Assemblyman Kang Dae-sik: "Taereung Golf Course Utilization Plan Virtually Doomed"

A rally opposing the destruction of the greenbelt at Taereung Golf Course, related to the large-scale housing supply plan in the Seoul metropolitan area, was held on the 9th in front of Lotte Department Store Nowon Branch in Seoul. Participants in the rally are holding placards and shouting slogans. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] It has been confirmed that the Moon Jae-in administration's plan to utilize the Taereung Golf Course site within this year, announced last August as part of real estate measures, has virtually fallen through.

According to data compiled by Congressman Kang Dae-sik's office from relevant ministries and local governments, the designation of Taereung Golf Course as a 'public housing district' has not even been made. The Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) stated, "There has been no directive yet from the higher authority, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport."

Since Taereung Golf Course is a military facility, relocation of the site requires consultation with the Ministry of National Defense, and the relocation process must go through the 'planning stage' and 'implementation stage' according to the 「State Property Act and the Ministry of National Defense Alternative Facility Donation and Transfer Project Directive」.

The Ministry of National Defense responded to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport that "there has been no consultation received regarding the proposal for designation as a public housing district," revealing that there has been no substantive discussion on relocation.

The local government in charge, Nowon District Office, also stated, "Taereung Golf Course is adjacent to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites Taereung and Gangneung and is a development-restricted area that must be preserved for future generations," adding, "There will be significant side effects such as environmental damage, worsening traffic congestion, and deterioration of residents' quality of life."

Nowon District Office clearly expressed to the government that it "cannot agree to unilateral promotion according to the government's plan without prior consultation," and presented ‘seven proposals’ including ▲ establishment of groundbreaking traffic improvement measures (road expansion and new railway construction) ▲ preferential supply of a portion of housing units to district residents ▲ restoration projects for damaged areas due to lifting of development restrictions, indicating that future consultations for site relocation are expected to face difficulties.

Congressman Kang Dae-sik said, "The Taereung Physical Training Center (Golf Course) serves national diplomacy and public interest purposes and can be used as a military facility in emergencies," adding, "Relocation of the golf course will eventually lead to discussions on relocating the Korea Military Academy, and such hasty housing supply is undesirable from a security perspective."

Congressman Kang pointed out, "The Ministry of National Defense and Nowon residents should not suffer losses due to the government's 'disastrous' real estate policy," and "With civic groups also clearly opposing, there are no stakeholders agreeing with the government policy."

Additionally, Lee Jun-seok, head of the Nowon-byeong district of the People Power Party, said, "This plan is a 'frozen feet urination' type supply measure without residents' opinions, released as public opinion on housing policy failure escalated," and added, "Many Nowon residents have been hurt by the Taereung Golf Course development plan, and it should be officially withdrawn even now."

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