Incheon, South Korea – Incheon City’s ambitious plan to provide affordable housing for newlyweds and young couples has hit a snag. Despite announcing earlier this year that it would supply 1,000 units of "1,000 won housing," the city has yet to open applications for the program.

The "i+House dream" initiative, unveiled in July last year by Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, aimed to address the nation's low birthrate by easing the burden of housing costs. The program offers newlyweds and pre-newlyweds affordable rental housing and interest rate support for home loans.

The centerpiece of the program is the "1,000 won housing," where eligible couples can rent a public housing unit or a privately owned home (up to 85 square meters) for a mere 1,000 won per day (or 30,000 won per month). While the city has secured 500 public housing units, the remaining 500 units under the rental program are still pending approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport.

Initially aiming for January 2023 move-ins, the project faced delays due to various bureaucratic hurdles, including negotiations with the central government regarding the new social welfare program. Although the city has completed the necessary administrative procedures and signed a cooperative agreement with the Incheon Housing Corporation, the actual implementation of the program is still months away.

The city plans to open applications for the 500 public housing units as early as this month. However, due to the ongoing negotiations with the central government for the rental program, the timeline for the remaining 500 units is less certain. Incheon officials estimate that applications for the rental program might open in March, with move-ins expected around July or August.

Despite the delays, public interest in the "1,000 won housing" remains high. City officials have reported receiving numerous inquiries from potential applicants. They assure the public that they are working diligently to expedite the process and provide affordable housing options for newlyweds.

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