Maeng Sungkyu Proposes Amendment
to Allow Vacant First-Floor Units in Public Housing
to Be Used as Senior Centers
Going forward, it will become possible to use vacant first-floor units in public rental housing as senior centers. This is expected to significantly improve welfare accessibility for elderly residents.
On April 25, Maeng Sungkyu, a member of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, announced that he had introduced a proposed amendment to the Special Act on Public Housing. The amendment would allow public housing operators to designate some first-floor units in public rental housing as senior centers.
Under current law, public housing operators are required to include plans for welfare facilities such as senior centers when formulating their business plans, and must obtain approval from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. However, the specific location and standards for these facilities are delegated to subordinate regulations, such as enforcement ordinances.
Two elderly people are walking home after having lunch together at a senior center in an apartment complex in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jinhyung
The problem is that, as the number of elderly residents increases, senior centers located in existing commercial buildings are often difficult for them to access. As a result, residents have continuously called for vacant first-floor units to be used as senior centers.
This proposed amendment reflects such on-site feedback by explicitly providing a legal basis for operators to convert vacant first-floor units into welfare facilities. It also relaxes rigid installation standards in order to expand welfare for residents.
Maeng stated, "Convenience for elderly residents of public rental housing in using senior centers will be improved," and added, "I will continue to work to enhance the quality of life for residents."
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