[Namyangju Wangsuk District Report] "Land Inherited from Ancestors, Not for New Town Speculators"

Banners Opposing Land Compensation Everywhere: "Thorough Investigation Needed"
Local Task Force Refuses Obstruction Survey... Concerns Over New Town Project Delays Materialize

On the 15th afternoon, banners opposing land compensation were posted along the roadsides in Jingeon-eup, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, designated as the Wangsu district of the 3rd new town. (Photo by Ryu Taemin)

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Tae-min] "We must conduct a thorough investigation first. We cannot proceed with land compensation until all speculators are caught." (Resident A from Jingun-eup, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province)

On the afternoon of the 15th, we visited Jingun-eup, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province. This is the site where the Namyangju Wangsuk District, designated by the government as the 3rd phase new town in the Seoul metropolitan area, is being developed. Along the roads, banners opposing land compensation were posted everywhere. Before June 2nd, when allegations of pre-speculation by employees of Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) in the Gwangmyeong-Siheung District surfaced, there was a somewhat accepting atmosphere toward land expropriation, but the mood has completely reversed. Voices of disappointment and anger toward LH opposing land compensation could be heard throughout the area.

In a field in Jingwan-ri, Jingun-eup, residents gathered and poured out criticism regarding the speculation allegations against LH employees. Mr. Jeong (77), who has been farming here for over 50 years, said, "They offered residents a pittance and told them to leave the land they have lived on all their lives, while the officials themselves made billions through speculation," expressing his outrage, "We cannot hand over land inherited from our ancestors to such thieves."

The residents were convinced that the speculation by LH employees concentrated in the Gwangmyeong-Siheung District also occurred in the Wangsuk District. One resident said, "They speculated hundreds of billions in Gwangmyeong-Siheung, so there’s no way there was no speculation in Wangsuk," and insisted, "A thorough investigation of this entire area is necessary." Some residents voiced concern, saying, "I'm worried that after a few months, when things calm down, this incident will quietly be swept under the rug," and expressed strong opinions like, "LH, which only engages in illegal speculative purchases, must be dismantled."

Due to the residents' fierce opposition, the procedure for surveying obstacles for land compensation has also been halted. Concerns that the 3rd phase new town project would face setbacks are becoming a reality. Although LH began the obstacle survey for the Wangsuk District on the 8th, the local residents' committees have successively declared a boycott of all schedules until the facts regarding the pre-speculation allegations are clarified, resulting in the suspension of the survey.

A representative of the Wangsuk District Residents' Countermeasure Committee said, "How can we trust an institution that has betrayed the public's trust and entrust them with the survey?" and firmly stated, "There will be no negotiations until a proper thorough investigation result is released."

Similarly, the Hanam Gyosan District, also designated as a 3rd phase new town, has had its obstacle survey suspended due to the aftermath of this incident. LH had planned to conduct the obstacle survey in Hanam Gyosan District starting from the 2nd, but residents' strong opposition has prevented the survey from even beginning.

Resident B, who runs a restaurant in Jingwan-ri, said, "In the past, most residents thought it was better to leave after receiving a good compensation," and added, "Now, some are even saying they hope the new town project is canceled altogether."

The head of real estate office A in this area said, "Even before the LH incident, there were conflicts between LH and residents over compensation prices and securing land swaps, but this is the first time such a boycott movement has spread," and reported, "Even the voices that supported land expropriation have completely disappeared due to this incident, and a strong opposition public opinion has formed."

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