Goyang is spending 2.6 billion won (about $1.9 million) to make 44 aging apartment complexes safer

In Goyang, South Korea, thousands of families live in apartment blocks and small homes that are 15 years old or more — solid, but drafty, expensive to heat and slowly wearing out. The city is putting 2.6 billion won (about $1.9 million) into upgrading 44 aging apartment complexes, and alongside the safety work it is running a 'passive house' remodeling program for smaller older homes: high-efficiency windows and insulation, with support of up to 10 million won (about $7,200) per household. Fourteen households have already completed their remodels. The work ties into Goyang's carbon-neutrality plan, but Mayor Min Kyung-sun frames it more simply: 'Securing safety, which is directly tied to residents' lives, is our top priority. We will fundamentally resolve the daily inconveniences of aging homes while accelerating the shift to eco-friendly green buildings.'

SDG 11 · Sustainable cities and communities — Mechanism: institutional program