Japan faces a growing crisis with nearly nine million vacant homes, or 'akiya,' representing 13.8% of its housing stock. Factors include population decline, inheritance issues, urban migration, and a tax system that incentivizes keeping empty houses.
Busan is converting vacant homes into dormitories for foreign students to address housing shortages and urban decay. The project, a collaboration between the city, Yeongdo District, and Korea Maritime & Ocean University, offers affordable shared housing, improving student life and revitalizing the area.
Japan faces a growing crisis with 9 million vacant homes (akiya), driven by a tax system that incentivizes keeping dilapidated structures and complex inheritance laws that divide ownership among many heirs, making decisions difficult.
