Jung Jong-bok, Gijang County Governor, Urges Disclosure of 'Pungsan Relocation' Information and Communication with Local Residents

Busan's Gijang County recently reiterated its stance of absolute opposition to any relocation of the defense company ‘Pungsan’ without resident acceptance, urging Busan City to transparently disclose the progress.

Following last month's broadcast report stating that ‘among the sites proposed by Busan City to Pungsan, the only feasible location is in Gijang County,’ and the report on the 16th that ‘Pungsan has finalized an alternative site,’ it appears that the relocation to Gijang County is becoming more tangible.

The county contacted Busan City officials for fact-checking and received a response that “the site relocation is still under consultation with Pungsan, and the decision regarding Gijang County has not been finalized.”

In response, County Governor Jeong Jong-bok strongly criticized Busan City's unilateral administration, stating that excluding not only local residents but also the relevant local government from important regional matters such as Pungsan’s relocation is a desk-bound administration that regresses the era of local autonomy.

Jeong Jong-bok, Gijang County Governor.

He emphasized that instead, the target site should be transparently disclosed, and thorough analysis of the impacts of the relocation should be conducted to minimize damage to residents' property rights and the natural environment, leading to a consensus. He warned that if Busan City and Pungsan proceed with the relocation through arbitrary decisions while ignoring these procedures, they will face strong opposition from local residents in any area, including Gijang County.

Governor Jeong Jong-bok said, “It is very embarrassing to learn about such an important matter as Pungsan’s relocation through the media first,” adding, “Since the direct stakeholders of Pungsan’s relocation are the local government and residents, Busan City must promptly disclose the current progress transparently and carry out consultation procedures to gain the understanding and persuasion of local residents.” He further stated, “If the serious distrust caused by Busan City’s unilateral policy decisions is not resolved, it will be impossible to proceed with projects in any region.”

In 2021, Pungsan also attempted to relocate to Ilgwang-eup in Gijang County, but the plan was scrapped due to strong opposition from local residents.

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