Chang Dong-hyuk, leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), visited Incheon on Tuesday to announce local election pledges. He sought to win over voters in the greater Seoul metropolitan area by proposing to expand the "1,000-won housing" program — a signature achievement of Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok — into a party-wide pledge.
At a field supreme council meeting held at the PPP's Incheon chapter in Namdong-gu, Chang said, "Incheon's birth rate increase is the highest in the nation." He added, "The foundation for reversing the population crisis is the 1,000-won housing program."
"With a dramatic rental rate of 1,000 won per day and 30,000 won ($21) per month, the program has eased the housing burden for newlyweds and homeless young people, drawing the younger generation to Incheon," Chang said.
He also said the party would consider expanding the 1,000-won housing program into a nationwide party pledge. "The budget required to support 1,000 households is only 3.6 billion won ($2.5 million)," Chang said. "The program has been highly praised both as a low birthrate countermeasure and a youth welfare policy, with other regions such as Pohang and Yeongdeok benchmarking it. We will review plans to expand it as a party pledge."
