OECD-韩国的住宅动态：建设包容性和智能城市（英文）-2018.10-158页-7mb

Summary of "Housing Dynamics in Korea: Building Inclusive and Smart Cities"

Core Content

This report provides an in-depth analysis of housing dynamics in Korea, focusing on the challenges and opportunities in the context of inclusive growth, urban regeneration, and smart city development. It highlights the historical progress in housing policy and the current issues that need to be addressed to ensure housing affordability and quality for all social groups.

Main Points

Housing Policy and Development

• Korea has made significant progress in improving housing conditions over the past three decades, primarily through government-led initiatives such as the "Two Million Housing Drive" and the introduction of minimum housing standards.
• Housing supply has increased, with the housing supply ratio rising from 71% in 1980 to 103% in 2014.
• The average number of rooms per person in Korea is 1.43, below the OECD average of 1.7.
• The share of substandard housing in Korea decreased from 16.6% in 2006 to 5.4% in 2016, but still remains higher than the OECD average.

Housing Affordability Crisis

• Despite improvements, Korea faces a significant housing affordability problem, particularly in urban areas like Seoul.
• Housing prices are too high for several social groups including youth, newlyweds, and the elderly.
• The rent to income ratio (RIR) increased from 18.7% in 2006 to 20.3% in 2014, indicating worsening affordability.
• Public rental housing and social housing are insufficient to meet demand, and the financial sustainability of public housing construction is a concern.

Housing Tenure and Ownership

• There are three main types of housing tenure in Korea: owner-occupied, jeonsei (traditional rental), and monthly rent.
• Owner occupancy levels have decreased from 58.6% in 1980 to 53.6% in 2014, lower than in some OECD countries.
• The share of jeonsei has declined from 23.9% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2014, while monthly rent has increased.
• There is a discrepancy between homeownership and owner occupancy due to the separation of residence and ownership in Korea.

Regional Disparities in Housing Welfare

• Seoul Metropolitan Area (SMA) has the lowest levels of housing welfare in the country, despite having the highest levels of housing construction.
• The SMA has a smaller floor area per person (30.7 m²) compared to the national average (37.1 m²).
• Public rental housing is more prevalent in provinces and other metropolitan areas, contributing to better housing conditions.
• Regional characteristics such as access to public services and jobs significantly influence housing welfare outcomes.

Housing Finance and Policy

• The government provides various financial instruments to support housing welfare, including subsidies, mortgages, and tax relief.
• The Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) is responsible for about 50% of public rental housing construction and management.
• The financial sustainability of public housing is a concern due to inflexible rent-setting rules and a lack of administrative flexibility.

Urban Regeneration and Smart Cities

• Korea has integrated housing into its "Urban Regeneration New Deal" to promote inclusive growth and reduce socio-economic disparities.
• The government aims to provide 170,000 public rental housing units annually, with 70,000 through urban regeneration programmes.
• Korea is a global leader in smart city development, utilising cutting-edge ICT to address urban challenges such as transport, energy, and environment.
• Smart cities are seen as a core component of inclusive growth and urban regeneration strategies.

Key Recommendations

Housing Welfare

• Expand the network of housing providers: Encourage subnational governments and the community sector to play a more active role in housing provision.
• Tailor housing solutions to regional needs: Ensure that housing policies are relevant to local conditions and demands.
• Simplify public rental housing types and waiting lists: Improve the management and accessibility of public housing.
• Use land-use planning to stabilise prices: Implement regulations that support housing construction while preventing urban sprawl.
• Periodically assess housing programmes: Ensure that benefits, tax relief, and subsidies meet their social objectives.

Housing Finance

• Modernise the private rental sector: Improve regulation and support to enhance the dynamism of the housing market.
• Promote innovative financial schemes: Introduce options such as monthly amortisation loans to finance public and social housing.

Urban Regeneration

• Integrate policies across sectors: Align labour, business, transport, and social policies to ensure sustainable outcomes.
• Build an evidence-based approach: Use rigorous data to monitor and evaluate urban regeneration programmes.

Smart City Actions

• Integrate smart services: Use health, transport, and energy services to promote innovation and balance public and private sector projects.
• Develop interoperable IoT networks: Enable cities to leverage urban data for better infrastructure integration.
• Strengthen smart city governance: Promote citizen engagement and support innovation ecosystems through ICT initiatives.

Conclusion

The report underscores the importance of a comprehensive and integrated approach to housing policy in Korea. It highlights the need for a more inclusive and sustainable housing system that addresses the challenges of affordability, quality, and regional disparities. The recommendations aim to support the development of smart and inclusive cities by improving the coordination between housing, urban regeneration, and financial policies.