Rep. Hwang Hee, a three-term member of the Democratic Party and part of the National Land and Transportation Committee, has sparked significant controversy online with his proposal for a so-called 'Bus House.'
On August 7, Hwang shared on Facebook that he had seen numerous boat houses along the canals in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and suggested implementing a similar concept in South Korea with bus houses.
He estimated that remodeling costs could be around 50 million won (approximately $38,000) per unit, totaling about 500 billion won (around $380 million) for 10,000 units. He proposed designing mobile bus houses that could be driven by residents or trailer-type bus houses that could be moved by external vehicles.
Hwang noted that the government's housing supply policy heavily relies on the private sector, which can slow down progress. He argued that these bus houses could serve as temporary living spaces for young people until they secure stable housing, highlighting the potential for rapid deployment.
However, the post quickly drew harsh criticism on social media.
Users reacted with comments such as, 'Better than a drum, at least it has good lighting,' and 'Is this how they view the 2030 generation?' Others questioned the feasibility of the proposal, with one user stating, 'If the goal is to supply 10,000 units for 500 billion won, just build real houses.'
One particularly scathing comment read, 'If you ask your daughter to live in one, I bet you’ll turn red and say to leave the family out of it,' reflecting a cynical view of what they termed the Democratic Party's populist policies.
Members of the ruling party also criticized the proposal, calling it an insult to young people. Park Chung-kwon, a spokesperson for the People Power Party, condemned it as a simplistic and misguided idea that would turn young people into 'refugees on the road,' urging Hwang to set an example by being the first resident of the proposed bus house.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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