When an Apartment Becomes a Village: A Community Apartment as a Place to Live

A book talk celebrating the publication of How Did an Apartment Become a Village?, a book documenting the story of the community apartment WESTAY Byeolnae.(Photo by Milly) 

 In my previous article, I introduced the origins of WESTAY Byeolnae, a community apartment operated through a social cooperative model.

 

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This time, I would like to share stories about the present and future of WESTAY Byeolnae based on a book talk held on June 8 to celebrate the publication of How Did an Apartment Become a Village? Among the various sessions that day, I found the residents’ personal stories and experiences particularly fascinating.

 

😍How Do the Residents Live?

 

Several residents took the stage during the book talk and, somewhat shyly, shared stories about life at WESTAY Byeolnae.

 

At its core, WESTAY Byeolnae is a community where residents actively participate in village life together. People take part in various activities, including parenting groups, bookstores, cafés, and community projects.

 

One resident explained that he helps run a fathers’ parenting group made up of apartment residents. The group provides children with a safe and comfortable environment that extends beyond their own homes. Because caregiving and education naturally occur across generations, parents feel more secure raising their children within the community.

 

He explained, “As children grow into teenagers, our role is to help them develop the ability to navigate their own lives.”

 

In fact, WESTAY Byeolnae has developed a culture where the community collectively helps care for children. It could reasonably be described as a “child-friendly village.” During the discussion, the moderator noted that one of the key elements of a child-friendly community is receiving support and consideration based on mutual understanding.

 

Another resident shared that she works at a café located within the apartment complex and expressed great satisfaction with being able to work while caring for her child. In South Korea, many women still leave the workforce because of childcare responsibilities, making this arrangement particularly meaningful.

 

According to the moderator, as of the end of last year, a total of 88 jobs were operating within the apartment community. More than 80 people were engaged in economic activities while living and working alongside their neighbors.

 

Participants discuss housing trends in South Korea and abroad, as well as the story and future possibilities of WESTAY Byeolnae. (Photo by Milly)

😘Not a Place for Special People—Just Ordinary Neighbors

 

While reporting on WESTAY Byeolnae, I have occasionally encountered people who ask, “Isn’t that the kind of apartment where only special people live?”

 

Whenever I hear that question, I always give the same answer:

“I don’t live there myself, but from what I have seen, they are simply ordinary people living ordinary lives—just like you and me.”

 

A representative from The Social Developer Group DEOHAM, which played a key role in creating and supporting WESTAY Byeolnae, expressed a similar view during the book talk.

 

“We do not believe this community was created by extraordinary people. It became possible because ordinary people came together and combined their efforts.”

 

😋The Potential for Expansion

 

As housing affordability declines and individualism continues to deepen in South Korea, the WESTAY Byeolnae model offers a potential way to address challenges such as caregiving, employment, and social isolation at the community level.

 

Its potential extends beyond a single apartment complex. The expansion of community-based housing tailored to different locations—urban areas, regional towns, and low-rise residential neighborhoods—as well as different generations, including young adults and older residents, could help address a variety of social challenges facing Korean society today.

 

Following the creation of WESTAY Byeolnae, a sister community apartment called WESTAY Jichuk was also completed and is now home to residents who are building their own community together.

 

The Korean government has likewise expressed interest in expanding housing models inspired by WESTAY. (I plan to update this section as additional information becomes available.)

 

(*The name “Jichuk” comes from the neighborhood of Jichuk-dong in Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province, where the apartment complex is located.)

 

😉A New Chapter in Korean Housing

 

The WESTAY Byeolnae and WESTAY Jichuk models are opening a new chapter in Korean housing culture.

 

Unlike housing developments designed primarily for a single generation—such as retirement communities—these projects bring together people of different ages and backgrounds. They are not simply housing complexes but communities where multiple generations live side by side as neighbors.

 

In reality, housing for older adults should not necessarily mean relocating to a separate facility. In a super-aged society, one of the most important housing models may be one that allows people to continue living in their own homes and neighborhoods, maintaining their familiar lifestyles while remaining connected to their communities.

 

Listening to the book talk, I was reminded that the journey of creating, developing, and growing WESTAY was never easy. There were challenges and setbacks throughout the process.

 

Yet despite those difficulties, the residents who live there today continue to build meaningful lives together—lives that are both ordinary and, in their own way, extraordinary.

 

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