Ministry of Land and Seoul City "Must Curb New Semi-Basement Construction... Comprehensive Measures to Be Prepared by Year-End"

Differences in Admission Noted Over the Weekend
Agreement to Strengthen Cooperation to Resolve Disaster-Vulnerable Housing
Plan to Announce Comprehensive Measures Including Redevelopment Projects and Support for Residential Upgrading Moves

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) have agreed to cooperate to resolve disaster-vulnerable housing such as semi-basement homes.

On the 16th, Seoul City and MOLIT stated, "We plan to strengthen cooperation between the two institutions to enhance the housing choice rights of vulnerable groups."

Previously, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and MOLIT Minister Won Hee-ryong had shown differing views on measures to resolve disaster-vulnerable housing, especially semi-basement homes. When Seoul City announced plans to eliminate existing semi-basement homes over a grace period of 10 to 20 years following flood damage, Minister Won expressed the need to slow down, saying, "If semi-basements are eliminated, where will those people go?" In response, Seoul City effectively rebutted by announcing plans for relocation to public rental housing and support measures for housing upgrades.

However, on this day, both institutions coordinated their positions, stating, "Both Seoul City and MOLIT share the same view that it is necessary to fundamentally resolve disaster-vulnerable housing and to suppress the construction of new disaster-vulnerable housing such as semi-basements."

They added, "We plan to strengthen cooperation on expanding the supply of public rental housing within the city to enhance the housing choice rights of vulnerable groups, reinforcing support for relocation to proper housing, and reorganizing aging rental housing. Seoul City, MOLIT, and related agencies will jointly conduct a survey on disaster-vulnerable housing and prepare a comprehensive plan by the end of the year."

Meanwhile, Seoul City announced the day before a long-term plan to absorb semi-basement households by promoting the reconstruction of aging public rental housing. They are also securing about 8,000 households annually through purchased rental housing and rental housing from public contributions in redevelopment projects. When conducting redevelopment and other maintenance projects, they plan to prioritize selecting areas densely populated with semi-basement homes that have a history of flooding and reduce semi-basement housing by awarding additional points. In the short term, a new voucher will be established to subsidize monthly rent by 200,000 KRW for up to two years for semi-basement households including disabled persons, elderly, and children who relocate to above-ground floors.

On the same day, MOLIT also announced measures for semi-basement housing through the "Plan to Realize National Housing Stability." They plan to increase the supply of public rental housing to more than 10,000 units annually and expand relocation support such as priority supply of public rental housing for residents of disaster-prone houses. Additionally, they intend to significantly increase the purchase agreement for new urban housing to 150,000 units over the next five years. For those wishing to relocate from private rental housing, interest-free loans for jeonse deposits will also be newly introduced.

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