Government and Local Authorities' Conflict Turns Multi-Billion Won Stadium into a Burden

Korea Forest Service and Environmental Groups: "Restore to Original State as Promised"
Gangwon-do and Jeongseon-gun: "Olympic Heritage Tourism Resources Must Be Preserved"
Conflict Over Astronomical Restoration Cost Burden

Jeongseon Alpine Ski Resort Panorama [Provided by Korea Forest Service]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] The conflict between the government and Gangwon Province over whether to preserve the 'Alpine Stadium' on Gariwangsan Mountain in Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon, has continued without any resolution even three years after the closing of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

Meanwhile, the Jeongseon Alpine Stadium is deteriorating into an eyesore and a burden.

According to recent investigations by this publication, the Korea Forest Service and environmental groups maintain their position, stating, "Since the development plan was approved on the premise of restoration, Gangwon Province must restore the area to its original state as promised."

In response, Gangwon Province and Jeongseon-gun are confronting this stance head-on, arguing, "The gondola should be utilized as a tourist resource to preserve the Olympic legacy and revitalize the local economy."

Furthermore, with a final ultimatum stating, "If Gangwon Province does not submit a restoration plan, we will consider administrative enforcement," the Korea Forest Service faces a defensive stance from locals who say, "If the Korea Forest Service enforces administrative action, we will physically block it."

The core issue between the two sides is whether to preserve the 3.5 km-long gondola and the maintenance road that connect to the summit of Gariwangsan, but they also clashed over restoration costs.

Gangwon Province demanded that 70% of the total 69 billion KRW, or 48 billion KRW, be supported by national funds, but the Korea Forest Service has announced plans to claim compensation from Gangwon Province after administrative enforcement, estimating restoration costs at around 100 billion KRW.

Because of this, questions arise about whether it is necessary to spend astronomical costs again to remove the stadium, which was built at a cost of 203.4 billion KRW (75% national funds, 25% provincial funds), and to restore the ski slope site, which cannot be fully restored.

The Anti-Demolition Committee of the Alpine Stadium is holding a relay tent protest at the summit of Gariwangsan in Jeongseon [Provided by Jeongseon County]

With such sharply opposing claims, negotiations have effectively come to a halt.

On the 5th, Choi Seung-jun, the mayor of Jeongseon-gun, met with Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, at the National Assembly to explain Jeongseon-gun’s biggest issue?the reasonable preservation of the Jeongseon Alpine Stadium?and requested cooperation and support.

Mayor Choi said, "Even now, in freezing cold temperatures, Jeongseon residents are continuing a relay tent protest at the summit of Habong on Gariwangsan, risking their lives," and repeatedly requested, "Please actively support the plan to operate the Alpine Stadium gondola for three years, verify its impact, and then decide whether to preserve it, as demanded by the residents."

The 'Jeongseon Alpine Stadium Demolition Opposition Pan-Citizen Struggle Committee' also declared its determination for an all-out struggle, stating, "We will continue the relay tent protest risking our lives until the government and National Assembly accept the demands of Jeongseon residents."

Previously, after the Olympics closed, the Korea Forest Service leased 101 hectares (1.01 km²) of national forest on Gariwangsan to Gangwon Province free of charge in 2014 on the condition of ecological restoration. At that time, the upper part of Gariwangsan was a forest genetic resource protection zone where development was prohibited.

However, the 'Gariwangsan Ecological Restoration Promotion Team,' composed of Gangwon Province, the Korea Forest Service, the Ministry of Environment, environmental groups, and experts, approved the development plan on the premise of restoration, and the government authorized the installation of the Alpine Stadium under the special 'Pyeongchang Olympic Act.'

The alpine ski resort installed a total of 37 towers, including 19 gondola towers and 18 lift towers, embedded 7 to 18 meters underground. The Struggle Committee claims that restoring the towers and slopes to their original state will inevitably cause more than three times the damage compared to when the ski resort was installed.

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