Permission Granted for Demolition of Incheon Japanese 'Jobyeongchang' Hospital Building... Ministry of National Defense to Complete Construction Next Month

The hospital building of 'Jobyungchang' in Bupyeong, Incheon, which sparked controversy over whether to demolish or preserve it, will ultimately be demolished. Jobyungchang was a Japanese military weapons manufacturing factory during the Japanese colonial period.

On the 16th, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon announced that it had approved the dismantling work of the Jobyungchang hospital building within the former Bupyeong US military base (Camp Market).

The district reviewed documents submitted by the Ministry of National Defense, including safety management measures and dismantling waste disposal plans, and judged there were no issues, thus granting demolition approval. Accordingly, the Ministry of National Defense plans to complete the building demolition by next month by entrusting the Korea Environment Corporation.

The building was used during the Japanese colonial period to treat people injured while working at Jobyungchang, and some parts of it still remain.

Jobjungchang Hospital building inside Bupyeong US military base [Photo provided by Incheon City]

Previously, the Ministry of National Defense and Incheon City decided to demolish the Jobyungchang hospital building, which has a total floor area of 1,324㎡, while promoting the development of the Camp Market site, returned by the US military, into a park and other facilities.

This decision was made because the petroleum-based total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) concentration measured in the soil beneath the hospital building exceeded the contamination concern standard (500 mg/kg).

However, civic groups such as the 'Japanese Army Jobyungchang Historical and Cultural Ecological Park Promotion Council' strongly opposed the demolition plan, stating that the history of Japanese imperialist war and forced mobilization must not be erased.

The city held three meetings to resolve community conflicts surrounding the demolition of the Jobyungchang hospital, but ultimately failed to reach an agreement. It was judged that it would not be possible to complete soil purification by the legally mandated deadline of 2023 while preserving the original form of the building.

The city plans to demolish the hospital building but preserve and document the traces of the structure and key materials to maintain its historical value as much as possible.

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