Seoul will financially support 1,500 households in semi-basement apartments like the one depicted in the Oscar-winning film ‘Parasite’.
According to the municipality, some 78 percent of those living in such apartments are from the bottom 30 percent income bracket.
Up to 3.2 million won per household will be offered by the Korea Energy Foundation and the Seoul Metropolitan Government to enhance heating systems, replace floors, and install air conditioners, dehumidifiers, ventilators, windows and fire alarms.
As portrayed in ‘Parasite’, the semi-basement apartments tend to be cramped, damp and smelly due to a lack of sunlight and ventilation, especially when the city gets flooded.
Through community centers and district offices in Seoul, those who earn less than 60 percent of the median income for a Korean household can submit applications starting in March, with the range of recipients to be expanded each year.
