With the Support for Community Independence for People with Disabilities Act scheduled to take effect next March, pressure is growing to expand housing infrastructure. The independent-housing policy that helps people with disabilities leave institutions and live in the community has shown tangible results. Although the Ministry of Health and Welfare is drafting subordinate regulations to define housing standards and types in line with the law, most people with disabilities are already pursuing lives in the community rather than in institutional settings.
The ministry intends to work with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to establish a steady supply system for disability housing. Advocates have long maintained that securing stable housing is a prerequisite for people transitioning out of institutions to successfully settle in the community. Incheon operates its own independent-living facilities and a pilot program to provide purchased-rental housing for people with disabilities, but efforts to scale up have lagged significantly.
Since 2020, Incheon has not added new units to its existing stock: two short-term independent living homes, nine independent living homes, and six independent housing units. Under the Ministry’s Community Independence Support pilot, purchased-rental independent homes total just 50 units—48 provided by the Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH) and two by Incheon Urban Corporation (iH). Supply fell from 21 units in 2022 to 19 in 2024, with no new units added in 2023. In a year-end demand survey for first-half allocations, Incheon requested 35 additional units. Actual allocation, however, depends on how many units LH and other providers can secure.
Even though iH administers disability-support housing projects, private developers’ application rates remain weak. Agencies have allocated portions of the general purchased-rental housing stock to meet specific requests, but rising demand has further constrained supply conditions for disability housing. Policymakers need measures to incentivize private developers.
Demand for independent housing is expected to increase after the law takes effect as needs assessments and outreach reveal previously unmet demand. Independent-living initiatives involve more than housing supply; effective linkage to community-based services is central. Authorities must promptly realign policy priorities, increase funding, and strengthen support systems.
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