vacant house, I stumbled upon such a wonderful place. It really pays to talk about things.
I saved the phone number from the real estate ad on the nearby utility pole and wrote down the address.
Checking the building records on Minwon24, I saw it was built in 1996, and the most recent registered use was a dried seafood shop. There seemed to be something like a fish farm right below it, so it must have been a place selling dried seafood near the road. I should call the real estate agent and ask about it. Next year, I really need to start a proper project. I'm already excited thinking about how many houses like this must exist all over Korea.
+ Vacant House Ratio in Buan County, Jeollabuk-do
Source: Sisa In Interactive Article "The Silent Spread of an Urban Disease: ⟨Vacant Houses⟩"
Buan County's vacant house rate significantly exceeds the national average. In fact, I saw many vacant houses while driving around.