20-30% Reduction... Unit Division Allowed
Easing the Burden for Students and Low-Income Residents
Gwangju City will allow the division of water bills by unit in Gosiwon accommodations, aiming to reduce the financial burden on Gosiwon residents. Since the main users of Gosiwon are students and other vulnerable housing groups, the city expects that lowering their utility costs will help stabilize their living conditions, even if only to a small extent.
On June 10, Gwangju City announced that it has established a plan to allow each room in a Gosiwon to be treated as a separate unit, enabling part of the water bill to be charged at residential rates.
Previously, under the Enforcement Decree of the Multi-use Business Act and the Enforcement Decree of the Building Act, Gosiwon were classified as businesses that provide accommodations and facilities for study within partitioned rooms, and thus commercial water rates were applied. The total water bill for the entire Gosiwon was charged to the operator, who then collected payments from each room.
However, under the Enforcement Decree of the Housing Act, Gosiwon can be considered quasi-residential facilities, as they are multi-occupancy structures where several households reside together. If water usage for multiple households is measured by a single meter, up to 15 cubic meters of water per divided unit can be billed at the residential rate.
In this case, residents can expect to save about 20-30% on their water bills compared to the commercial progressive rate system. Low-income households living in Gosiwon (those eligible for Type 1 Medical Aid) can receive an additional discount of up to 5,800 won per month for up to 10 cubic meters of water usage.
To apply for unit division in a Gosiwon, residents must have completed their move-in registration. Afterward, the Gosiwon operator must verify the resident registration status at the local administrative welfare center and then apply for unit division at the regional office of the Waterworks Headquarters.
The Gwangju City Waterworks Headquarters will apply the residential water rate for up to 15 cubic meters per unit starting from the first regular monthly inspection after receiving the application, following verification of the building register and an on-site inspection.
Kim Ilyung, Director of the Waterworks Headquarters, stated, "Most Gosiwon residents are students and low-income individuals. We expect that this proactive policy improvement will contribute to stabilizing the lives of vulnerable housing groups and addressing gaps in the welfare system."
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