Prime Minister Han Seung-sook visited university areas over the weekend to assess youth housing conditions and express her commitment to expanding housing and dormitory supplies for young people.
On July 4, Han toured the one-room village in Sinchon, located in the Seodaemun District of Seoul, and the Happy Dormitory in Hongje-dong, where she held discussions with young residents about housing and employment issues. Also present were Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Dong-a, as well as officials from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Korea Scholarship Foundation, and the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH).
"As this is my first weekend as Prime Minister, I wanted to hear directly from young people," Han said. "While the government is promoting policies for rent support, public housing, and dormitories, we are facing challenges due to a lack of supply. I will actively incorporate feedback from the field into our policies."
Young residents suggested expanding the supply of Happy Dormitories and public rental housing, increasing the number of single rooms, providing housing support for job seekers, and improving the criteria for entering youth housing.
In response, Han acknowledged the high housing costs affecting young people, stating, "Seeing the situation firsthand made me realize the difficulties they face. I believe we need to expand the supply of dormitories and youth housing."
She noted that the competition for Happy Dormitories has reached eight applicants for every available spot, indicating high demand. "We need to consider expansion plans, including site and location issues, and work on solutions that can be implemented quickly in cooperation with local one-room owners," she added.
Han emphasized the need for tailored approaches to youth housing policies, stating, "Students, job seekers, young professionals, and those preparing for marriage all have different circumstances. We need to develop policies that distinguish at least between students and job seekers, as well as those who are employed."
Regarding employment issues, she highlighted the importance of young people's first career experiences, saying, "We will work to expand programs that provide work experience, such as youth internships."
After the meeting, Han gifted attendees signed copies of author Kim Ae-ran's collection of short stories, 'I Said Goodbye.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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