The Blueprint of Reform

"It's too ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠difficult."

A torrent of objections poured in from the department directors.

"First of all, it will inevitably be framed as a populist waste of the budget."

"The maintenance and management of those community facilities will also be an issue."

"It will inevitably impose additional maintenance fees on the local residents, and many of them are ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠going to hate that."

"Reaching a consensus among those residents is practically impossible."

Lee Yun-hyeok shook his head.

"It is possible. In fact, there are already successful models."

"Successful models?"

The Director of the Urban Housing Department looked as if he had never heard of such a thing.

"Yes, though not in Korea. For example, the Bauausstellung in Hamburg, Germany."

It was a type of urban regeneration experiment. With the goal of improving a low-income immigrant neighborhood without demolishing it, a residents' association, architects, and the city council successfully co-designed the project. They integrated multi-purpose community centers, play areas, environmental infrastructure, and public education facilities right into the residential zone.

"Or Suginami Ward in Tokyo, Japan."

By installing childcare centers, senior shelters, and multi-purpose community spaces in a low-rise residential area, they provided welfare infrastructure like communal kitchens, neighborhood libraries, and local daycare centers. This successfully encouraged resident participation and secured neighborhood-level infrastructure as an alternative to complete redevelopment.

"Or the Community Development Corporations in New York."

These are non-profit community organizations that led the regeneration of slummed, low-income residential areas. Using public subsidies, they successfully restored community spaces by establishing daycare, job training, after-school centers, and community gardens.

"..."

Jeong Mu-jin fell silent for a moment.

There was no counterargument to the logic of 'Well, it worked over there.'

To claim they couldn't do what others had successfully achieved would be tantamount to admitting their own incompetence.

And above all else...

I don't even know where those places are.

That was the truly shocking part for the Director of the Urban Housing Department.

How on earth did a newly elected local government leader know about such things?

How could he possess such specialized knowledge that even the department director—the highest administrative authority in the field—was barely aware of it?

"Actually, if you look, such overseas cases are quite common. Our country needs this kind of approach as well," Yun-hyeok said.

"And regarding your concern about being attacked for wasting the budget on populism—the real waste of budget is building apartments."

"..."

"Honestly, don't we all know the truth? Take the redevelopment projects pushed in Mir City so far. The vast majority of the aging buildings torn down to build apartments could have actually been used for much longer."

In redevelopment projects, the logic of capital always takes precedence over actual demand.

In reality, this is how the system works:

First, local redevelopment brokers scout for areas that seem profitable.

Let's say they target the Beomdol District.

If ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠there are 200 houses in that area, the brokers buy up 100 of them, win over the owners of the remaining 100, and form a cooperative union.

Then, the brokers split their ownership of the 100 houses into different names. If they split one house among three names, a redevelopment union that originally represented 200 houses suddenly has 400 registered members.

This allows the brokers to monopolize the voting rights within the union.

Next, they lobby city council members, manipulate public opinion by exaggerating how slum-like the target area is, falsify safety evaluation data, and request the local government to establish a redevelopment plan.

Once the redevelopment permit is granted, they tear everything down, erect apartments, and claim the purchase rights for 300 units.

They sell them all off and leave.

As a result, people who never even lived in the area walk away with fortunes, the 100 ordinary homeowners find their property rights infringed upon, and the tenants are evicted due to gentrification.

"The most infuriating part is that when projects are run this way, astronomical amounts of local government funds are poured into them."

It is common for hundreds of billions of won to be spent on zoning changes, permits, and infrastructure subsidies.

"But I will absolutely not allow the city's budget to be used that way. Colluding with powerful organizations like redevelopment brokers to curry favor with the public—that is the real populist waste of budget."

Jeong Mu-jin became as quiet as a dead mouse.

"Now, everyone. What is the truly correct way to execute an urban maintenance budget?"

"..."

"Isn't it right to do it like the Bauausstellung, Suginami Ward, and the Community Development Corporations I mentioned earlier?"

Objectively speaking, it was an incredibly obvious point.

Urban maintenance projects should inherently focus on renovating existing facilities and improving the environment, not building brand-new apartments. After all, the government's job is to pursue universal welfare rather than luxury conveniences for a select few.

While a single redevelopment project drains 100 billion won from the city's coffers, a mere 5 billion won is enough to equip a low-rise villa district of the same scale with daycares, rest areas, and parking lots.

"That... may be true, but..."

It was an irrefutable, sound argument, but the Director of the Urban Housing Department still wore a worried expression.

"Are you planning to go to war with those redevelopment brokers, then...?"

The mayor had lost his mind.

Crushing the malicious civil complaint organizations was worthy of applause, but the opponents this time were far more terrifying and powerful.

These weren't just stubborn citizens throwing tantrums; they were professional operators holding law firms in one hand and politicians in the other.

Furthermore...

"I'm embarrassed to say this, but it will be difficult to apply those overseas cases to our country," the Director of the Welfare Policy Department said.

"In Korea, households in non-apartment residential areas are far too fragmented. And they are completely indifferent to politics."

This was especially true if an area like the Beomdol District was selected as the pilot project site.

"The harder and more exhausting daily life is, the less room people have to think about anything else. They distrust policies, harbor a basic hostility toward them, and find the whole process bothersome."

"..."

"So, let alone persuading them, just gathering them in one place will be no easy task."

"And that is why I need your help."

A bizarre phenomenon began to unfold in the Beomdol District of Yeok-dong.

"Hello there."

The mayor and the highest-ranking department directors of the city hall had suddenly swarmed the neighborhood, visiting houses door-to-door.

"W-what is this?"

They wore windbreakers emblazoned with the Mir City logo and sported name tags. Some read [Choi Ha-gyeong, Director of the Construction and Transportation Department], others [Seong Eun-hye, Director of the Environment and Greenery Department]...

...and even [Lee Yun-hyeok, Mayor].

"What brings you here... so suddenly...?"

Every resident they encountered showed utter bewilderment at this shocking development.

"It's not even election season. What's going on?"

Indeed, this was a sight usually reserved for election campaigns.

Weren't politicians supposed to roam the streets only during campaigns, eating a piece of rice cake at a traditional market for the cameras, and then lock themselves inside the main office once elected?

With a year and a half still left in his term, the sight of this crazy mayor ringing doorbells and greeting people house-to-house was incredibly alien to everyone.

What was even stranger was that he hadn't sent low-level local government employees, but had dragged the high-ranking department directors of city hall out to pound the pavement with him.

But the truly bizarre thing was the purpose of their visits.

"We are currently pushing a pilot regional maintenance project in the Beomdol District, and we are holding an information session and town hall meeting for the residents. Please make sure to attend and share your valuable opinions."

Yun-hyeok handed out the promotional flyers.

Yun-hyeok turned to a middle-aged man from Unit 201 of Shinhwa Park Ville, who was staring blankly at the flyer, and asked,

"I noticed the parking space in front of this building is extremely tight. Has that been inconvenient for you?"

"Pardon...? Yes, it's incredibly inconvenient!"

"We can include the construction of a public parking lot in the project plan. Please come and voice your opinion. If there isn't enough demand expressed, that part of the project might get left out."

"...! I'll definitely be there!"

The key was not just handing out flyers, but actively motivating and persuading the citizens to attend the information session.

And to dispel their distrust, the department directors went in person.

Yun-hyeok had divided the directors and their working-level staff by department and assigned them specific sectors.

"Are you redeveloping the area?"

Some residents wore anxious expressions when visited.

They were likely tenants.

These were the people who would ultimately be forced to leave if redevelopment was finalized. Someone living in a place with a 50 million won deposit could never afford a brand-new apartment requiring a 300 million won deposit.

"It's not a redevelopment. We are building new public facilities—things like daycares and senior welfare centers. Please come and tell us what facilities you need."

"...?"

People squinted in suspicion at this completely unheard-of project.

What on earth was this?

Was it redevelopment or not?

"If you have any questions, please call the number below during weekday business hours."

A small army of intensely driven civil servants was roaming the entire Beomdol District, promoting this strange policy.

They even marched into small parks, coin laundromats, and cafes.

They handed out flyers to passersby on the streets.

And then, Saturday at 2:00 PM.

This is actually working.

Choi Ha-gyeong, the Director of the Urban Housing Department, could not easily recover from the shock of the incredible outcome.

The large seminar room, which could accommodate 500 people, was packed to the brim with citizens.

It had gotten to the point where chairs ran out, forcing people to sit on the stairs.

The mayor is a master of grassroots politics.

He had successfully summoned the people of Beomdol District—who were notoriously indifferent and deeply distrustful of politics—to this very room.

However...

This is where the real battle begins.

The negotiations would likely resemble a war zone.

The Director of the Urban Housing Department watched the situation unfold with a racing heart.

"Hello, residents of Beomdol District, Yeok-dong."

Yun-hyeok stood at the podium and addressed the crowd.

"We are going to push forward a powerful and experimental urban regeneration project in the Beomdol District. Public community facilities on par with those of brand-new luxury apartments will be established here."

"Mayor!"

A woman in her sixties raised her hand high and shouted.

"Are we not doing a redevelopment?"

"This project is not about leveling the Beomdol District to build apartments."

The information session hit a major roadblock right from the start.

"But I want a redevelopment!"

The reason this issue was so incredibly thorny was that every imaginable type of stakeholder was mixed together in the crowd.

The Beomdol District didn't just consist of poor single-mother tenants who would be evicted upon redevelopment.

After all, the existence of tenants inevitably meant the existence of landlords.

Ordinary real estate investors who didn't engage in dirty tricks like splitting shares or manipulating safety evaluations deserved respect, at least within the framework of a free-market system.

Not to mention the residents who had lived there for years, enduring discomfort solely in anticipation of redevelopment.

It would not be just for the administration to simply trample over their perspectives.

And so, Yun-hyeok replied:

"We will not block redevelopment."

A murmur rippled through the crowd.

"Weren't you trying to block redevelopment by doing this weird neighborhood block project?"

"No, ma'am. Please think about it."

Yun-hyeok continued.

"You live in Misozium Ville, correct? I remember meeting you at your home. Ma'am, your home in Misozium Ville is likely almost your entire net worth. You're hoping to sell it after redevelopment to help your children, aren't you?"

"Well, yes... I mean, what else do I have at my age?"

"Then, for redevelopment to actually succeed, do you think it is more advantageous to demand it all by yourself? Or would it be better to unite and demand it alongside the hundreds of other homeowners sitting in this room?"

"...?"

The woman from Misozium Ville looked momentarily confused.

"But... even if we unite, it's not like redevelopment will happen right away, will it?"

"Misozium Ville cannot undergo redevelopment right now anyway. That is because it received a Grade B in last year's detailed safety inspection. It's the same story for almost everyone I've gathered here today."

Yun-hyeok explained.

"Therefore, under any legitimately run redevelopment project, it would be highly difficult for your building to be selected as a target zone anytime soon."

"..."

"However, when the time comes that Misozium Ville truly does need redevelopment, it will be prioritized over buildings in other areas in similar conditions. Not only will your collective voice be much stronger because you are united with your neighbors..."

Yun-hyeok projected a map of the Beomdol District onto the screen. It was a schematic diagram showing the pre-designed layout of the project's results: a daycare center on the vacant land opposite Eunseong Town, a senior welfare center utilizing the old park next to Shinhwa Park Ville, and an after-school care classroom in the empty lot of Jeonglip Happy Town.

"...but we will also have a block-style site plan already laid out. From the city hall's perspective, wouldn't we naturally review this area first, if only for administrative convenience?"

"But... how can I wait all that time?"

"You must wait," Yun-hyeok replied firmly.

"The city hall will not spend its budget tearing down a perfectly fine Misozium Ville to build new apartments solely for your personal profit."

"..."

"Instead, I make you two promises. First, we will install public facilities through this block-style project to vastly improve the living environment of the Beomdol District. You will likely feel the rise in property values as early as the first half of next year."

Low gasps of admiration rippled through the crowd, not just from the woman from Misozium Ville but from various corners of the room.

"And second, to ensure that no redevelopment brokers in Mir City can ever steal your rightful turn for redevelopment through dirty tricks..."

Yun-hyeok declared.

"...I will personally root every single one of them out. I will take full responsibility and protect you so that you never suffer such injustice."