Jeju-si, Neglects Collection of Unauthorized Bridge Occupancy Fees for 27 Years Despite Criticism

A Bridge Illegally Occupying City-Owned Road for 27 Years... Not Once Charged Occupancy Fee

Ora Golf Course Bridge installed on the road 'Ora Nam-ro' owned by Jeju City.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters (Jeju) Reporter Park Chang-won] Despite the fact that ‘Ora Golf Course,’ Jeju Special Self-Governing Province’s first golf course, was found to have occupied and used a city-owned road without permission for an extended period, Jeju City has been criticized for standing by without taking proper administrative action.

Two months have passed since Asia Economy’s report on October 18 (Unauthorized occupation of national land causing safety issues... What is happening at Ora Golf Course?), but it has been confirmed that Jeju City has taken no administrative measures such as collecting usage fees from the golf course, which has occupied the city-owned road without permission for years.

The bridge installed to connect the golf course at the entrance of Ora Golf Course is located on ‘Ora Nam-ro,’ a road owned by Jeju City.

The bridge installed on the city road is classified as a structure, and since it occupies the city road, Jeju City should impose a usage fee on the occupant, Ora Golf Course.

However, despite Asia Economy’s pointed out that the bridge, estimated to have been installed 27 years ago, has never been charged a usage fee even once, the Jeju City Construction Department has not identified the area subject to the usage fee for two months.

A Jeju City official stated, “We need to review the law, but it seems difficult to retroactively charge usage fees for 27 years, and we will likely only impose fees for the past five years.”

Regarding the safety issues of the visibly aging bridge, Jeju City said it would consult with the golf course and conduct a safety inspection as soon as possible, but it has yet to clarify any plans.

Meanwhile, ‘Glad Hotel & Resort,’ which operates and manages Jeju Ora Golf Course, responded via email, “After the Jeju City Construction Department visited the site to inspect the bridge, they said they would proceed by providing legal guidance and official notices regarding compensation fees and schedules, so we are waiting.”

Despite the fact that a bridge was installed without permission on a city-owned road and has been used for years without paying a single usage fee, two months later, the response from the responsible department, Jeju City Construction Department, was merely, “There are many other civil complaints besides this,” and “We will take care of this matter properly.”

A citizen B (56, Nohyeong-dong, Jeju City), who only recently learned of this situation, said, “I doubt that ordinary citizens, not a golf course, could expect such lenient administration even if they illegally installed a structure on city-owned land.” He shook his head at Jeju City’s administration.

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