[Interview] Changwoo Lee, Dongjak-gu Mayor: "Seoul's First Multi-Generational Happy Housing Combining Senior Centers and Youth Housing in Autonomous District"

Since the 6th term of the elected mayor, expanding from mother-child safety housing to housing for elderly living alone, youth, and newlyweds... Providing better residential welfare through increased living space, deposit loan support, and community room creation... Realizing universal residential welfare for residents through the expansion of Dongjak-gu type rental housing supply

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Lee Chang-woo, Mayor of Dongjak-gu, recently stated in an interview with Asia Economy, "The evolving 'Dongjak-gu-style rental housing project' is diversifying its business models and target groups, showing tangible results." Since the 6th local government term, Mayor Lee has been promoting the Dongjak-gu-style rental housing project. The complex facility has a total floor area of 329.87㎡ and is a four-story building. On the first floor, there is a community space for local seniors called a senior center. Floors 2 to 4, created to alleviate housing difficulties, will accommodate seven youth households who will nurture their dreams. Various programs will also be operated in the future to foster communication and coexistence between seniors and youth.

Dongjak-gu judged that relying solely on rental housing supplied by central government ministries had its limits, so since the 6th local government term, it has sought to supply rental housing independently. Mayor Lee said, "For the first time among basic local governments nationwide, in 2015, we supplied customized purchased rental housing to 26 single-parent families."

Customized purchased rental housing is a model where SH Corporation purchases the houses, and the district independently selects and manages tenants according to demand. In 2017, the second supply targeted elderly people living alone who were in the blind spots of housing welfare. The third customized purchased housing project introduced was for single-person youth households. The customized housing located in Daebang-dong was purchased and built in 2018, with 56 youth households moving in.

Rental housing for newlyweds was also prepared. Ten households each reside in Sangdo 3 and 4-dong, located near parks and daycare centers. The district also signed a business agreement with Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH) to resolve housing issues for the youth. Accordingly, in 2019, the first-ever regionally demand-tailored purchased rental housing nationwide was supplied to 13 youth households and 49 newlywed households. Mayor Lee said, "When selecting tenants tailored to the needs of Dongjak-gu, home to three universities and Noryangjin, we provide additional points for residence, enrollment, or employment within the region or for those living in poor conditions such as goshiwon or rooftop rooms to help stabilize housing."

Dongjak-gu is not only supplying housing but also promoting policies for residents' "happier lives" after moving in. Mayor Lee explained, "To guarantee practical living space for socially vulnerable groups living in cramped spaces, we are expanding the housing area supplied to more than 20㎡, which is larger than the national minimum housing standard of 14㎡." Additionally, the district supports housing stability funds for residents who have difficulty preparing deposits by providing loans covering up to 90% of the deposit with a five-year grace period for repayment.

By 2021, the district secured a total supply of 230 households and plans to establish a public housing service system for all life cycles through supplying newlywed housing equipped with public childcare systems and customized housing by region. Mayor Lee stated, "Stable housing is the most fundamental premise that guarantees a dignified life," and added, "We will realize universal housing welfare for residents by expanding the supply of Dongjak-gu-style rental housing."