Responding to the Risk of Local Extinction
Establishing a Stable Housing Foundation
On January 26, Sancheong County in South Gyeongsang Province announced that it will implement the "Vacant House Utilization Youth Rental Housing Project" and the "Green Home Again Project" in 2026 to address the risk of local extinction and to provide stable housing conditions for young people and those wishing to move into the area.
First, the Vacant House Utilization Youth Rental Housing Project involves renovating rural vacant houses that have not been inhabited or used for over a year and supplying them as rental homes to young people, newlyweds, families with multiple children, and returnees to farming or rural areas, at rents lower than the local market rate.
If the owner of a vacant house participates in the project, up to 80% of the renovation costs will be subsidized, with a maximum support of 30 million won. After the renovation is completed, the house must be rented to tenants for a mandatory period of two to four years, depending on the amount of support received, at a monthly rent of 30,000 to 50,000 won.
Eligible vacant houses will be selected primarily from Grade 1 or 2 vacant homes, as defined by the "National Vacant House Status Survey Integrated Guidelines," provided they have an existing building registration and clear ownership. Prospective tenants will be selected mainly from among young people, newlyweds, families with multiple children, and returnees to farming or rural areas who have moved to Sancheong County within the last two years or plan to do so.
The Green Home Again Project, which will be implemented alongside, involves renovating old rural vacant houses into energy-efficient homes and providing them as public rental housing to people wishing to relocate to Sancheong County from outside depopulation areas, or to local young people, newlyweds, and families with multiple children.
The renovations will focus on improving residential performance, including installing solar panels, reinforcing insulation, replacing windows and doors, and introducing high-efficiency heating and cooling systems.
After renovation, Sancheong County will lease the homes free of charge from the owners and utilize them as public rental housing for up to six years, after which the homes will be returned to the owners.
Applications for the Vacant House Utilization Youth Rental Housing Project must be submitted with the required documents to the Housing Division of the Sancheong County Regional Development Department by February 13. Applications for the Green Home Again Project must be submitted by February 20.
Lee Seunghwa, Governor of Sancheong County, stated, "These two projects are policies aimed at transforming neglected vacant houses into residential assets for the community, while also alleviating the housing burden for young people and those wishing to move here. We will continue to develop and promote a variety of housing policies to improve living conditions and attract new residents."
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