Guryong Village
Perspective: From the People
The majority of the people who live in Guryong village do not live in their current condition by choice. The majority of the population are retired folks who were forced to leave their original homes in the wake of the 1988 Olympic Games. They came to this land as a last resort, but have laid roots in an act of defiance towards the callous government.
Desire to be Acknowledged
Guryong as a Home
For the people in Guryong, the village is more than a simple house. They have not just survived here, but rather thrived. Their tenacity in the face of overwhelming odds serves as a symbol of the power of the oppressed in response to a system stacked against them at every turn.
The unique positioning of Guryong Village on the outskirts of Seoul leads to its Authentic Nature. This authenticity is crystallized in the ramshackle constructions occupying its territory. The people, in spite of their downtrodden housing, seek to better it with the newest advances including refrigerators and flat-screen televisions.
Guryong as an Authentic Place
Guryong as a Creative Space
The spaciality of the Guryong village has a strong creative slant. The constructions of the villagers are created without respect for standard architectural practices. This leads to a severe increase in creative output as there are no limits placed on the potential for creation.
