'Green Concrete' documentary questions cost of urban renewal

For Koreans, who endure extreme temperatures, apartment complexes stand as a symbol of efficient housing and valuable financial assets. These concrete structures not only maintain property value but also preserve residents' memories, neighborhood bonds, and urban nature. In South Korea's southern Seoul district of Gaepo-dong, documentary filmmaker Lee Sung-min's Green Concrete delves into the conflict surrounding the demolition of a large residential complex spanning a decade from 2017.

The 103-minute film visually documents the shifting cityscape and the fate of the trees cultivated there for generations.

Lee, who spent his formative years within the complex, initially embarked on the project to record the space before its imminent disappearance. What began as a personal endeavor evolved into a collaborative undertaking, uniting former residents to share old photographs and recollections. Through these shared narratives, the documentary presents the vanishing apartment complex as one of the few remaining green sanctuaries amidst an otherwise concrete-dominated environment. Instead of taking a stance in the redevelopment discourse, the film remains impartial.