"Creating a Small China" vs "Absurd Fake News": Gangwon-do 'Chinatown' Construction Controversy Escalates

"Withdrawal of Gangwon-do Chinatown Construction" Blue House Petition Nears 600,000 Signatures
Governor Choi Moon-soon Actively Clarifies "Not Chinatown... Cultural Project"

Choi Moon-soon, Governor of Gangwon Province / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Opposition to the 'Korea-China Cultural Town' development project underway in areas such as Chuncheon and Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, is intensifying amid rising anti-China sentiment. A petition on the Blue House website demanding the withdrawal of the project has garnered hundreds of thousands of signatures. As the controversy grew, Gangwon Governor Choi Moon-soon personally stepped forward to clarify that it is merely a cultural tourism content project, but this only led to calls for his impeachment.

The controversy erupted on the 29th of last month when a petition urging the halt of the Korea-China Cultural Town construction was posted on the national petition board. The petitioner stated, "Please withdraw the construction of the Gangwon Chinatown," adding, "I don't understand why a small China should be created in South Korea. This is South Korea, so I cannot comprehend why we should provide an excuse to experience Chinese culture on our land, and I firmly oppose the construction of a Chinatown."

The petitioner also pointed out that the project area includes "the Jungdo prehistoric site in Chuncheon, the world's largest archaeological site where tremendous artifacts have been excavated," and criticized, "It is utterly incomprehensible to destroy such a valuable place for foreigners."

Furthermore, the petitioner urged, "The public is increasingly anxious about losing their own culture due to China's Northeast Project, which is intensifying day by day," and "We must now stand up against China, which seeks to plunder our unique culture, and Chinese capital and companies must not be allowed to set foot on South Korean soil."

As of 3 p.m. on the 18th, the petition had received over 590,000 endorsements, meeting the Blue House's official response criteria.

A petition requesting the suspension of the 'Korea-China Cultural Town' development project being promoted in Gangwon-do. / Photo by National Petition Board capture

Amid the growing controversy, Governor Choi appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 16th to clarify that the Korea-China Cultural Town is not a Chinatown construction plan.

Governor Choi explained the cultural town project by saying, "This is a project carried out 100% by private companies, not by Gangwon Province," and added, "It is not a typical Chinatown project but rather a cultural tourism content project, a sightseeing project, so it would be accurate to understand it that way." This implies that it is closer to a tourist attraction development rather than a residential area for Chinese immigrants.

He also emphasized, "If you visit the site, the cultural town is designed as a Hanok (traditional Korean house) complex," and "The purpose is to invite Chinese tourists to showcase our traditional culture and promote cultural exchange."

Regarding the agreement with 'People's Daily Online' (Renminwang), the online version of the Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper, he explained, "We made the agreement because we need to promote it in China."

Addressing concerns that the Chuncheon prehistoric site might be destroyed due to this project, he dismissed them as "absurd fake news" and stated, "The two areas are completely unrelated."

However, despite Governor Choi's active explanations, opposition continues unabated. On the same day, a petition calling for his impeachment was posted on the national petition board, claiming that he is pushing the project without considering public sentiment.

In the petition titled "We urge the impeachment of the Governor of Gangwon Province," the petitioner stated, "The grounds for impeachment are Governor Choi's incompetence and authoritarianism. He is the one who has enraged the public," and added, "Regardless of whether Chinese people reside here, the public is firmly opposed to promoting Chinese culture on our land."

The petitioner further argued, "Despite strong opposition from the residents, he pushed forward with Legoland, and now he is trying to forcibly construct the China Cultural Town," and "Governor Choi said he would break through head-on even if one million people oppose it. The owners of the free democratic Republic of Korea are its people. No one can force this project through if the people oppose it." This petition had received over 32,000 endorsements as of the 18th, about two days after it was posted.

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