Gov’t revises housing rule to aid couples

Couples that have been married five years or less will be given preference when applying for public housing no matter where they live.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said yesterday it will implement a revised guideline for supplying public housing to working-class people to help them find affordable houses. The revision will be effective immediately.

The government had restricted public housing to those who live nearby.

Eligible couples should be married for five years or less and not own a house. They also should have children or be pregnant.

About 10 percent of permanent public housing built by the SH Corporation and 30 percent of national public housing by the Korea Land and Housing Corporation will be allocated for eligible couples.

For public institutions scheduled to move, the government will provide public housing to accommodate employees by 2015.

With major government branches and affiliated institutes, including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, planning to move to Sejong and nearby cities at the end of the year, about 5,000 government officials and employees at public institutes are expected to relocate.

The Land Ministry expects there will be fierce competition to secure housing.

The percentage of public housing that will be earmarked for public institutes will be decided later after discussions with local governments and the institutes.

BY SONG SU-HYUN [ssh@joongang.co.kr]