Housing supply becomes urgent task for nominee to lead South Korea’s land ministry

Hong Ji-sun is taking on the land ministry’s top job with a housing target already hanging over the government. Speaking to reporters as he arrived at the government complex in Sejong on Aug. 31, the nominee said the immediate task was to provide quality homes in preferred locations quickly, with particular attention to young people and newlyweds.

Hong said the government needed consistent and predictable policy and pledged to implement its announced housing plans without delay. The government’s Aug. 13 package calls for about 230,000 homes in the capital region, including a reduction in the time needed to begin construction on public housing sites from 68 months to 37 months. Combined with earlier measures, it estimates that more than 1.5 million homes could begin construction in the region by 2030.

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First, I will quickly supply quality housing in preferred locations and pay particular attention to housing stability for young people and newlyweds.

The plan also depends on reviving private-sector construction, which has weakened amid higher building costs and difficulties securing financing. The ministry is expected to improve the viability of redevelopment and reconstruction projects and accelerate their progress, since public construction alone may not meet the metropolitan supply goal.

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Consistent policy or predictable policy is needed. I will quickly implement the housing supply announced by the government.

Hong inherits negotiations with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon over housing sites in the capital. The ministry has considered building homes for young people and newlyweds on some returned U.S. military sites, including officers’ housing, but Seoul regards the entire returned area as part of the main Yongsan Park site and opposes residential use. The city has proposed the Tancheon Water Reclamation Center site in Gangnam as an alternative.

Hong said his experience in local government had shown him how central policies work on the ground. He also faces a decision on the second relocation of public institutions. The ministry is examining whether about 350 institutions can move to regional areas and plans to finalize the direction in October or November.

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Because I worked extensively in local areas, I have sufficient experience of how central policies come down to local governments and operate in the field.