Korean Association of Social Welfare Centers Delivers Petition to National Assembly Urging Amendment of Laws on Renovation of Social Welfare Centers in Rental Complexes

The Korea Association of Social Welfare Centers (President Jeong Seong-gi) delivered a petition signed by over 6,500 people on the 11th, urging the amendment of the "Special Act on Public Housing" to require public housing developers to support renovation costs for social welfare centers within rental complexes.

This signature campaign calls for the amendment of the "Special Act on Public Housing (Partial Amendment Bill)" proposed by Assemblyman Jang Cheol-min on May 2, 2023.

Since local governments and management organizations face limitations in supporting structural and facility improvements for social welfare centers in permanent rental housing through their social welfare budgets, the amendment aims to establish a legal basis for public housing developers, as owners, to provide renovation cost support or take measures to ensure safety due to severe aging of welfare facilities.

Social welfare centers within rental complexes have been installed and operated since 1989, currently numbering 172 nationwide, serving approximately 24,000 local residents annually. Many of these centers are over 30 years old, and social welfare workers and local residents, who strongly empathize with the aging and safety issues of welfare facilities, actively participated in the petition campaign for the amendment.

Kwon Hyuk-cheol, director of Bucheon Comprehensive Social Welfare Center, who participated in the signature campaign, stated, "It is true that various problems arise such as flooding damage caused by rainwater leakage, fire risks due to low sprinkler installation rates, and safety and functional inadequacies caused by cramped welfare center spaces."

Jeong Seong-gi, president of the Korea Association of Social Welfare Centers, said, "The association is currently preparing to publicize cases of aging and safety vulnerabilities by collecting data, and plans to hold a policy forum jointly with Assemblyman Jang Cheol-min's office in November."