President Lee Jae-myung visited the Gyeyang district in Incheon, the first among the third-generation new towns where move-ins are set to begin, highlighting the critical importance of swift housing supply.

President Lee held an on-site housing supply meeting with prospective residents as well as urban and transportation experts, and also personally inspected the development status of the new town from the rooftop of an apartment where finishing construction is in full swing, Senior Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing.

He also ordered officials to fundamentally consider selling undeveloped raw land, noting that it could significantly shorten the supply timeline.

In his opening remarks at the on-site meeting, President Lee repeatedly emphasized the speed of supply.

"Swift housing supply in the third-generation new towns will serve as a crucial turning point that determines the success or failure of our real estate policy," Lee said. "As I continue to emphasize, what matters above all is speed."

"From 2022 to last year, permits and groundbreakings for new housing dropped by nearly half for unknown reasons," Lee diagnosed. "Because it takes about three years from housing approval to actual supply, shortages are beginning to emerge now. We must advance new supply as much as possible."

He continued, "While we are making significant efforts now, we must continue to identify additional measures to fill the supply gap," urging, "Relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), must do everything in their power to break ground on about 90% of the public housing volume in the third-generation new towns by 2030, in line with the target announced this past August."

Lee added, "Depart from existing practices, reexamine all procedures from scratch, and do your best to advance the actual groundbreaking schedules even by a single day," calling for officials to "maximize speed across all stages, including planning and land compensation."

President Lee also requested, "If there are systems or regulations that hinder these goals, they must all be fixed. Please discuss them candidly here today."

The Gyeyang district in Incheon is also President Lee's former constituency from his time as a member of the National Assembly.

Lee remarked, "I extend my congratulations to those who have moved in. It is deeply meaningful in that it represents the first fruit of housing supply in the third-generation new towns," adding, "As someone who used to commute from here, I feel deeply moved."

He also instructed, "Normally, the government uses 'groundbreaking' as its benchmark for housing supply management, but I believe that for the public to feel the tangible impact, the benchmark must be 'move-in.' Please prepare essential infrastructure, such as transportation, education, and heating, thoroughly so that residents do not face inconvenience."

After receiving a report on the "Status of Housing Supply in the Seoul Metropolitan Area" from Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Hong Ji-sun, President Lee pointed out that it is problematic that consultations with related ministries regarding LH staffing increases have not yet concluded.

He also asked officials to consider drastically increasing financial incentives to ensure swift supply.

Addressing LH Chief Executive Officer Lee Sung-hoon, the president reviewed the current status of workforce recruitment while questioning whether delays caused by civil litigation procedures during eminent domain expropriation stem from legislative shortcomings, ordering him to review and report on measures to address the issue.

In addition, he asked officials to give thought to redefining terms such as "public rental" and "permanent rental."

(Photo: Cheong Wa Dae Press Corps, Yonhap News)