Jinwook Lee, Member of the Daegu Dong-gu Council, proposed a policy shift to address the rapidly increasing vacant house issue in the region by linking it to the expansion of public parking lots during the 5-minute free speech session at the 4th plenary meeting of the 348th 2nd regular session held on December 19.
Jinwook Lee pointed out, "As of 2024, Dong-gu accounts for 1,849 out of the total 6,009 vacant houses in Daegu, representing more than 30% of the city's total and making it the area with the highest concentration of vacant houses." He added, "This issue is not just about housing management but has become a matter of daily inconvenience directly connected to parking shortages."
He especially emphasized that vacant houses are concentrated in older residential areas where parking space is extremely scarce, stating, "It is time to convert these neglected vacant houses into public parking lots and other essential infrastructure."
Lee cited international examples such as Japan's 'Akiya Bank,' Italy's 'One Euro House,' and Detroit's vacant house management policies in the United States, arguing, "We need a policy shift that views vacant houses not as a burden but as assets to be actively utilized."
He also introduced domestic examples from Gyeonggi, Suwon, and Busan, explaining, "A common factor for success was purchasing and renovating vacant houses to convert them into public parking lots, while securing external funding through initiatives such as Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport projects, living SOC programs, and special grants."
Jinwook Lee presented specific action plans, including prioritizing parking demand surveys and designating target areas in regions with high concentrations of vacant houses, designing projects that link to external funding based on public contests, adopting acquisition-based models to secure long-term public parking assets, and integrating these efforts with urban regeneration plans as policy tasks.
He stressed, "Vacant houses are no longer something to be neglected-they can become public assets that transform residents' lives," and emphasized, "Dong-gu must move beyond being the area with the most vacant houses to become the area that utilizes them best."
Lee concluded, "Vacant houses are not simply empty spaces; they are opportunities for reuse, and a single parking spot is the minimum public service that protects residents' daily lives. It is time for Dong-gu to move from 'neglect' to 'change' in its administration."
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