The Urban Poor, Rental Accommodations, and Housing Policy in Korea

Abstract

The paper examines the situation of low-income rental accommodation and identifies the policy alternatives for those in housing poverty. In urban South Korea, there are different kinds of rental types and rental housing that are commonly used by low-income groups. Most of the poor are tenants in the substandard settlements and illegal rented rooms, so called Jjogbang, in the inner city areas. Since the IMF crisis, Jjogbang has bridged the gap between the unemployed and the poor’s housing needs and supply. The housing authorities focused on the expansion of state-developed housing for sale rather than the provision of rental accommodation. In order to get progressive realization of the right to adequate housing of the poor and disadvantaged groups, active participation of our public, private and non-governmental partners at all levels is sought to ensure legal security of tenure protection from discrimination and equal access to adequate housing for all persons and their families.