Kwon Ik-wi: "University Dormitories Should Increase the Proportion of Independent Living Spaces"

Severe Vacancy Rates in Multi-Person Dormitories
Considering Housing Preferences of the MZ Generation
Recommendations for System Improvement to the Ministry of Education

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission has recommended improving the residential environment by allocating a certain proportion of independent living spaces in multi-occupancy rooms in university dormitories.

On the 4th, the Commission announced that it recommended the Ministry of Education to improve the system to enhance the residential environment of university dormitories and dormitory halls.

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According to the Commission's investigation, about 43% of currently operating university dormitories and dormitory halls are aged dormitories that were completed over 20 years ago. Consequently, complaints regarding noise, heating and cooling, sanitation issues, and dissatisfaction with the use of shared facilities have been continuously raised.

In particular, the aversion to multi-occupancy dormitory rooms was identified as the main reason for dissatisfaction with the dormitory living environment. According to the Commission's survey, the average vacancy rates for multi-occupancy rooms in metropolitan area university dormitories in 2022 were 17% for triple rooms and 22% for quadruple rooms. It was analyzed that the MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z), who prefer independent living spaces, tend to avoid multi-occupancy rooms, significantly impacting dormitory operations.

Some universities are constructing new dormitories to address these issues, but they are facing difficulties due to opposition from nearby residents.

Accordingly, through surveys and on-site dormitory meetings, the Commission developed system improvement measures tailored to the demands of the MZ generation youth. First, the university evaluation accreditation criteria were revised to include indicators for the proportion of independent living spaces within multi-occupancy rooms and efforts to improve the residential environment of aged dormitories.

Furthermore, when reconstructing aged lecture buildings, it was recommended to build complex-type dormitories linked with dormitories or to consider reutilizing nearby villas. The Commission also advised implementing education to prevent lease fraud for students living in one-room apartments off-campus.

In addition, legal grounds were established to allow university development funds to be used for improving dormitory living environments, and regulations were put in place to enable the accumulation of long-term repair reserves for maintenance of aged dormitory facilities.

A Commission official stated, "We hope that by placing independent living spaces and shared spaces together within multi-occupancy dormitory rooms, not only the residential satisfaction of the MZ generation will improve, but also cooperation and communication in communal living will be fostered."

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