Hanam City Resolves Seven-Year Dispute with LH over "Gam-il Sewage Treatment Facility Cause-Based Contribution Fee"

Hanam City Secures 20 Billion Won and Completes Facility Expansion
Marks the Beginning of 55,000-Ton Sewage Treatment Era

Hanam City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Hyunjae) announced on November 7 that it held the completion ceremony for the Hanam Public Sewage Treatment Facility Expansion Project on November 6. At the event, the city resolved a seven-year conflict with Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) over the cause-based contribution fee, securing the first settlement payment of 20 billion won.

Lee Hyunjae, mayor of Hanam City, held the completion ceremony for the Hanam Public Sewage Treatment Facility Expansion Project on the 6th. Provided by Hanam City

The city emphasized that by securing this contribution fee, it achieved two key outcomes: financial stability and the expansion of environmental infrastructure.

Hanam City and LH signed the "Agreement on the Payment of Cause-Based Contribution Fee for Hanam Gam-il Public Housing District Sewerage" in June 2018. However, as the project progressed, changes to the basic and detailed designs and rising costs led to an increase in project expenses, resulting in prolonged disagreements over the payment of the contribution fee.

To address this, Hanam City obtained approval from the Ministry of Environment in January 2025 for the "Amendment to the Basic Sewerage Maintenance Plan," clarifying the grounds for settlement stipulated in the agreement. Following multiple working-level discussions and inter-agency coordination, the city succeeded in securing LH’s payment of the first settlement amounting to 20 billion won.

During this process, Hanam City formed a consultative body involving the city council, provincial council, and relevant agencies to facilitate practical coordination. Several meetings chaired by the mayor led to a reasonable agreement, which is now regarded as a model case for conflict resolution between local governments and public enterprises.

Mayor Lee Hyunjae stated, "It is significant that we resolved an issue that could have escalated into a legal dispute through dialogue and persuasion, thereby reducing the burden on citizens. I believe that our cooperation with LH will also have a positive impact on addressing future challenges, such as the Gyosan New Town project."

The newly completed Hanam Public Sewage Treatment Facility began construction in 2022 and was completed in September this year. Its capacity increased by 23,000 tons per day, from 32,000 tons to a total of 55,000 tons per day, enabling improved sewage treatment conditions and stable water quality management in the region.

Mayor Lee added, "This expansion project is not just about increasing facilities, but also about enhancing the quality of life for citizens and paving the way for Hanam to become an eco-friendly city. We will continue to expand sustainable infrastructure in harmony with the environment, creating an environmental city that citizens can truly experience."

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