Kim Dong-yeon Presents Vision for 'Gyeonggi Province-Type Public Housing'... "Public Housing, People-Centered"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gap-dong] Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon presented the vision for 'Gyeonggi Province-Type Public Housing'.

Governor Kim, who began his second on-site tour focused on livelihood economy from the 25th, held 'Gyeonggi Province-Type Public Housing, Gyeonggi All Care Vision Announcement and Town Hall Meeting' at 'Gyeonggi Unity' in Namyangju that afternoon, and exchanged opinions with residents on the topic of 'public housing'.

Governor Kim Dong-yeon stated, "Last year, I rode the Daldalbus and visited Namyangju in August, covering 3,200km and receiving approximately 350 suggestions from 31 cities and counties, of which 70% have been resolved," and explained, "Today's Daldalbus theme is public housing. As a province, Gyeonggi Province is providing the fastest and most active support to the government's real estate market stabilization measures."

He presented three major visions for Gyeonggi Province-Type Public Housing: △People-Centered △Community Welfare Hub △Affordable Housing Ladder.

First, 'People-Centered' public housing aims to guarantee basic housing rights through provisions of large-scale floor plans for multi-member households and minimum floor areas for single-person households. It also includes specialized design unique to Gyeonggi Province that combines the latest residential trends with public responsibility, moving beyond uniform designs. Specifically, the minimum floor area for single-person households will be applied 1.8 times larger than the standard (standard 14㎡ → expanded to 25㎡).

Second, he announced the creation of a 'Community Welfare Hub' where housing, care, health, and leisure are seamlessly connected. The province's policy is to begin establishing the spatial foundation of the government's 'Integrated Care' policy from Gyeonggi Province public housing.

A prime example of integrated care realized through public housing is 'Gyeonggi Unity,' the venue for today's event. Gyeonggi Unity is a multi-generational integrated community space created in December last year within the Dasan District A5 Gyeonggi Happiness Housing complex in Namyangju City, designed as a local hub where everyone from infants to the elderly can enjoy care, health, and leisure in one building. Private institutions with expertise operate child care, play and activity spaces, health classes for the elderly, and leisure and exercise spaces in idle spaces of Gyeonggi Housing and Urban Development Corporation (GH) public housing.

Third, through Gyeonggi Province-Type Savings Housing and other initiatives, he declared the establishment of an affordable housing ladder to reduce the financial burden required for home ownership. The intent is for Gyeonggi Province-Type Public Housing to provide everyone with the opportunity to own their own home. Gyeonggi Province-Type Savings Housing is a new public sales housing model where residents build up housing shares like monthly savings, gaining 100% ownership after 20-30 years. The characteristic is that it significantly reduces the initial financial burden by dividing the sales price into long-term installments. South Korea's first Savings Housing is being promoted in Gwanggyo, Suwon, with a target move-in date in the first half of 2029. The province plans to review the policy effectiveness of the project and expand supply to GH Corporation's 3rd New Towns and Gyeonggi Opportunity Towns.

Specifically, in addition to continuously supplying Gyeonggi Province-Type Savings Housing for youth and newlyweds, the province plans to supply customized public housing responsive to regional characteristics and demands such as elderly-friendly, youth-specialized, and job-linked housing.

Customized public housing includes elderly-friendly housing in Hanam Gyosan (establishing social welfare facilities and community spaces), youth-specialized housing in Uijeongbu and Seoanyang (community reflecting youth lifestyle, learning and rest programs), and job-linked housing in Gwangmyeong and Gwangju (priority supply to industrial complex workers).

Governor Kim stated, "This year, Gyeonggi Province is paying much attention to reducing living costs for our residents. Living cost reduction consists mainly of three areas: housing, transportation, and care," and emphasized, "By presenting a good example by implementing in Gyeonggi Province what other provinces have not yet attempted, in the directions we have described for both sales and rental housing, we will set a new housing direction for Gyeonggi Province residents."

He added, "Not only will we establish a new housing direction for Gyeonggi Province residents, but we also hope for great success of the central government's housing stabilization measures and will work together."

The province also announced the 'Gyeonggi All Care' plan on the day to expedite redevelopment projects of aging planned cities including First New Towns and inner cities in line with the government's direction to expand housing supply centered in urban areas.

Gyeonggi All Care is a measure to improve the prolonged project timelines and impeded implementation momentum (averaging 10-15 years) caused by complex administrative procedures and conflicts among stakeholders in redevelopment projects of aging planned cities including 1st New Towns and inner city renewal.

During the basic planning stage at the initial phase of projects, the required period is reduced by 80% (from 6 months to 1 month) through prior consultation with Gyeonggi Province Urban Planning Committee and basic planning consulting, and at the special planning stage, the required time is reduced by 60% (from 30 months to 12 months) through civilian-government cooperation bodies and apartment complex redevelopment consulting. The core is to establish a comprehensive support system throughout the entire cycle from basic planning of redevelopment projects to completion.

Meanwhile, the event was attended by private experts, private organizations and residents, Namyangju Mayor Ju Gwang-deok, GH President Kim Yong-jin, and others, who exchanged views on various fields including housing, care, and redevelopment projects.