Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Hong Jee-sun has placed housing stability and policy execution at the center of her agenda, calling for third-phase new cities and urban housing projects to advance from plans and targets to construction starts and occupancy. At her Sept. 23 inauguration at the Government Complex Sejong, Hong said supply-demand imbalances, rental-market instability and household debt were interconnected structural challenges. She proposed a multi-layered consultative body with capital-region local governments, integrated reviews and fast-track permitting to accelerate supply. The agenda includes the government’s target to commence construction on 1.35 million capital-region households by 2030, despite obstacles including land compensation, resident negotiations and permitting. Hong also plans to expand private long-term rentals and develop universal public rental housing for young people, newlyweds and other non-homeowners near transport hubs at reasonable rents. She became the second Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport under the Lee Jae Myung government after eight months as the ministry’s second vice minister and has called for less unnecessary paperwork and stronger field-focused administration.