Mold grows more easily when humidity is higher in indoor spaces, and as such is found more often on wetted areas in housing such as walls, toilets, kitchens, and poorly managed spaces. However, there have been few studies that have specifically assessed the level of mold in the indoor spaces of water-damaged housing in the Republic of Korea. We investigated the levels of airborne mold according to the characteristics of water damage types and explored the correlation between the distribution of mold genera and the characteristics of households. Samplings were performed from January 2016 to June 2018 in 97 housing units with water leakage or condensation, or a history of flooding, and in 61 general housing units in the metropolitan and Busan area, respectively. Airborne mold was collected on MEA (Malt extract agar) at flow rate of 100 L/min for 1 min. After collection, the samples were incubated at 25oC for 120 hours. The cultured samples were counted and corrected using a positive hole conversion table. The samples were then analyzed by single colony culture, DNA extraction, gene amplification, and sequencing. By type of housing, concentrations of airborne mold were highest in flooded housing, followed by water-leaked or highly condensed housings, and then general housing. In more than 50% of water-damaged housing, the level of airborne mold exceeded the guideline of Korea's Ministry of Environment (500 CFU/m3). Of particular concern was the fact that the I/O ratio of water-damaged housing was greater than 1, which could indicate that mold damage may occur indoors. The distribution patterns of the fungal species were as follows: Penicillium spp., Cladosporium spp. (14%), Aspergillus spp. (13%) and Alternaria spp. (3%), but significant differences of their levels in indoor spaces were not found. Our findings indicate that high levels of mold damage were found in housing with water damage, and Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium brevicompactum were more dominant in housing with high water activity. Comprehensive management of flooded or water-damaged housing is necessary to reduce fungal exposure.

The federal government has been implemented several housing policies attempting to improve living quality at Eup-Myun area(rural area), but those were mostly fund supports to reconstruct or repair houses. Existing minimum housing standard is focused on urban apartments and indoor space, but the houses of Eup-Myun area are scattered and are different from urban's house space. Therefore, this study focused on these area, and intended to propose suitable minimum housing standard for Eup-Myun area. Based on literature reviews about housing standard of England, U.S., Japan and South Korea, questionnaire survey was given to 50 experts divided into 2 groups, professors of architecture and researchers on rural environment. This study proposed the direction of new minimum housing standard of Eup-Myun area, it could be added to 2 household composition, be divided into 2 groups, agricultural and non-agricultural residents into facility guideline, be added to outdoor facilities, for example warehouse and open yard, and finally be inserted water quality into environment standard. The results of this study provide insightful strategies for rural housing standard.