President Lee Jae-myung on the 20th called for a "supply blitz" to dramatically accelerate every stage of housing supply, from land development through permits to construction starts. Proposing measures to shorten timelines such as the presale of undeveloped land and modular housing, he stressed a shift in supply policy toward actual move-ins rather than declaratory supply targets.
Speaking at a Cabinet meeting at the Blue House the same day, Lee instructed officials to "wage a supply blitz by cutting to the maximum extent the time required for land development, various permits and construction starts." He added: "What matters is not declarations or announcements about how many units will be built, but actual construction starts and move-ins. The success or failure of this administration hinges on housing stability that the public can feel."
Lee noted that "over roughly three years since 2022, housing construction permits have fallen sharply, centered on Seoul," adding that "with new land supply in new towns and elsewhere also delayed, supply instability has persisted structurally." Housing permits in Seoul fell about 63% over the past decade, from 113,000 units in 2015 to 42,000 units last year.
He also called for an expansion of rental housing supply. "Through active fiscal management, we must pay particular attention to the rapid supply of high-quality public rental housing for young adults and the middle class," Lee said.
Lee visited Gyeyang New Town in Incheon, where a total of 18,000 units are slated for supply, to review preparations for occupancy. He pointed to the problem of project timelines being extended by civil litigation during the compulsory acquisition process and suggested the need to address this through legislation.
Turning to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH) and other related agencies, he urged: "I ask you to devote yourselves fully so that, in line with the target we announced in August, most of the public housing volume in the third-phase new towns — about 90% — can break ground by 2030. We must keep our word." He added: "I ask that you break from existing practice, review all procedures from scratch and do your utmost so that actual construction start plans can be moved up even by a single day."