Kwon Seong-dong: "Opposition to Gwangju Complex Shopping Mall is Backward... Honam Should Not Be Forced to Endure Underdevelopment"

"Mayor Kang Ki-jung Requests 900 Billion Won in National Funds to Attract Shopping Mall... If 900 Billion Won in Taxes Is Needed to Attract One Commercial Facility, Which Company Will Invest in Gwangju?"
"The Complex Shopping Mall Taken by the Democratic Party and Civic Groups 5 Years Ago Will Be Reclaimed by the People Power Party"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] On the 4th, Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, urged the Democratic Party of Korea regarding the attraction of a complex shopping mall in Gwangju, saying, "This year, several companies expressed their intention to build a complex shopping mall in Gwangju, but the project, which was expected to proceed smoothly, is once again at risk of being derailed," and called on them to "clarify their exact position."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the same day, Kwon mentioned on Facebook that recently Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, visited Gwangju with the leadership, stating, "The Democratic Party invariably visits Gwangju when faced with a crisis. They offer lip service and plead for support, but the hottest issue in Gwangju right now is the complex shopping mall."

Kwon said, "(Currently) local civic groups have demanded the formation of a 'public-private consultative body,'" and explained, "In 2017, the attempt to attract a complex shopping mall in Gwangju was also fiercely opposed by civic groups, and politicians such as the Democratic Party's Euljiro Committee, Moon Jae-in, Lee Jae-myung, and Sim Sang-jung joined forces, leading to its failure. The demand for a public-private consultative body is a preliminary move to repeat the opposition struggle by civic groups as five years ago."

He added, "Currently, the Democratic Party controls the local government heads and city and district councils in Gwangju," and asked, "(Will the Democratic Party) clarify their exact position on the complex shopping mall? Will they allow companies to freely enter, or will they once again collude with civic groups to trample on the wishes of Gwangju citizens?"

He also referred to the fact that in July, Kang Ki-jung, mayor of Gwangju, requested 900 billion won in national funds to support the attraction of the complex shopping mall, criticizing, "If it costs 900 billion won in taxes to attract a single commercial facility, which company will invest in Gwangju in the future?"

He criticized, "Opposing the complex shopping mall is going against the times and rejecting development," calling it "not an exaggeration to call it the 'Honam version of the Luddite movement.'" He continued, "People living in Honam should not be forced to endure backwardness just because of where they live," and emphasized, "The complex shopping mall that the Democratic Party and civic groups took away five years ago, we, the People Power Party, will bring it back."

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