Kim Dong-yeon "Regret over Guri City's Seoul Incorporation Push... GH to Halt Guri Relocation"

Gyeonggi Province has decided to completely halt the relocation of Gyeonggi Housing and Urban Corporation (GH) to Guri City.

On the 21st, Ko Young-in, Deputy Governor for Economic Affairs of Gyeonggi Province, stated in a press briefing, "Governor Kim Dong-yeon has instructed to 'review the complete cancellation of GH's relocation to Guri City as long as Guri City is pursuing incorporation into Seoul.'"

Accordingly, Gyeonggi Province expressed strong regret over Mayor Baek Kyung-hyun of Guri City's push for incorporation into Seoul and announced that it will fully suspend all procedures related to GH's relocation to Guri as a corresponding measure.

Deputy Governor Ko Young-in said, "Mayor Baek Kyung-hyun's claim that he will simultaneously pursue GH's relocation and incorporation into Seoul is contradictory," adding, "If Guri City is incorporated into Seoul, there is no reason for GH, a public institution of Gyeonggi Province, to move to Guri City."

He continued, "Do you really think it is possible to simultaneously pursue GH's relocation and incorporation into Seoul?" and then directly addressed Mayor Oh Se-hoon of Seoul, saying, "Mayor Oh advocated for the incorporation of Guri and Gimpo into Seoul during last year's general election campaign. However, at a recent debate, he has been advocating for a constitutional amendment focused on decentralization. Do you think the push for incorporation of Guri and Gimpo into Seoul aligns with the purpose of a decentralization constitutional amendment?"

Gyeonggi Housing and Urban Development Corporation, which is being relocated to Guri City

Furthermore, he urged, "Mayor Oh Se-hoon of Seoul should promptly declare the abandonment of the push for Guri and Gimpo's incorporation into Seoul, which goes against decentralization and fuels conflict."

Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province has been promoting the relocation of public institutions to northern Gyeonggi to maximize the growth potential of the region, which has been constrained by regulations for the past 70 years, and to drive the growth of South Korea.

Guri City was selected as the relocation site for GH in 2021, beating out 10 other cities and counties, based on over 10,000 signatures from Guri citizens and the aspirations of 200,000 Guri residents.

Gyeonggi Province analyzed that if GH relocates to Guri, it would not only increase local income tax revenue by 8 billion KRW annually but also invigorate the local economy through 655 employees and an increase of 15,000 visitors per year.

Additionally, GH's relocation to Guri is regarded not merely as a benefit for Guri City but as a symbol of northern development that will transform the stagnant northern Gyeonggi region into a new growth engine for South Korea.

However, with Mayor Baek Kyung-hyun pushing for Guri City's incorporation into Seoul, GH's relocation to Guri is now facing the risk of collapse.

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