A Study on Recommendations for Improving Minimum Housing Standards

Abstract

Minimum housing standards aim to safeguard housing rights and enhance residential conditions. Governments develop housing policies, including provision, preservation, and support for welfare programs, guided by the status of households below these standards. Growing nations commonly utilize this approach to decrease the proportion of households not meeting these criteria. In South Korea, the ratio of households below these standards was 4.5% in 2021, down from 16.6% in 2006, as indicated by the initial Korea Housing Survey. However, this downward trend has stalled over the past decade. With the 2004 and 2011 revisions, the standards have been effective for 12 years, yet no longer mirror current housing realities due to ongoing improvements. This study aimed to propose enhancements to Korea’s minimum housing standards. Through analyzing laws, prior research, present household statuses, international cases, and expert insights, recommendations emerged. Categorizing households by size, we developed precise standards covering area, facility, and location aspects. These new standards led to an 8.4% non-compliance rate in 2021. This research’s findings anticipate aiding the revision of minimum housing standards, formulating pragmatic policies for enhancing residential conditions in line with present situations.

The Adaptability of Residential Planning and Design to World-Changing Events

“…An example of the latter is the studies conducted by Kim and Kim [7] and Kim et al [8] in South Korea, which offer valuable insights into the design of apartment spaces and minimum housing standards improvements as a direct response to the challenges posed by the last years. The first employed a mixed-method approach, combining questionnaires and photovoice, to assess the population's experiences during the pandemic period, offering valuable contributions to the prevention and management of infectious diseases within home environments.…”

“…Directly related to COVID-19 was the behavioral shift in people that resulted in the inclusion of a "dining space" and an "additional room" for one and two-person households, respectively. Furthermore, the introduction of criteria such as "hot water in bathing facilities" and "private entrance door" is also a consequence of the pandemic's impact on the population, particularly over the restrictions on access to public bathing facilities and privacy issues [8].…”