Seoul Metropolitan Council Approves Reallocation of 2026 Transport Funds to Housing Grants

Seoul Metropolitan Council members passed an amendment on July 7 that redirects 62 billion won from the 2026 transport capital budget to expand the city’s rental deposit support grants. The measure affects households earning under 60 percent of the median income in Eunpyeong-gu and Seongbuk-gu first, with applications opening in September.

The change comes after the council received updated population projections showing continued net out-migration of younger residents from those two districts. City records indicate that average jeonse deposits in Eunpyeong rose 14 percent between 2024 and 2025, outpacing wage growth in the same period.

Effects on daily commutes and housing costs

Residents who qualify for the new grants will receive up to 30 million won toward rental deposits, paid directly to landlords. At the same time, the council removed funding for dedicated bus lanes on sections of Gyeongui-Jungang Line feeder routes serving Mapo-gu and Yongsan-gu, where peak-hour headways already average 12 minutes during weekday mornings.

Local transport users who rely on those corridors will continue to face existing service levels, while households approved for the housing grants will see their effective monthly housing costs drop by an estimated 180,000 won once the deposit support is applied. The legislation states that eligibility will be verified through the city’s existing welfare database rather than new applications.

Next steps and implementation timeline

The amended budget now moves to the mayor’s office for final signature. District offices in Eunpyeong and Seongbuk have been instructed to begin outreach to registered low-income households by August 1, with the first grant payments scheduled for October. The transport projects removed from the budget will be reconsidered during the 2027 planning cycle, according to the council’s published schedule.