Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Environment

Seoul moves to ban cramped basement flats after flood deaths

Vehicles get partly submerged at a flooded parking lot during heavy rain in Seoul, South Korea, August 8, 2022 [File: Yonhap/Reuters]

Authorities in Seoul are moving to ban the typically cramped basement flats in the South Korean capital, after several people drowned during flooding caused by record-breaking rains.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said on Thursday it was planning to get rid of the tiny subterranean dwellings – known as “banjiha” and featured in the Oscar-winning film Parasite – which are typically cheap to rent but prone to damp and flooding.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.