The Han-Chung Cultural Town Project Faces Cancellation... Kim Nam-guk Says "Jobs Disappear" vs Lee Jun-seok Says "Ask Choi Moon-soon"

660,000 Agree on National Petition... Steps Toward Canceling Han-Jung Cultural Town Project
Kim Nam-guk: "Kicked Away Youth Jobs with 'Distorted Agitation'"
Lee Jun-seok: "Stop Writing Agitation Posts and Propose a Special Law"

Kim Nam-guk, member of the Democratic Party of Korea. [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] On the 28th, a heated exchange took place between Kim Namguk, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Lee Junseok, former Supreme Council member of the United Future Party (now People Power Party), regarding the effective cancellation of the Korea-China Cultural Town project in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, which was embroiled in the 'Chinatown' controversy. When Rep. Kim claimed that "tens of thousands of jobs have disappeared," former Supreme Council member Lee retorted, "If you have complaints, take them to Governor Choi Moonsoon of Gangwon Province."

On the same day, Rep. Kim targeted former Supreme Council member Lee on his Facebook, pointing out, "It is truly hard to understand how you promote it as a good thing even after kicking away youth jobs through 'distorted agitation.'"

He criticized, "Former Supreme Council member Lee distorted the 'complex cultural tourism complex,' which exchanges and experiences both Korean and Chinese cultures, as a low-grade Chinatown, and even disparaged the Chinatown where Chinese people live as relatively 'low-grade,' inciting agitation."

He emphasized, "However, in reality, it is not a 'Chinatown' but a project that can produce a large amount of cultural content from both countries, such as the Hallyu Video Theme Park and K-POP Museum, attracting tourists from both countries."

Rep. Kim directly attacked former Supreme Council member Lee, saying, "You completely kicked the project away with distorted agitation and anti-China sentiment. If there is incorrect information, you should try to properly inform people, and if there are misunderstandings, you should try to resolve them?that is common sense."

Furthermore, he pointed out, "Thanks to this, Kolon Global lost a good investment opportunity, and tens of thousands of jobs in tourism, service, aviation, transportation, and accommodation in Gangwon Province and for us have disappeared."

Former Lee Jun-seok, Supreme Council Member of the Future United Party (currently People Power Party). [Image source=Yonhap News]

In response, former Supreme Council member Lee retorted, "Rep. Kim laments that the 'Korea-China Cultural Town' could not be built."

In a post on his Facebook, he pointed out, "Governor Choi made a 'Belt and Road' remark, and while saying that no Chinese capital was involved, the lie was exposed when it was revealed that the People's Daily invested in SPC," adding, "If you have complaints, it would be faster to tell Governor Choi directly."

He continued, "If the Democratic Party unites and tries to re-promote the Korea-China Cultural Town, it would not be bad for me or our party," sarcastically adding, "Instead of writing provocative posts on Facebook, why don't you propose a special law?"

Earlier, on the 12th, former Supreme Council member Lee wrote on his Facebook, "In any city worldwide, Chinatowns are generally perceived as low-grade residential and commercial areas where Chinese people gather," and "the security is relatively poor, and the so-called 'neighborhood' (surrounding environment) is not considered good."

He also criticized Governor Choi, who promoted the Korea-China Cultural Town project, saying, "Why make a Chinatown and even flatter it as the Belt and Road? Why on earth is the Governor of Gangwon Province so obsessed with China?"

Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Board capture.

Meanwhile, the Korea-China Cultural Town development project has been effectively canceled amid strong opposition.

Kolon Global, the developer of the Lavie Belle tourism complex including the Korea-China Cultural Town, stated in a position paper sent to Gangwon Province on the 26th, "The company recognizes that it is no longer possible to proceed with the Korea-China Cultural Town project and will fully reconsider the project plan, even at the cost of significant losses in time and expenses incurred so far."

They explained, "This project is definitely not a Chinatown development project as a collective residential facility, as cited in the national petition and some reports. However, regardless of the objectivity of the facts, we could not ignore the sentiments of more than 650,000 citizens who participated in the national petition."

The Korea-China Cultural Town controversy was triggered on the 29th of last month when a post titled "Please withdraw the construction of Chinatown in Gangwon Province" was uploaded on the Blue House national petition board.

Gangwon Province explained that the Korea-China Cultural Town is not a collective residential facility for Chinese people but a tourism facility themed on Korea-China culture, yet the controversy did not subside. As of 11 a.m. on the 28th, the petition had received 669,720 signatures.

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