Currently, Korea is gradually approaching the line of developed countries thanks to economic development and revenue increase. At the same time, it is rapidly entering into the aging society as the life expectancy becomes longer due to the development...
Currently, Korea is gradually approaching the line of developed countries thanks to economic development and revenue increase. At the same time, it is rapidly entering into the aging society as the life expectancy becomes longer due to the development of medicine and progress of civilization. In addition, Korea has advanced into the aging society since 2010 as its birth rate has decreased. Along with the improved life quality thanks to economic and technological advancement, the elderly and soon-to-been retirees are preparing for their old age. Among those preparations, the stabilization of housing is thought be the best planning for the old age. In this line, public institutes are continuously studying, developing and supporting for the stabilization of housing for the elderly and improvement of housing environment in Korea, just like other advanced countries. It seems, however, that most of the existing welfare housings for the elderly are failure.
The purpose of this study is to present the details for the introduction of retiree housing complex, considering the failure of the existing welfare housings for the elderly. The detailed ideas for the introduction of retiree housing complex are as follows:
First, even though the age limit for the existing paid welfare housing for the elderly is over 60 and that for the expense-based welfare housing for the elderly is over 65, the age limit for the retiree housing complex is strict and just around 50-60.
Second, the existing welfare housings for the elderly are distributed around large cities and are differentiated depending on income level. Since they are developed mainly for the high income classes, they are not sufficient in terms of housing stabilization. Therefore, the development of retiree housing complex makes it possible for the retirees to utilize their money tied to the housing and to stabilize their housing, without differentiating the classes of retirees.
Third, even though the government is inducing the supply of welfare housing for the elderly by relaxing regulations to stabilize the housings, some construction companies are against the policy in their initial sales. Therefore, the home insurance for retirees can help construction companies secure construction costs, preventing the initial sales which are against the government policy.
Fourth, the existing welfare housings for the elderly are not well managed due to the issue of staff assignment and poor working environment, as the detailed operation and management of the housings are not specified in the laws. The retiree housing complex, however, can be securely operated and managed by a build-transfer-lease (BTO) using public lands.
Fifth, the retiree housing complex mentioned earlier can help retirees prepare for their vibrant second life after retirement. They can prepare for the base of stable housing after retirement though the retirement insurance during their careers. This type of housing can make the aging society, which Korea will face soon, be a productive and vibrant one.
As the baby boomers (who were born between 1955 and 1963) start retiring from their jobs, they have to support their parents, raise their children, and even pay for the tuitions and wedding expenses for their children. They think that extra cultural activities are just luxurious, and are under severe stress due to the lack of preparation for the old age.
In addition, they cannot buy better house because they have to support their parents, and they even transfer from a medium to large house to a smaller house by selling it because of child support, tuitions and wedding expenses. In addition, many of them increasingly sell their existing house and change into a leased house.
With respect to the increasing demand for retiree housings, if the housings are supplied by private businesses in collaboration with the government, not just by the government-led supply, the limitation of creating supply to meet the demand of the existing welfare housing can be relieved.
In order to address the instability of housing for the elderly, the retiree housing complex led by private businesses, as proposed in this study, needs to be introduced. If the supply is met for the demand of after-retirement housings, the government can solve the big social issue on the unstable housings for retirees, while the retirees can prepare for their old age. The findings of this study are expected to be of help for the stabilization of retiree housings.