Will Changwon National Industrial Complex Become a Hotbed for Speculation Following the Passage of the Knowledge Industry Center Construction Ordinance?

Justice Party Gyeongnam Provincial Party: "Mayor Heo Seong-mu of Changwon, Stop Hiding Behind Independent Status and State Your Position"

On the 20th, the Economic Welfare and Women's Committee of Changwon City Council passed the 'Partial Amendment to the Ordinance on the Construction and Support of Knowledge Industry Centers within Changwon National Industrial Complex.' (Photo by Changwon City Council)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Choi Hyun-joo] The amendment to the ordinance on the construction of the Knowledge Industry Center in Changwon National Industrial Complex, Gyeongnam, has passed the city council standing committee, raising concerns that the industrial complex will become a hotbed for speculation.

The Justice Party Gyeongnam Provincial Party issued a statement on the 21st, strongly criticizing the recent passage of the "Partial Amendment to the Ordinance on the Construction and Support of the Knowledge Industry Center in Changwon National Industrial Complex" by the Economic Welfare and Women’s Committee of the council.

The party stated, "With the passage of this ordinance, there are concerns that jobs will decrease due to factory relocations and that Changwon will become a land speculation site," adding, "The reason former Mayor Ahn Sang-soo enacted the knowledge industry ordinance in 2015 was to prevent the subdivision of land in the national industrial complex."

The Changwon industrial complex ordinance was passed with the participation of 39 council members, deleting the provision that prohibited the construction of apartment-type factories, known as Knowledge Industry Centers, if the area exceeded 10,000 cubic meters. In response, Justice Party lawmaker Choi Young-hee proposed an amendment to postpone the ordinance revision, but it was rejected.

The party explained that allowing apartment-type factories composed of small spaces below the minimum subdivision area specified in the industrial complex management basic plan to be built without regulation was intended to prevent the industrial complex, which centers on large and medium-sized enterprises, from deteriorating into a small and medium enterprise complex and to curb indiscriminate real estate speculation.

They continued, "The Changwon mayor stated that if the ordinance to abolish the Knowledge Industry Center is approved, safety measures addressing employment issues, speculation, and large company withdrawal, which labor circles are concerned about, will be prepared. However, this is akin to 'leaving the granary open and planning measures to prevent thieves from entering,'" criticizing, "It is questionable why Changwon is targeted despite the existence of vacant industrial complexes."

Furthermore, the party declared that the passage of this amended ordinance is an unacceptable act, and they will work to have the ordinance postponed at the plenary session on the 23rd. They warned that if it passes, they will unite with local labor groups to fight to prevent the industrial complex from becoming a real estate speculation site.

The Justice Party urged Mayor Heo Seong-moo, saying, "The passage of this ordinance threatens not only the Changwon industrial complex plan but also the foundation of urban planning that separates Seongsan, Uichang industrial and commercial areas, and residential areas," and called on him to "stop hiding behind independent council members and clearly state his position."

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