Songpa-gu Files Lawsuit for Handover of Sampyo Pungnap Plant with Expired Ownership Rights

Sampyo Does Not Relocate Factory Despite Expired Usage Period... Unauthorized Occupation Since July 1... "Will Put an End to Factory Relocation and Accelerate Restoration Project"

Sampyo Industrial Pungnap-dong Factory Site

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su) filed a public property delivery lawsuit against Sampyo Industry on August 31.

The Sampyo Industry Pungnap factory site is a key area of the "Seoul Pungnap-dong Earthen Fortress Restoration and Maintenance Project - West Fortress Wall Excavation and Restoration." A large amount of Baekje pottery, building remains, and road relics were discovered at the site, raising the need for protection as Pungnap-dong Earthen Fortress is considered a major area presumed to be the royal palace during the Baekje Hanseong capital period.

Accordingly, since 2006, the district has been promoting the relocation of Sampyo Industry's Pungnap factory for the restoration and maintenance project, but in 2014, Sampyo Industry suddenly refused to cooperate, leading to compulsory acquisition procedures.

Subsequently, on February 5, 2016, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport approved the project recognition notice, and on February 28, 2019, Sampyo Industry lost the lawsuit they filed with the Supreme Court to cancel the project recognition notice.

On January 10 of this year, ownership was finally transferred to Songpa-gu through the land expropriation decision of the Seoul Land Expropriation Committee, and Sampyo's objection to the expropriation decision was dismissed on June 25.

However, Sampyo Industry applied for an extension of the factory site usage permit, which the district denied, resulting in Sampyo Industry unlawfully occupying the factory site since July 1.

On August 31, the district filed a public property delivery lawsuit against Sampyo Industry, intending to put an end to the factory relocation.

The site consists of a total of 16 parcels, of which 5 parcels (including Pungnap-dong 304-2) are owned by Songpa-gu, and 11 parcels (including Pungnap-dong 305-14) are owned by Seoul City. The lawsuit will be jointly conducted by Songpa-gu and Seoul City.

To ensure the restoration project proceeds smoothly, the district has made various efforts over the past 15 years according to legal procedures, including project recognition notices, ownership transfers, and denial of usage permits.

In addition to filing this public property delivery lawsuit, the district plans to accelerate measures for factory relocation, such as imposing compensation fees for unauthorized occupation of public property.

Park Seong-su, Mayor of Songpa-gu, stated, "Despite the expiration of ownership transfer and usage permit periods, the factory is being unlawfully occupied, causing significant damage to smooth project progress and residents' property rights. Through this delivery lawsuit, we will strive to ensure the prompt relocation of Sampyo Industry's Pungnap factory so that the cultural heritage restoration and maintenance project can be initiated early."

Panungtoseong Fortress Panorama

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