Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine the policy direction and execution plans of the Japanese central and local governments for the use of vacant houses after the enactment of the "Special Act on Vacant Houses." It also seeks to provide suggestions for establishing vacant house policies in Korea by identifying the characteristics of the Japanese policies, and to suggest policy alternatives that can contribute to environmental improvement and regional revitalization through the use of vacant houses. For this purpose, we examined Japan's "Special Act on Vacant Houses," the process of establishing vacant house policies in the Japanese central and local governments, and the contents and direction of these policies. Below are the results of this study. First, the Japanese government revised mid to long-term policies related to housing after the enactment of the "Special Act on Vacant Houses", thereby providing ground for local governments to establish vacant house policies. Second, the government actively supported the operation and funding of related associations so that the private sector rather than the public sector could address vacant house problems. Third, the government subsidized administrative expenses such as cost of finding vacant house owners to prevent neglect of vacant houses, and showed its will to address vacant house problems by revising taxes such as property taxes and transfer income taxes. Fourth, the government has enacted distinct ordinances for each local government and made it possible to perform customized policies such as allowing residents and local stakeholders to participate in the establishment of vacant house policies. Fifth, the government made it possible to manage vacant houses efficiently by allowing the vacant house bank to provide all information related to the use of vacant houses. It is necessary for Korea's central and local governments to refer to these precedent cases and create efforts to reduce trial and error when establishing vacant house policies.