Lawmaker apologizes for 'bus house' housing proposal

Rep. Hwang Hee of the Democratic Party issued a formal apology on August 10 for his recent proposal to convert retired buses into temporary housing for young people, a concept dubbed 'bus house.' The lawmaker expressed deep regret for causing concern and disappointment among young adults and the public.

In a Facebook post, Hwang explained that the 'bus house' idea originated from a desire to supplement government-led housing supply initiatives and offer short-term relief for the extreme housing cost burdens faced by low-income youth. However, he conceded that the proposal did not sufficiently grasp the gravity of the housing issues confronting young people in their daily lives.

“

I sincerely apologize for causing great concern and disappointment to the younger generation and the public, contrary to my original intentions.

"Regardless of the reasons, I failed to carefully consider the feelings of young people, who are directly affected by housing problems. I feel a heavy responsibility for the hurt and disappointment caused by not paying close attention to their experiences," Hwang wrote. He acknowledged that the proposal, inspired by examples of repurposed ship housing in the Netherlands, was intended as a readily deployable option for temporary shelter.

“

Regardless of the reasons, I failed to deeply consider the severity of the housing problems faced by young people in the field. I feel a heavy responsibility for the hurt and disappointment caused by not carefully considering the feelings of young people, the actual residents.

Hwang pledged that this incident would serve as a catalyst for him to listen more attentively to the practical concerns of young people. He vowed to dedicate his efforts toward formulating housing innovation strategies that are more substantial and well-developed. "Once again, I sincerely apologize to the public and the younger generation," he concluded.

The proposal had suggested that 'bus houses' could serve as interim living spaces before young people secure stable housing, highlighting their potential for rapid deployment. Hwang had previously stated on Facebook that the concept was worth considering due to these advantages.

“

I will listen more closely to the realistic voices of young people and do my best to prepare more practical and well-developed housing innovation measures.