Equity questions raised over special supply for athletes, overseas construction workers

Hong Ji-sun pledges to review gaps in the system 'once again'

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Hong Ji-sun answers lawmakers' questions during a national audit of the ministry held at the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee on Oct. 7. [Yonhap]
Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Hong Ji-sun answers lawmakers' questions during a national audit of the ministry held at the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee on Oct. 7. [Yonhap]

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Hong Ji-sun said Friday she would review gaps in the apartment special supply system for elite athletes and overseas construction workers, and pledged to strengthen the ministry's own verification process for screening applicants.

Hong made the remarks during a national audit session of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, after independent lawmaker Jang Gyeong-tae raised concerns about the special supply schemes for elite athletes and overseas construction workers and asked what improvements were planned.

The special supply scheme for elite athletes has come under scrutiny over fairness concerns, sparked by remarks some gold medalists in men's football at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games made regarding their military service obligations. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport had previously said it would consult with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism — the ministry with primary jurisdiction — to review possible reforms.

Under current housing supply rules, athletes who finish in the top three at major international competitions such as the Olympics, Asian Games or world championships are eligible for special supply allocations through an institutional recommendation system. Those who meet the requirement of being a member of a household with no home ownership can be assigned a national housing unit or a privately built unit with an exclusive use area of 85 square meters or less.

However, even eligible athletes must receive an official recommendation from the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee and go through a separate subscription process, and the benefit is limited to a single use.

Jang questioned whether it was appropriate for athletes to move into complexes with competition ratios of more than 3,500 to 1 at a ratio of just 3 to 1. He also raised concerns about regional fairness, noting that athletes based in Incheon had received special supply allocations in Seoul.

The special supply scheme for overseas construction workers — introduced during the Middle East construction boom — also drew criticism. Jang said an analysis of the past three years showed that recipients of the overseas worker special supply had won units in top-tier apartment complexes in areas such as Banpo and Daechi. He criticized the scoring structure, saying one point is awarded for each month of overseas work, allowing scores to reach 50 points, meaning anyone with overseas work experience can effectively qualify for special supply.

In response, Hong said she would "review once again what needs to be supplemented in the special supply scheme for elite athletes and the special supply scheme for overseas construction workers," adding that the ministry would "not rely solely on recommending institutions but verify the recommended candidates ourselves."


hwshin@heraldcorp.com