Housing policy suggestion for one- and two-member households through comparative analysis between South Korea and Japan

Abstract

Currently, the Korean society has entered a critical transition period that requires long-term residential alternatives that provide a better quality of life. This study reviewed the literature and statistical data from Korea and Japan to gain insight into the residential crisis of small households in Korea. The review found that the residential issues of small households should be managed according to the householders’ economic status in terms of their welfare perspective, not only according to their age group. To ensure their quality of life, it is more effective to focus on residential services that are responsive to the lifestyles of small householders, rather than to increase the number of new small houses. Also, when rental housing and residential services based on comprehensive private rental housing businesses are supplied to small households under the coordination of the public welfare system, positive synergetic effects will contribute to the expansion and acceleration of the housing business with a concomitant improvement in public interest.