Limited Approval for New Rural Vacant House Accommodation in 5 Si-Gun Areas with Fewer Than 50 Units

Third Innovation Growth Strategy Meeting Held on the 21st
2.5 Billion Won Included in Next Year's Budget... Support for Service Safety Education and Consulting

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Kwangho Lee and Sehee Jang] The government has decided to allow new operators wishing to use vacant houses in rural fishing villages for lodging to operate under conditions of up to 5 cities/counties, within 50 houses, and for no more than 300 days. However, the houses must be detached houses with a total floor area of less than 70 pyeong (230㎡) and must have been unoccupied for more than one year.

On the 21st, the government held the 3rd Innovation Growth Strategy Meeting at the Government Seoul Office, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Hong Nam-ki, to discuss the current status and future plans of the One-Step Model, including these details.

Deputy Prime Minister Hong stated, "There had been conflicts between the existing lodging industry and new operators due to concerns about safety and conflicts with the purpose of the rural fishing village lodging system aimed at increasing farmers' and fishermen's income, but stakeholders made concessions step by step to reach an agreement."

According to the agreement, new operators utilizing vacant houses in rural fishing villages can enter the lodging business under conditions accepting restrictions such as 5 cities/counties, 50 houses, and 300 operating days, and under the conditions of accumulating village funds and promising efforts for coexistence with local residents.

The existing lodging industry will accept the regulatory sandbox under the linkage of support such as safety education and consulting to enhance the competitiveness of the lodging industry. The government has reflected a related budget of 2.5 billion KRW in next year's budget plan.

Previously, the startup company Dajayo attempted a new lodging model using vacant houses in rural fishing villages but had to suspend operations since July last year due to violations of the residency requirements of rural fishing village lodging. Dajayo applied for the regulatory sandbox in January this year, but there had been sharp conflicts among stakeholders, including opposition from the lodging industry.

Following this agreement, the government will submit the demonstration exemption agenda to the Regulatory Sandbox New Technology and Service Deliberation Committee on the 23rd for approval. If designated as a demonstration exemption agenda, new operators will be allowed to operate for the next two years.

The government plans to establish a separate system considering the performance of the demonstration exemption operation and its impact on rural communities. Additionally, the government is prioritizing discussions on the One-Step Model for urban shared lodging and forest tourism (such as the Hadong Alps Project).

The meeting also discussed the "Green Bio Convergence New Industry Promotion Plan" and the "Bioindustry Talent Development Promotion Plan."

Deputy Prime Minister Hong mentioned, "To enable green bio to emerge as one of the future food industries of our economy, we will actively support all stages from technology development to commercialization and focus on nurturing five core areas: microbiome, alternative foods and medifoods, seed industry, veterinary pharmaceuticals, and bio-materials."

He continued, "Although the quantitative supply of manpower is not small, there is a qualitative mismatch in the bioindustry where talents immediately usable by companies are lacking. To solve this, we will introduce a Korean-style NIBRT education program and establish a bio-process manpower training center to nurture 2,000 customized field workers annually to meet corporate demand."

He added, "We will also actively nurture essential personnel across the industrial ecosystem by expanding new technology utilization experts through education on new drug development using data and AI, and expanding dispatch of trainees to overseas research institutes in AI and precision medicine fields."

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