Icheon-si, "No More Delays"... Forcing Ahead with Municipal Crematorium Construction

Icheon-si, "Severe Inconvenience in Citizens' Remote Funerals" Project Unavoidably Proceeding
Yeoju-si, "Icheon-si Made a Unilateral Decision"... Requests Gyeonggi-do for Conflict Mediation

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Icheon City in Gyeonggi Province has decided to proceed with the construction of a municipal cremation facility despite the withdrawal requests from the residents of the candidate village site.

On the 1st, Icheon City announced, "We have submitted a plan to change the management of public property related to the purchase of land for the cremation facility to the city council."

The city plans to purchase 155,000㎡ of forest and farmland in San 11-1, Sujeong-ri, Bubal-eup, and complete the cremation facility and park by the end of 2022.

The construction of the municipal crematorium will involve a total construction cost of 9.5 billion KRW, with auxiliary facilities covering 3,000㎡ consisting of one basement floor and two above-ground floors, and four cremators will be installed.

For this, the city council must approve the plan, and it must undergo Gyeonggi Province’s local finance investment review and urban management facility designation.

However, residents of Maehwa, Yanggeo, and Yongin-ri in Neungseo-myeon, Yeoju City, adjacent to the candidate site, are strongly opposing the plan.

Yeoju City stated, "Icheon City unilaterally decided on the cremation facility, which causes environmental damage and other issues," and has requested conflict mediation from Gyeonggi Province.

Additionally, the 'Pan-Yeoju Citizens' Committee Against the Icheon City Crematorium Site,' composed of about 70 civic and social organizations in the Yeoju area, is holding rallies opposing the construction of the crematorium.

In response, Icheon City said, "We understand the position of residents near the candidate site," but added, "We can no longer delay the construction of the cremation facility due to the inconvenience caused to citizens by having to travel far for funerals."

Meanwhile, representatives of Sujeong-ri village, the candidate site for the crematorium, had previously submitted a withdrawal letter to Icheon City last October.

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