Land Minister Says 'Vacancy in First Vice Minister Role a Key Variable for Housing Supply—Appointments Underway'

(Seoul=Yonhap Infomax) Joong Il Joo—

South Korea's Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Kim Yun-deok, identified the current vacancies in the ministry’s first vice minister position and the presidency of Korea Land & Housing Corp. (LH) as major variables impacting the country’s housing supply, adding that appointment procedures are in progress.

Kim also reiterated plans to establish a joint task force (TF) with LH and to create a dedicated Housing Supply Headquarters within the ministry, signaling a commitment to announce additional housing supply measures by year-end.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony for the joint Land Ministry-LH supply TF and the LH Housing Supply Special Headquarters in Galwol-dong, Yongsan-gu, on the 20th, Kim stated, “The current vacancies in the first vice minister and LH president roles are significant variables in addressing housing supply issues. It is necessary to expedite these appointments to minimize the gap, and the process is underway.”

He added, “However, the core of housing supply is not policy but the ability to deliver quickly through practical, on-the-ground investigations. The operational entities are far more important, and it is crucial to respond swiftly to challenges in collaboration with LH.”

Kim emphasized, “The Housing Supply Headquarters, whose inauguration we mark today, can play a pivotal role. We are currently in discussions with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and by the end of this year, we aim to establish an official organizational structure within the Land Ministry, expanding director-level departments to form the Housing Supply Headquarters and advance our work.”

The ministry launched the new TF to accelerate urban housing supply, holding the inauguration ceremony on the same day. The LH Housing Supply Special Headquarters was also established to oversee key initiatives.

Regarding coordination with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Kim said, “This is a very important issue. The city has proposed 18 items, and we are positively reviewing more than 80–90% of them.”

Kim reaffirmed the intention to announce additional housing supply measures within the year, stating, “We are committed to providing additional housing and are preparing to make an announcement by year-end.”

He continued, “We are also reviewing areas that were previously stalled under the Moon Jae-in administration but are now potentially viable for supply. In particular, we are comprehensively considering which areas in Seoul and the broader metropolitan region can be supplied, including the utilization of aging government buildings, redevelopment and reconstruction projects, and the possible lifting of greenbelt restrictions.”

diju@yna.co.kr

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