Kim Gyun-ho, Gwangju Seo-gu Council Member, "Pungam Lake Improvement Project Ignoring Residents' Opinions Is Invalid"

Published 02 Nov.2022 16:03(KST)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Shin Dong-ho] Kim Kyun-ho, a member of the Gwangju Metropolitan City Seo-gu Council, claimed that the Pungam Lake water quality improvement project, which ignored residents' opinions, is entirely invalid.

Kim stated, “The Pungam Lake water quality improvement T/F meeting, where only the intentions of Gwangju Metropolitan City and Bitgoeul Central Development Park Co., Ltd. were enforced without gathering local residents' opinions, has many procedural and substantive problems,” and added, “The project should proceed only after collecting local residents' opinions.”

Pungam Lake has a maximum depth of 6 meters and a freshwater volume of 450,000 tons. It features a 2.2 km walking trail around the lake, along with ecological facilities such as willow trees, fountains, wisteria resting areas, pavilions, Pungam wooden bridge, a rose garden, a natural experience learning center, an outdoor music hall, and ecological wetlands. Although thousands visit daily as a popular relaxation spot, the lake park is losing its appeal every year due to green algae and foul odors.

Kim criticized, “The contents of the meetings were not even disclosed to local residents, and only after the start of the 8th local government term, two city council members, two district council members, and two local residents were appointed as T/F committee members in a showy and hasty administration to appease local public opinion.”

He further explained, “There is a widespread perception among local residents that the reason for reclaiming and reducing Pungam Lake is not for water quality improvement but for the project developer to gain significant profits through large-scale civil engineering works.”

He also said, “Last year, the Seo-gu Office head publicly promised residents to preserve the original form, but now they have broken that promise,” and added, “Instead of the Seo-gu Office, which lacks authority and power, Mayor Kang Gi-jung of Gwangju should take an interest in the Pungam Lake water quality improvement issue and make efforts to find alternatives.”

He continued, “If Gyeongyang Pond, which was located in Gyerim-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju, had not been reclaimed, it would have become a natural-friendly lake in the middle of the city and a valuable asset and landmark of Gwangju Metropolitan City,” and added, “It is time to learn lessons from historical facts to prevent Pungam Lake from becoming the second Gyeongyang Pond.”