Gangwon Province Launches Nation’s First Local Government-Led ‘Public Rental Housing’... Hopes for Youth Settlement in the Region

Eight Cities and Counties in the Province, 742 Units Underway
First Yeongwol Deokpo District Project Completion on October 14
Custom Designs, Below-Market Rents, and Swift Implementation Among Key Advantages

On October 13, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Governor Kim Jin-tae) announced that it is actively promoting the Gangwon-Type Public Housing project, the nation’s first local government-led housing model, with the goal of providing stable housing to increase the local settlement population, including young people and newlyweds.

Gangwon-Type Public Housing. Provided by Gangwon Provincial Government

The Gangwon-Type Public Housing project is a region-specific public rental housing initiative in which the province and its cities and counties collaborate, with local governments directly leading every stage from planning to construction and supply. This allows for flexible implementation tailored to local conditions and demand.

Currently, the project is underway in eight cities and counties within the province (Yeongwol, Hongcheon, Taebaek, Jeongseon, Gangneung, Hwacheon, Samcheok, and Pyeongchang), with a total of 742 units. Among these, the Yeongwol Deokpo District Gangwon-Type Public Housing, the first project of its kind, was recently completed and has finished moving in residents.

Unlike conventional public rental housing, Gangwon-Type Public Housing offers several distinguishing advantages: project stability is secured through direct provincial funding, streamlined procedures between local governments enable swift progress, specialized designs are tailored for young people and newlyweds, and rental prices are set lower than market rates.

In particular, the Yeongwol Deokpo District features a mixed-use structure, with a youth startup support space on the first floor, creating an environment where daily life and employment coexist. It is being recognized as a settlement-oriented housing model that combines residential living with entrepreneurship.

The completion ceremony for the Yeongwol Deokpo District Gangwon-Type Public Housing will be held on October 14. The project was implemented with a total budget of 2.98 billion KRW, including 400 million KRW in provincial funds, and consists of an 18-story building with 102 units.

As a result of the tenant recruitment, competition for the 32 units designated for young people reached a ratio of 14:1, demonstrating high interest. In addition, a total of 14 people from eight households residing in other provinces have actually relocated and settled in Yeongwol, playing a significant role in addressing the crisis of local depopulation.

Kim Jin-tae, Governor of Gangwon Province, stated, "The Gangwon-Type Public Housing project is being promoted simultaneously in eight cities and counties." He added, "The Yeongwol Deokpo District, which will be completed tomorrow, was designed and implemented directly by the local government, which covered 75% of the total project cost." He continued, "Going forward, we will expand the Gangwon-Type Public Housing project to all 18 cities and counties in the province."

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