빈집 정비 및 활용에 관한 정책적 사례 비교 연구

Abstract

(Background and Purpose) In recent years, the rapid increase in vacant houses in both urban and rural areas has triggered not only physical safety concerns but also a range of social problems, such as the disintegration of local communities and urban decline. In South Korea, particularly, the demographic shifts of population decline and aging have led to a structural escalation of vacant housing issues in rural areas, directly resulting in the deterioration of the residential environments. Acknowledging these challenges, this study highlights the necessity for policy responses that regard vacant houses not merely as subjects for demolition, but as potential resources that can be transformed into local assets. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to analyze the current status of vacant house management and utilization projects in South Korea and to derive future policy directions through a comparative review of advanced cases in Japan. (Method) This research employs a dual approach, integrating both a comprehensive literature review and a case study methodology. Within the domestic context, vacant house projects were classified into three categories: those linked to urban regeneration, those focused on demolition and management, and those centered on reuse and activation. A comprehensive examination of representative local government cases was conducted for each type in terms of background, operational methods, legal basis, and policy outcomes. In the context of Japanese , seminal initiatives such as the Akiya Bank and the Onomichi Vacant House Regeneration Project were subjected to rigorous scrutiny. These initiatives were analyzed with a focus on local ordinance-based governance, civil-private collaboration, and strategies for establishing community regeneration hubs. (Results) In South Korea, the legal foundation for policies regarding vacant houses policies was established through the enactment of the ‘Special Act on the Maintenance and Improvement of Vacant and Small Houses’ in 2018 and the amendment of the ‘Rural Development Act’ in 2020. Diverse policy approaches have since emerged, including information-sharing platforms such as Seoul’s ‘Vacant House Information Bank’, community-oriented conversion projects in Jeongseon County, and socially driven collaborative models in Seongbuk District. In contrast, Japan has taken a more proactive and systematic approach through local ordinances and integrated national policies. The Japanese model promotes sustainable practices such as market-based vacancy matching via the Akiya Bank and the development of localized community regeneration hubs. (Conclusions) This study emphasizes the need for a policy paradigm shift that reframes vacant houses not as indicators of regional decline, but as opportunities for autonomous regeneration and community revitalization. Future Korean policy should strengthen institutional frameworks while simultaneously fostering cooperative models involving public, private, and community actors. Differentiated implementation strategies tailored to each project type, along with region-specific management models that balance public value and sustainability, are essential. Japan’s experience offers valuable practical implications for shaping such integrated policy approaches.