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 stood in a prime location overlooking that very sea.
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 breathtaking 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 untidy and abandoned. The moment I thought about starting a regional hub project based on empty houses, I stumbled upon such a wonderful place. You really do get somewhere by talking 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 to think about how many houses like this there must be all over Korea.
+ Vacant House Ratio in Buan County, Jeollabuk-do
Source: Sisain Interactive Article "The Silent Disease Spreading Through Cities: ⟨Vacant Houses⟩"
Buan County's vacant house rate significantly exceeds the national average. In fact, I saw many vacant houses while driving around.