"Gwacheon Citizens Forced into One-Sided Sacrifice"... Gwacheon City Takes a Last Stand Against Government Housing Supply Policy

Gwacheon City installs a tent market office in front of the Government Complex Gwacheon.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy reporters Seunggon Han and intern Seulgi Kim] On the 6th, Gwacheon City in Gyeonggi Province, opposing the government's housing supply policy, set up tents on idle land and began operating an outdoor mayor's office. This move is being interpreted as Gwacheon City making a last stand.

At a press conference held as Mayor Kim Jongcheon of Gwacheon started working in the tent mayor's office that day, he expressed "deep regret over the government's unilateral announcement of the plan to build about 4,000 public housing units around the Gwacheon Government Complex in the metropolitan area without prior consultation with the local government, Gwacheon City," and stated, "We absolutely cannot agree to this policy announcement that forces one-sided sacrifice on the city and its citizens."

He added, "We will continuously propose to the government, together with citizens from all walks of life, that this area, which is like the heart of Gwacheon City, be used as a resource for future generations rather than for housing."

He continued, "I will work in the tent until the government's housing supply plan for the Gwacheon Government Complex is withdrawn. We will carry out all actions, including one-person relay picketing," emphasizing his stance.

Mayor Kim said, "Although I am a mayor affiliated with the Democratic Party and it is appropriate to cooperate with the government's and party's policies, this issue is not something to be indecisive about," and added, "If a national project such as an artificial intelligence (AI) or bio cluster is established on the idle land, citizens will understand."

The outdoor mayor's office is a 100㎡ space made by connecting four tents, equipped with tables and desks for meetings, printers, and other office supplies.

Mayor Kim and four secretarial staff members reside here to conduct meetings, approvals, and other work, and to meet with citizens to gather opinions on the government's housing supply policy.

Earlier, on the 4th, the government announced plans to supply an additional total of 122,000 housing units in the metropolitan area and stated that about 4,000 housing units would be supplied on the idle land of the Gwacheon Government Complex.

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