"At 1,000 won a day, or 30,000 won a month, newlyweds don't have to worry about housing. When the housing burden disappears, worries about child care are also greatly reduced. In that sense, I believe the 1,000-won housing policy is serving as a catalyst for solving the low birthrate problem."
In an interview with ChosunBiz at Incheon City Hall on the 15th, Yoo Jeong-bok, the Incheon mayor, cited the "1,000-won housing" policy as the key secret behind the increase in births in Incheon. The 1,000-won housing policy supplies purchase-based rental and jeonse rental dwellings owned or acquired by the city of Incheon for 1,000 won a day, or 30,000 won a month.
Yoo said, "From 100-million-won Dream to Home Dream, Fare Dream, Link Dream, Match Dream, and Nurture Dream, the six-piece set of birth policies is raising the birthrate," adding, "From January through September this year, the number of births in Incheon increased 10.2% from a year earlier." According to the National Data Office, Incheon's births growth rate over the same period was the highest in the country.
Yoo said, "Last year, too, the number of births rose by more than 10%," emphasizing, "It's meaningful in that this is a two-year streak of double-digit increases, not a temporary rebound." Yoo added, "Policies that deliver maximum effect at low expense are being proven in citizens' lives through statistics," and said, "It needs to be expanded at the national level." The following is a Q&A with Yoo.
―What is the most memorable policy during the eighth popular election term.
"It's Incheon's low birthrate policy. It's a six-piece set of birth policies consisting of 100-million-won Dream, Home Dream, Fare Dream, Link Dream, Match Dream, and Nurture Dream. While the central government spends 50 trillion won every year without seeing results, Incheon saw the number of births rise 10.2% through September this year. It's a meaningful achievement in that the upward trend was clear last year as well."
―The "1,000-won policy" is drawing attention.
"The core of the policy is designing structures suited to reality and the symbolism of lowering psychological barriers. That's why NAMING. matters. The 1,000-won housing policy carries the message that it solves housing problems for 1,000 won a day, or 30,000 won a month. We supply 1,000 public rental dwellings a year to newlyweds for up to six years. For households with newborns, we support up to 3 million won per year in interest on home purchase loans for five years. Several metropolitan cities, including Seoul, Busan and Daegu, are benchmarking it."
―What are the other 1,000-won policies.
"There is the "1,000-won delivery" using the subway. We install collection centers at every station on Incheon Subway Lines 1 and 2 so that small-business owners can drop off items during their commute, which are then delivered through the urban rail network. The "i Sea Pass," which allows passengers to take the Incheon coastal passenger ferry for 1,500 won one way, and the "1,000-won laundry," which washes production workers' uniforms for 1,000 won, are also popular."
―Isn't the fiscal burden heavy.
"The annual budget for the 1,000-won housing is 3.6 billion won. Considering the expense of supplying 1,000 households, it's sufficiently manageable. Rather than new construction, we are using part of the existing supply volume from the Incheon Housing & City Development Corporation. Seoul or Gyeonggi Province could do it with 50 billion won a year."
―What additional policies are you considering.
"We plan to expand into culture and leisure. We are preparing the "1,000-won culture ticket," which lets people enjoy performances and exhibitions for 1,000 won. During the pilot, it recorded a 92.6% booking rate and a 95.5% participation rate. Starting next year, we will fully implement it to realize universal cultural welfare."
―What is the status of the KTX from Incheon.
"Incheon is the only metropolitan city without high-speed rail. The project to connect from Songdo Station to the Gyeongbu High-Speed Railway began construction in 2020, and the opening was adjusted to late 2026 due to cultural heritage surveys and other factors. Korea National Railway currently plans to complete roadbed and major works by the end of this year and finish track and system works in the first half of next year. After comprehensive trial runs in the second half of next year, we are pushing to open for service. Once open, it will take 2 hours 30 minutes to Busan and 2 hours 10 minutes to Mokpo."
―What regulatory easing tasks are most urgent.
"Under the Capital Region Readjustment Planning Act, Incheon has long suffered reverse discrimination. In particular, border areas such as Ganghwa and Ongjin should be excluded from the capital region or adjusted into a separately managed zone. Institutional supplements are needed, such as leaving some areas undesignated or creating a general growth management zone, and giving priority to the Special Act on Border Areas and the Special Act on Free Economic Zones."
―What are your plans for the remainder of the eighth popular election term.
"I am confident that Incheon's standing has changed through improved external competitiveness. The various tangible policies we have pursued have taken root in citizens' daily lives, and the results are confirmed in statistical figures. We will continue to actively push people's livelihood policies that can be felt in the field."