At Asan Gap Debate, Ruling and Opposition Candidates Clash Over Asan Tax Office Relocation

Bok Gi-wang "Must Relocate Old Downtown to Revitalize Original City"
Kim Young-seok "Consultation with Stakeholders Including Tax Office Staff Needed"

Ahead of the 22nd general election, candidates running in Asan Gap, Chungnam, engaged in sharp disputes over the relocation of the Asan Tax Office to the old downtown area.

On the 21st, SK Broadband and the Asan City Reporters Association held a "22nd National Assembly Election Candidate Invitation Debate" to scrutinize the candidates running in Asan Gap. The debate was attended by Democratic Party candidate Bok Gi-wang and People Power Party candidate Kim Young-seok.

Democratic Party candidate Bok Gi-wang presented key pledges including △ securing national funding for the extension of the GTX-C line to Asan △ relocating the Asan Tax Office to the old downtown area △ early establishment of the Asan branch of the Police Hospital △ urban development of the Bangchuk district and the construction of Bangchuk Station.

People Power Party candidate Kim Young-seok announced pledges including △ making Asan the central city of the Bay Valley Megacity △ securing national funding for the extension of the GTX-C line to Asan △ waterfront parks at Sapgyoho and Gokgyocheon △ development of hot spring healing centers at Dogo, Asan, and Onyang hot springs △ restoration of Onyang Haenggung.

Bok Gi-wang and Kim Young-seok showed differing views on relocating the Asan Tax Office to the old downtown area.

Candidate Kim pointed out, "When Bok Gi-wang was serving as mayor of Asan, the National Tax Service and the tax office relocation negotiations were not even concluded, yet the site was secured, causing Asan City to bear an annual interest of 140 million won, negatively impacting the finances."

Candidate Bok said, "During the process of attracting the Asan Tax Office in 2015, there was active cooperation from citizens and businesspeople. Although we succeeded in attracting it, there was no suitable building in the old downtown area due to parking issues, so the office temporarily moved into the current Baedang location."

Furthermore, candidate Kim Young-seok argued that the Asan Tax Office should find a new site rather than the existing old downtown site.

Kim said, "Without sufficient consensus and discussion, (relocation to the old downtown) is difficult. We need to secure a new site reflecting the position of the Asan Tax Office stakeholders and move it."

Candidate Bok emphasized, "All public institutions must come to the old downtown centered around City Hall to lead the development of the old downtown. Some say that commuting would be inconvenient for tax office employees if they move to the old downtown, but this cannot be the standard for a new location."

They also showed differences in solutions for revitalizing the old downtown.

Candidate Bok Gi-wang said, "Currently, about ten regional development associations are working on old downtown development, but it is greatly affected by the economy. I will achieve old downtown revitalization by expanding private sector participation, promoting urban development projects in the Bangchuk district including the construction of Bangchuk Station, linking hot spring industry activation with medical tourism, and increasing the issuance of local currency."

Candidate Kim Young-seok stated, "To redevelop the old downtown, it is impossible to solve the situation under the existing Cultural Heritage Act. I will enact the Onyang Haenggung Special Act to restore Haenggung and develop the surrounding area, and establish an integrated hot spring healing center for the three major hot springs."

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