Seoul Metropolitan Council's Committee on Livelihood Practice Proposes Child Housing Poverty Policy to Mayor Park Won-soon

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] The Seoul Metropolitan Council's Democratic Party Livelihood Practice Committee (Chair Bong Yang-sun·photo, Nowon 3) held a policy meeting on child housing poverty with Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon on the 29th of last month.

That morning, the Livelihood Practice Committee (hereafter Livelihood Committee) conducted a field visit to areas of child housing poverty in Geumcheon-gu, and directly delivered the 'Child Housing Poverty Support Ordinance Proposal' they have been promoting to Mayor Park Won-soon. They urged Seoul City for a progressive decision regarding the controversial Seoul City Child Minimum Housing Standards.

The 'Child Housing Poverty Support Ordinance' (tentative name) that the Livelihood Committee is pushing to enact aims to include children, who have been marginalized so far, as subjects of housing policy, and to establish legal and institutional grounds for Seoul City to proactively implement various policies and projects to alleviate child housing poverty.

Regarding the Livelihood Committee's policy suggestions, Mayor Park Won-soon responded, “I will seriously consider including child housing within the vulnerable groups' care policies that Seoul City has continuously pursued,” and especially said, “Housing rights are basic rights guaranteed by the Constitution, and if the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's minimum housing standards do not fit reality, Seoul City will step up to correct them.”

Lee Jun-hyung, Vice Chair of the Livelihood Committee who attended the meeting, pointed out, “It is encouraging that Seoul City is conducting the nation's first pilot project to support child housing, but since the project's basis is a directive from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and is unprecedented, there is confusion at the housing welfare centers of the 25 autonomous districts.”

Vice Chair Kim Jae-hyung said, “After seeing the child housing poverty sites firsthand, there was a gap compared to what is seen on paper,” and added, “It is urgent to apply standards other than the minimum housing standard based on living income levels to resolve blind spots in housing welfare.”

Additionally, Assembly Member Kwon Soon-sun argued, “Seoul City needs to supplement housing support for children aging out of protective care.”

All 12 members of the Livelihood Committee attended the meeting, which extended well beyond the expected time and proceeded with heated discussions.

Mayor Park Won-soon concluded the meeting by expressing gratitude for the Livelihood Committee's policy suggestions and stating that Seoul City will review them progressively.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.