Hwang Hee, a member of the Democratic Party, apologized on August 10 for not fully understanding the seriousness of youth housing issues after proposing the controversial "Youth Bus House" initiative.
Hwang stated, "I sincerely apologize to the youth and the public," acknowledging that his recent proposal for the Youth Bus House caused significant concern and disappointment, contrary to his intentions.
He explained that the proposal aimed to supplement the government's delayed housing supply and alleviate temporary housing costs for low-income youth.
However, Hwang admitted, "Regardless of the reasons, I did not grasp the gravity of the housing problems faced by young people. I feel a heavy responsibility for the hurt and disappointment caused. I will do my utmost to develop practical and high-quality housing innovation measures as a result of this incident."
Previously, on August 7, Hwang suggested on Facebook a program to remodel discarded buses into living spaces for students, claiming it would provide temporary housing until they secure stable accommodations and could be supplied quickly.
Following backlash from the People Power Party and the youth community, Hwang deleted the post and clarified that it was merely an idea. The Democratic Party also distanced itself from the proposal, with spokesperson Kang Jun-hyun stating it was a personal opinion unrelated to the party.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.