On December 12, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced that five abandoned houses in the fishing villages of Wando-gun in Jeollanam-do and Namhae-gun in Gyeongsangnam-do have been successfully transformed into community facilities and housing spaces for returnees as part of its abandoned village regeneration project. This initiative aims to improve the living environment in fishing villages, which has been in place since 2024, with funding contributed by four port corporations: Busan, Incheon, Yeosu-Gwangyang, and Ulsan.

Among the newly renovated properties, two houses in Wando-gun have been converted into shared housing for former residents living away from home and prospective returnees, while three houses in Namhae-gun now serve as residential spaces for returnees and shared community facility parking. The local government of Namhae-gun is currently accepting applications for housing usage from returnees, while Wando-gun aims to complete preparations by the end of the month to commence operations.

In addition to these developments, last year, two abandoned houses in the coastal village of Yeongdeok-gun in North Gyeongsang Province, affected by wildfires, were also included in the regeneration project, with plans for their completion by the end of this year. The Ministry plans to select new project sites this year and aims to systematically manage abandoned houses in fishing villages through legislative efforts, working in collaboration with relevant ministries to enforce the 'Special Law on Abandoned Houses in Rural Areas.' The Ministry emphasized the importance of improving living conditions for village residents to ensure safety and preserve the village's scenic landscape.