"33% of Urban Land is Greenbelt" ... Hong Nampyo, Changwon Mayoral Candidate, Pledges Comprehensive Review of Urban Planning

Hong Nampyo, the People Power Party candidate for Changwon Special City Mayor in Gyeongnam, announcing his campaign pledges.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Se-ryeong] Hong Nam-pyo, the People Power Party candidate for mayor of Changwon, Gyeongnam, announced his pledges at the Changwon City Hall Press Center on the 16th.

On that day, candidate Hong presented a pledge for restructuring Changwon’s urban structure, supporting density readjustment such as zoning upgrades and integrated development in single-family residential areas within the Changwon region.

He said, “Changwon, a planned city modeled after Canberra, Australia; Masan and Jinhae, naturally developed cities; and the dual structure resulting from urban-rural integration all require a comprehensive review of Changwon City’s basic urban plan.”

He also pointed out that while low-rise apartment areas in Changwon are being redeveloped into high-rise buildings, single-family residential areas have been designated as residential-only zones for over 40 years, causing polarization in urban space and property rights.

His pledges include ▲ density readjustment such as zoning upgrades in single-family residential areas and support for integrated development ▲ creation of complex-type terrace houses ▲ rational adjustment including lifting of Changwon City’s Green Belt (development restriction zone) ▲ and a comprehensive review of Changwon City’s basic urban plan.

Regarding the pledge to lift the development restriction zone, candidate Hong stated that he will promote adjustments such as lifting the restrictions while preparing public interest guarantees like designation of scenic green spaces.

He explained, “Changwon’s development restriction zone covers 248.51㎢, accounting for 33.3% of the city’s total area of 748.05㎢. The development restriction zone was declared unconstitutional in 1998 for infringing on private property rights, leading to its complete removal in local cities outside the metropolitan and large city areas in 2000. However, Changwon, although a non-metropolitan and non-large city area, remains uniquely restricted.”

He also promised to establish the 2040 public transportation network by early opening of the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit), adding and creating new routes to reduce travel time between downtown areas to within 20 minutes and from outskirts to downtown within 40 minutes, as well as early introduction of trams (streetcars).

He emphasized, “Changwon operates a bus-centered public transportation network, but it is realistically difficult to introduce new transportation modes such as subways immediately. Since bus routes are organized mainly around densely populated areas, commuters face significant inconvenience. Therefore, I will expedite the opening of the BRT and add and create new routes.”

He also pledged public planning support to revitalize redevelopment, reconstruction, and remodeling, early completion of the Second Anmin Tunnel, and initiation of planning for the Masan Bay Grand Design and designation as a tourism special zone.

He expressed his ambition for Changwon City to participate in the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam (Bu-Ul-Gyeong) mega-city discussion structure so that the city’s opinions are reflected in the establishment of a metropolitan transportation network.

Candidate Hong Nam-pyo said, “Through the urban spatial restructuring policy of Changwon City, we will lay the foundation for balanced urban development, improved citizen convenience, and, in the long term, realize the vision of becoming a Northeast Asia central city.”

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