Last Month on the 25th, the "Public Housing Special Act Amendment" Promulgated
"Too Small, Even Too Small" Single-Person Household Complaints Expressed
Counterarguments for Sufficient Space When Living Alone
The government’s amendment to the Public Housing Special Act, introduced as part of measures to overcome low birth rates, has sparked dissatisfaction among single-person households regarding the 'supply area standards by number of household members.' On the other hand, some criticize the demands of single-person households as excessive.
As of the 17th, a petition titled 'Abolition of Rental Housing Area Restrictions' has been posted on the National Assembly's 'People’s Consent Petition' website. This petition, posted on the 4th, has garnered about 23,000 signatures by 3 p.m. on the same day. The main point of the petition is to repeal the 'Enforcement Rules Amendment of the Public Housing Special Act' announced by the government on the 25th of last month, citing reasons such as stabilizing housing for young people and overcoming low birth rates.
This petition, posted on the 4th, has received approximately 23,000 supporters to date. [Photo source='National Petition' website]
The core of this amendment is to newly adjust the area per household member for public rental housing such as permanent, national rental, and Happy Housing. The amendment includes supply area restrictions related to public rental housing such as permanent and national rental housing and Happy Housing: '1 household member: exclusive area up to 35㎡,' '2 household members: exclusive area over 25㎡ up to 44㎡,' '3 household members: exclusive area over 35㎡ up to 50㎡,' and '4 household members: exclusive area over 44㎡.' Above all, the existing supply standard for single-person households was up to 40㎡ (approximately 10.6 pyeong, exclusive area basis), but under this amendment, it has been reduced to 35㎡. Single-person households argue that 35㎡ is practically the size of a studio apartment.
This law was enacted with the purpose of responding to the increasingly severe low birth rate. It is known that there was a consensus to use the limited rental housing resources mainly for married couples with children.
In response, Mr. No, who posted the petition, explained the purpose of the petition, saying, "We demand the withdrawal of the appropriate area regulations by household member number for permanent, national, and Happy Housing," adding, "The area specified by household member number is calculated too narrowly. The problem is not the area restriction itself but that the area is too small." He further stated, "Expanding the area of rental housing to be constructed in the future would contribute to achieving the purpose as a measure to overcome low birth rates," and argued, "To expect legislative effects, the current policy should be maintained for rental housing already constructed." He also added, "Single-person households need some leeway to consider marriage and having children, but the area restriction forces them to live in a studio apartment if they want to live in rental housing."
However, regarding the dissatisfaction of single-person households, a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport official explained, "The proportion of single-person households in rental housing is quite high, but couples who want to have children have fewer opportunities to enter compared to single-person households due to income and other requirements," adding, "The integrated public rental housing type has had supply area standards by household member number since 2022, and the purpose of this amendment is to apply area regulations to permanent, national rental, and Happy Housing as well."
In this regard, opinions among netizens are divided. On the portal site cafe 'National Public Private Rental Apartments,' which has 840,000 members, some netizens responded with comments such as "Too small is a problem," "It really feels cramped when living there," and "This is clear discrimination against single-person households." However, there were many opposing opinions as well. Especially regarding the backlash from single-person households, it was pointed out that their demands are inappropriate as they do not contribute to restoring the birth rate but only want to receive 'larger houses' from the government. Opinions such as "Having children inevitably makes things economically harder," "Who said you have to remain single?" and "10 pyeong is enough size for living alone" have been expressed, sparking heated debate.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
