Korea sees capital-region housing starts at 218,000-235,000, short of 268,000 goal
In short
At its first regular housing supply briefing on 16 October, the Korean government said 99,000 or more homes had started construction in the capital region by the second week of October, about 37% of the 268,000 annual target. It forecast 218,000 to 235,000 starts by year-end, 81% to 88% of the target.
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The Office for Government Policy Coordination and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport held the first regular housing supply briefing on 16 October at the Government Complex Seoul. The briefings will be held twice a month, with the two bodies taking turns, and will report results at each stage: construction starts, sales and move-ins. Chosun Ilbo reported that the briefing followed an instruction from President Lee Jae-myung to the prime minister to oversee housing supply directly. [ 1 , 11 , 16 ]
The government said 99,000 or more homes had started construction in the capital region by the second week of October, about 37% of the 268,000 target for the year. It forecast 218,000 to 235,000 starts by year-end, or 81% to 88% of the target. That leaves a shortfall of 33,000 to 50,000 homes, according to Maeil Business and Seoul Economic Daily. Newsis said the government acknowledged the target would be hard to reach. [ 3 , 11 , 16 , 20 , 23 , 26 ]
By category, public housing, including third-generation new town sites, stood at 16,200 of a 62,000 target, about 26%. Newly purchased housing stood at 13,000 of 42,000 (31%), and private redevelopment at 17,000 of 72,000 (23.6%). Other housing stood at 47,000 (54.7%), according to Seoul Shinmun. Yonhap said the redevelopment figure was as of the end of August, while Maeil Business said it covered the period to September. To reach the year-end range, the government plans to start about 45,000 more public homes, 28,000 more newly purchased homes and 28,000 more redevelopment homes, Yonhap reported. [ 3 , 16 , 18 ]
Kim Yi-tak (김이탁), first vice minister of land, infrastructure and transport, said that setting an aggressive target this year had concentrated starts in the second half, and that the ministry would try to spread volumes through the year. Kim Yong-su (김용수), second deputy chief of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, said public volume led by Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) was expected to come close to target. He said private volume such as redevelopment was hard for the government to control, and that some sites in Gyeonggi and Incheon were delayed because of relatively low profitability. [ 12 , 14 , 23 , 26 ]
The government also said it would build a digital housing supply dashboard to publish plans, results and sale and rental schedules in one place. It plans to set up an integrated housing supply support center within the year, combining permitting and financing support. It said it is pursuing move-ins for about 100,000 public homes in the capital region from the fourth quarter to the end of next year, with third-generation new town move-ins starting in Incheon Gyeyang in December. Of 145 detailed tasks under the 13 August measures, 48 are complete. [ 3 , 11 , 13 , 15 , 16 ]
The ministry said Seoul housing permits for January to August were 40,000 and starts 21,000, up 40% and 41% on a year earlier. Kim Yi-tak called the trend a good signal for the market. Asked about extra lending rules, he said none were under review. Hankook Ilbo noted criticism that the briefings alone do not speed supply, and cited Korea Real Estate Board data showing expected Seoul apartment move-ins this year of 26,951, down 27.4% from last year. Chosun Ilbo said most of the rental measures explained at the briefing had been announced earlier. [ 11 , 12 , 16 , 21 , 26 ]
Why it matters
The briefings, to be held twice a month, are meant to let the public check whether supply plans turn into actual starts, sales and move-ins. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport acknowledged the 2026 start target will be missed, and outlets pointed to falling near-term move-in volumes and a pile-up of starts at year-end.
Key facts
- The Office for Government Policy Coordination and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport held the first regular housing supply briefing on 16 October at the Government Complex Seoul. [ 1 , 11 , 16 ]
- By the second week of October, 99,000 or more homes had started construction in the capital region, about 37% of the 268,000 target for the year. [ 3 , 12 , 16 ]
- The government forecast 218,000 to 235,000 starts by year-end, 81% to 88% of the target and 33,000 to 50,000 short of it. [ 11 , 16 , 20 , 26 ]
- Public housing starts stood at 16,200 of a 62,000 target (about 26%), newly purchased housing at 13,000 of 42,000 (31%), and private redevelopment at 17,000 of 72,000 (23.6%). [ 3 , 16 ]
- The government plans to recruit residents for 15,000 or more homes by year-end, including 10,000 public sale homes and 5,000 or more public rental homes. [ 1 , 3 , 16 ]
- The government is pursuing move-ins for about 100,000 public homes in the capital region from the fourth quarter to the end of next year, starting with Incheon Gyeyang in December. [ 3 , 13 , 16 ]
- Of 145 detailed tasks under the 13 August housing measures, 48 are complete. [ 1 , 15 , 22 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The government said 99,000 or more homes had started construction in the capital region by the second week of October, about 37% of the 268,000 annual target. [ 3 , 12 , 14 , 16 , 26 ]
- The government forecast 218,000 to 235,000 starts for the year, 81% to 88% of the target. [ 11 , 14 , 16 , 26 ]
- Regular housing supply briefings will be held twice a month, alternating between the Office for Government Policy Coordination and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. [ 1 , 11 , 16 ]
- The government plans a digital housing supply dashboard. [ 1 , 3 , 11 , 15 , 17 , 21 ]
- The government is pursuing move-ins for about 100,000 public homes in the capital region from the fourth quarter to the end of next year. [ 3 , 13 , 16 ]
- Seoul housing permits and starts for January to August were 40,000 and 21,000, up 40% and 41% on a year earlier. [ 1 , 11 , 12 , 16 , 26 ]
- Kim Yi-tak said no additional lending rules were under review. [ 12 , 24 , 26 ]
Still unclear
- How many homes will be offered to residents by year-end. Several outlets report 15,000 or more, while Newsis and Dong-A Ilbo report 20,000 or more including 5,000 rental homes, plus 10,000 additional public sale announcements.
- The date the private redevelopment figure covers. Yonhap says end of August; Maeil Business and Seoul Economic Daily say September.
- Move-in volumes from this year's start target through 2030. Newsis reported the government gave no figure; Kim Yi-tak said move-ins carry large uncertainty and that the usual practice is to announce the next year's volume.
- Whether the land transaction permit zones will be extended. Seoul Economic Daily reported the ministry will decide based on market conditions at year-end.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Seoul Shinmun publishes its report on the first regular housing supply briefing. [ 3 ]
- Yonhap and Newsis publish reports on the briefing held that day at the Government Complex Seoul. [ 14 , 16 ]
- Chosun Ilbo publishes a Q&A with Kim Yi-tak, who said no additional lending rules are under review. [ 24 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reports that the land transaction permit zone extension will be decided at year-end. [ 26 ]