Some 40 Korean traditional houses have been saved from demolition by the tenacious efforts of RPCV Peter Bartholomew who loves Korean traditional culture



Bartholomew came to Korea in 1968 as a member of the Peace Corps and has been living in a Korean traditional house in Dongsomun-dong for 35 years. The Seoul Administrative Court on Thursday cancelled the redevelopment plan for the Dongsomun-dong area in Seongbuk District by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Twenty residents had sued the city to preserve the traditional houses.

Some 40 Korean traditional houses have been saved from demolition by the tenacious efforts of RPCV Peter Bartholomew who loves Korean traditional culture

American Helps Save Traditional Korean Neighborhood

Some 40 Korean traditional houses have been saved from demolition by the tenacious efforts of an American who loves Korean traditional culture. The Seoul Administrative Court on Thursday cancelled the redevelopment plan for the Dongsomun-dong area in Seongbuk District by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Twenty residents had sued the city to preserve the traditional houses.
Peter Bartholomew in his traditional Korean house on Thursday /Yonhap Peter Bartholomew in his traditional Korean house on Thursday /Yonhap

In 2004, the Seoul Metropolitan Government decided to redevelop over 25,000 sq. m in dilapidated Dongsomun-dong, and finalized the plan in 2007. Some 43 Korean traditional houses in the designated zone would have faced demolition. But Peter Bartholomew insisted that the houses must be preserved and along with 19 other residents of Dongsomun-dong, filed a lawsuit against the city government plan in 2007.

The court ruled the historical value of the hanok or traditional houses did not save them from being condemned if they were dilapidated. But the Seoul Metropolitan Government had included already demolished buildings that only existed on paper in the building register to justify the plan, and without those the percentage of dilapidated buildings fell short of the 60 percent the law requires for blanket demolition.

Bartholomew came to Korea in 1968 as a member of the Peace Corps and has been living in a Korean traditional house in Dongsomun-dong for 35 years.

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Headlines: June, 2009; Peace Corps Korea; Directory of Korea RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Korea RPCVs; Law; City Planning

When this story was posted in June 2009, this was on the front page of PCOL:




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Join Us Mr. President! "We will double the size of the Peace Corps by its 50th anniversary in 2011. And we'll reach out to other nations to engage their young people in similar programs, so that we work side by side to take on the common challenges that confront all humanity," said Barack Obama during his campaign. Read how RPCV's rallied and and marched to the White House to support a bold new Peace Corps for a new age.

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May 30, 2009: Peace Corps' Roadmap Peace Corps' Roadmap for the Future 26 May Who are the Candidates for Peace Corps Director? 24 May Have French Atomic Tests put PCVs at Risk? 1 May Obama asks Congress for 10% increase in PC Budget 7 May Guy Consolmagno debunks "Angels & Demons" 22 May Obama praises Dodd at credit card signing 22 May John Garamendi front runner in California primary 22 May Al Kamen writes: New management structure at PC HQ? 22 May Damian Wampler's play Twin Towers opens in NYC 21 May Michael Volpe learns that DC is networking capital 21 May Dr. Mike Metke returns to Costa Rica 10 May Jesse Fleisher Lives well on less 14 May Al Kamen writes: PCVs peak at 11,000 under Obama Budget 11 May James W. Kostenblatt is making a difference in Mozambique 10 May Karen and Warren Master host Kyrgyzstan teen 9 May Alberto Ibargüen writes: The Future of Newspapers 9 May PC Monitor 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus in Mexico 1 May Paul Theroux writes: Obama and the Peace Corps 1 May Johnnie Carson to head State Department African Affairs 29 Apr Michael O'Hanlon writes: Grading Obama's First 100 Days 29 Apr Amy Potthast writes: The Peace Corps Lottery 23 Apr Read more stories from April and May 2009.

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PCOL's Candidate for Peace Corps Director Honduras RPCV Jon Carson, 33, presided over thousands of workers as national field director for the Obama campaign and said the biggest challenge -- and surprise -- was the volume of volunteer help, including more than 15,000 "super volunteers," who were a big part of what made Obama's campaign so successful. PCOL endorses Jon Carson as the man who can revitalize the Peace Corps, bring it into the internet age, and meet Obama's goal of doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011.

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Director Ron Tschetter: The PCOL Interview Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter sat down for an in-depth interview to discuss the evacuation from Bolivia, political appointees at Peace Corps headquarters, the five year rule, the Peace Corps Foundation, the internet and the Peace Corps, how the transition is going, and what the prospects are for doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011. Read the interview and you are sure to learn something new about the Peace Corps. PCOL previously did an interview with Director Gaddi Vasquez.

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