Hwang Hee, a member of the Democratic Party, has proposed remodeling decommissioned buses as a solution for youth housing. In response, the People Power Party criticized him, stating, "Hwang should become the first resident of the bus house to set an example."
On October 7, Hwang shared on Facebook, "I have seen houseboats lining the canals in Amsterdam. They remodel decommissioned or used boats to provide over 10,000 housing units as a solution to housing issues." He suggested, "We can remodel decommissioned buses into living spaces and offer them as temporary housing for young people near universities."
He added, "If we estimate the remodeling cost at around 50 million won, the total for 10,000 units would be only 500 billion won." He emphasized that this approach could serve as a temporary living space for young people until they secure stable housing, highlighting its quick supply advantage.
Hwang also mentioned the possibility of designing mobile bus houses that can be driven independently or trailer-type bus houses that can be moved by external vehicles.
In response, Park Chung-kwon, the spokesperson for the People Power Party, commented, "Hwang and his family should immediately move into the first bus house to set an example." He further criticized the proposal, stating, "Applying a one-dimensional logic to the reality of South Korea, which has a small land area and high population density, reveals a lack of policy knowledge and responsibility."
Park pointed out, "The reality faced by our youth is dire. To suggest they live temporarily in a remodeled decommissioned bus is a clear insult to the younger generation." He insisted that the background of such a bizarre idea from a senior member of the ruling party must be clarified and urged the presidential office to provide a clear official stance on this housing policy that pushes youth into buses.
Following the controversy, Hwang clarified, "I have advocated for housing supply measures that include mixed-use developments and shared living spaces, and I have proposed related legislation. The concept of bus houses I posted on Facebook is purely an idea. It aims to provide temporary housing for young people living in poor conditions until proper housing can be secured."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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