Hong Jiseon: "A Single Permit Step Means Years of Waiting for Residents... Will Launch Local Government Housing Supply Councils"

Inauguration of Land Minister Held at Government Complex Sejong on the 23rd

"Establishing Integrated Review and Fast-Track for Permits

Focusing Policy Capabilities on Housing Stability

Expanding Private Long-Term and Universal Public Rentals"

Hong Jiseon, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, announced in her inaugural address that she will launch multilayered councils with local governments in the Seoul metropolitan area to ensure that the construction and occupancy of the third-generation new towns and urban housing projects move forward as planned.

At her inauguration ceremony held on the 23rd in the main conference room of the Government Complex Sejong, Minister Hong emphasized, "We will concentrate policy capabilities on ensuring housing stability, which is most closely tied to people's daily lives." She added, "We will establish an integrated review and a fast-track for licensing and permits, and implement a collaborative housing supply model where institutional support from the central government and autonomy at the local level create a virtuous cycle."

Hong Jiseon, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Photo by Dongju Yoon

Minister Hong stated, "Housing supply must not remain a matter of mere plans and numbers," citing her experience in urban, housing, and transportation administration in Gyeonggi Province as an example. She explained, "What may appear as a single step in the permitting process in a report could mean several months or even years of waiting for residents on the ground." She pointed out the issue that, even if the government sets supply targets, delays in coordination with local governments during the permitting phase can postpone construction start dates.

For measures related to the lease market, she highlighted private long-term rentals and universal public rental housing. Minister Hong said, "By expanding private long-term rentals, we will create a stable market safety net that can respond to fluctuations in the housing market and instability in the jeonse market." She continued, "We will also vitalize universal public rentals so that individuals without homes, such as youths and newly married couples, can live in premium locations like transit-oriented areas at reasonable rents," stressing, "We will make sure not to neglect protecting deposits from risks such as jeonse fraud."

On regional initiatives, she said, "We will focus urban and architectural exceptions and infrastructure support on major regional hub cities to create growth centers that offer both jobs and housing." She added, "We will also accelerate key projects for balanced regional development, including the second phase of public institution relocations and core tasks in Sejong and Saemangeum." Regarding safety, she stated, "We will eradicate poor construction practices and illegal subcontracting at construction sites, and strengthen systems to identify and prevent risk factors in roads, railways, and aviation in advance to avert accidents."

Having been promoted to Minister just eight months after serving as the Second Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Minister Hong said that a new approach to work is also needed. She noted, "An organization where not only good news but also bad news rises quickly and transparently will be able to solve problems more rationally."

She further stressed, "I hope we can significantly reduce unnecessary documentation. Substance will take precedence over form," and added, "Rather than reporting for the sake of reporting or having meetings for the sake of meetings, we will first ask what changes have occurred for the public." Minister Hong also recalled, "Since working in local government, I have tried to cut down unnecessary formalities and protocol," urging staff to share opinions regardless of rank or department and to break down barriers between divisions and bureaus.

She encouraged staff to also take care of their families and personal lives. Minister Hong stated, "If good achievements are built on someone’s excessive sacrifice, they cannot be sustained for long," and continued, "Treasure time with your family and make sure not to neglect your own lives and happiness as well."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.