'20 Billion Hope Street' BTS J-Hope Link Falls Through... Criticism of Showcase Administration

Sohn Hyejin, Gwangju Buk-gu Council Member, Raises Questions to District Administration
"Inadequate and Unsafe Facilities, Failing to Meet Residents' Expectations"

Concerns have been raised that Gwangju Buk-gu's 'Hope Street' development project, which was carried out at a cost of approximately 2 billion won, was implemented without gathering residents' opinions or conducting a feasibility study, resulting in a waste of budget.

Sohn Hyejin, Member of Gwangju Buk-gu Council.

Sohn Hyejin, a member of the Gwangju Buk-gu Council (representing Yongbong, Maegok, Samgak, and Ilgok-dong, Progressive Party), criticized the project during the second plenary session of the 305th extraordinary meeting of the council on the 23rd. She stated, "This project was initially promoted as a tourism initiative linked to BTS member J-Hope, who is from Buk-gu, but after the original plan was scrapped, it lost its direction and became an ambiguous project. It is a prime example of a showcase administration that has failed to meet residents' expectations."

Sohn pointed out that several facilities, including the 'digital information display for promotional purposes' at Samgak-dong Bidulgi Park and the 'dancing mirror' at Gajak Park, as well as murals obscured by parked vehicles, failed to serve their intended functions and were reduced to mere decorations. She also expressed concern that the metal structures installed on school fences had protruding bolts, posing a significant risk of injury to passing children.

Sohn emphasized, "The facilities, which were supposed to inspire dreams and hope in children, are instead threatening their safety," and urged, "Given the large amount of taxpayer money invested, the policy should be shifted to a field-oriented approach that meets the expectations of residents."

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