1. On May 14, Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing Leilani Farha, who is on a visit to the Republic of Korea.

※ Special Rapporteur Farha is on an official visit to the ROK from May 14 till 23 to gather information on the ROK’s housing policies and situation and to make recommendations on necessary improvements.

2. Vice Minister Cho commended the Special Rapporteur for carrying out activities aimed to improve housing conditions and facilitate adequate housing around the world, as well as for her keen interest in and efforts toward guaranteeing the right to housing for women, the poor and other vulnerable groups.

3. Vice Minister Cho shared with the Special Rapporteur information on the ROK government’s “people-centered” policies, saying that in an effort to facilitate adequate housing, the government is implementing policies designed to improve housing conditions for low-income people and to help youth and newly-weds shoulder lower housing expenses.

4. Vice Minister Cho expressed hope that during her visit to the ROK, Special Rapporteur Farha will meet with officials of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and other government agencies, as well as public organizations, the National Assembly and courts; and will visit the Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City governments for extensive exchanges of views; and thereby learn sufficiently about the ROK’s situation and policy regarding adequate housing and make an objective and balanced assessment thereon.

5. Special Rapporteur Farha, extending appreciation to the ROK government for its robust assistance and cooperation with regard to her visit to the ROK, expressed hope that during her visit to the country, she will be able to gather accurate information on the ROK’s situation regarding adequate housing, especially the housing conditions of and policies toward vulnerable groups, and thereby to contribute constructively to the creation of more adequate housing conditions in the country.

* unofficial translation