Each district has characteristics shaped by its residents’ age and income levels, the types of shopping malls, and levels of urban development. These characteristics naturally change over time. Sometimes, the character of a city can change rapidly, and the phenomenon of gentrification is a prime example.
The term ‘gentrification’ was first coined by Ruth Glass, a British sociologist, who described it in the context of working-class areas in West London, such as Chelsea and Hampstead. These neighborhoods were transformed into upscale residential zones due to the influx of middle and upper-class residents. As a result, the original lower-income residents were forced to leave due to unaffordable living costs, leading to a complete shift in the area’s social and economic makeup. In essence, gentrification refers to the process where underdeveloped areas, inhabited by low-income residents and small businesses, undergo development with high-end residential and cultural facilities. This transformation, led primarily by private enterprises rather than government intervention, drives up local costs, pushing out original inhabitants and businesses.
A representative example of gentrification is Seongsu-dong in Seoul. From the 1960s through the 2010s, Seongsu-dong was a mix of outdated factories and artists’ studios. However, over the past decade, the area has undergone significant changes, with old factories remodeled into popular cafes and the emergence of upscale residential complexes around Seoul Forest. Seongsu-dong is now renowned as a hub for pop-up stores, marking a dramatic shift from its industrial past. As a result of these changes, artists and factory workers with lower incomes were forced to move to other neighborhoods, unable to afford the higher cost of living.
Gentrification has advantages, including economic revitalization, improved infrastructure, and increased property values. However, it also brings significant downsides, such as losing local character and displacing original residents. To minimize the side effects of gentrification, it is important to fully reflect the opinions of the local community and develop housing support and small business protection policies for low-income residents.
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