The Evolving Roles of the Public and Private Sectors in Korea’s Public Rental Housing Supply

Abstract

While there has been a substantial amount of studies on public rental housing of Korea, most have focused on housing policy changes, international comparisons, and current characteristics and future prospects. This article aims to examine the evolving roles of the national and local governments, and the private sector in provision of Korea’s public rental housing. The findings suggest that one, although the wave of neoliberalism and financial crisis have prompted the national government to reduce its role and to encourage engagement of other actors by utilizing incentivizing tools, it has continued to assume a central position in formulating and implementing housing supply plans. Two, local governments have played a marginal role throughout the history of public rental housing supply, although they have expanded their participation through redevelopment projects and utilization of existing housings. Three, private sector actors have expanded their role to delivering public benefits of making housing available for a wider range of populace leveraging various incentives that make projects financially more feasible. The study poses a question on how responsibilities and risks can appropriately be allocated among three key actors to achieve housing welfare going forward.