In a bid to preserve and promote the traditional "hanok" houses, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will expand financial assistance for those repairing, remodeling or rebuilding their Korean-style homes.
 
The city on Friday announced the expansion of its assistance program for “hanok” owners, which has been limitedly applied to only those in clusters including in Bukchon near Gyeongbok royal palace in central Seoul.
 
While expanding the program coverage to the whole city, the metropolitan government will also accredit a “good hanok certification” system and issue it to the owners of well-renovated hanok. It also plans to open a portal Web site which will provide comprehensive information about hanok.
 
The city will hold a forum on Saturday to specify the new support policies.