Wando-gun Dramatically Resolves Gogeum Pigsty Construction Issue After 2 Years of Controversy

County Governor Shin Woo-cheol Keeps Promise with Resident at On-site Mobile Office

(On the left) County Governor Shin Woo-cheol and business owner Woo Myung-seok are shaking hands after a meeting in the county governor's office on the 21st. Photo by Wando County

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyung-pil] Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 25th that on the 1st, it held an on-site communication mobile county office at the Gogeum-myeon office with about 100 residents in attendance.

Since conflicts with residents had deepened over the construction of pigsties in Gogeum-myeon since 2018, County Governor Shin Woo-cheol stated at the mobile county office, “As the county governor, I fully acknowledge all responsibility regarding the construction of the Gogeum pigsty and will take full responsibility to resolve it until the end.”

Furthermore, on the 21st, through a meeting with Woo Myung-seok, the business owner, County Governor Shin Woo-cheol secured a decision to abandon the project from the business owner as a magnanimous gesture for his hometown, thus putting an end to the pigsty construction issue that had been at the center of local conflict.

The county had pursued two approaches to resolve the Gogeum pigsty construction issue: after the Supreme Court’s final loss on March 30 in the lawsuit to cancel the building permit cancellation, it proceeded with re-cancellation of the building permit due to changed circumstances and negotiations for resolution.

The Gogeum-myeon Pigsty Construction Opposition Committee and residents demanded seeking a solution through negotiations with the business owner, as the lawsuit had been prolonged and victory was uncertain.

Accordingly, the county has been doing its best to negotiate through continuous dialogue and persuasion with the business owner in response to residents’ demands.

During the meeting with the county governor, the business owner said, “For the past 2 to 3 years, I wanted to establish a pig farming education center in my hometown to provide practical help to pig farmers in Korea and to nurture future talents, but I did not expect such strong opposition from the hometown residents. After much consideration and numerous conversations and meetings with the county governor, I decided to give up on the pigsty construction.”

County Governor Shin Woo-cheol expressed to the business owner, “Despite the many emotional wounds you suffered while promoting the project, I am truly grateful for your frank dialogue and the great decision to abandon the project.”

He also said, “I apologize to the residents of Gogeum-myeon who have suffered greatly due to the pigsty construction issue, and thank you for trusting us until the end. I hope that no further local conflicts related to pigsty construction will arise, and I will do my best to carry out county administration unwaveringly for the happiness of the residents and the development of Wando.”

According to officials who attended the meeting, the decisive reasons for the business owner’s decision to abandon the project were County Governor Shin’s persistent persuasion, the business owner’s love for his hometown, and his wish to avoid conflicts between residents and administration in his hometown due to the pigsty issue.

Meanwhile, upon hearing the news that the pigsty issue was resolved, residents of Gogeum-myeon collectively expressed their welcome, and about 70 banners opposing the pigsty construction that had been hung throughout Gogeum-myeon were removed.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.