Taebaek City Focuses on On-Site Response, Not Armchair Debate, in Opposing Jangseong Mine Submergence

Taebaek City in Gangwon Province (Mayor Lee Sangho) announced on the 4th that it will do its utmost to communicate and cooperate with the local community, including the Jangseong Mine Submergence Opposition Committee, which was formed to oppose the planned submergence of the Jangseong Mine.

View of Taebaek City Hall. Provided by Taebaek City.

On the 3rd, Taebaek Mayor Lee Sangho visited the outdoor protest headquarters of the Jangseong Mine Submergence Opposition Committee and said, "My heart is very heavy when I see local residents fighting in this cold wave to protect the Jangseong Mine, which is both the history of Taebaek and a symbol of the industrialization of the Republic of Korea," adding, "Since the opinions of local residents are the top priority, we will continue to communicate and follow their views."

The following day, on the 4th, he attended the 2nd regular meeting of the 4th-year Mayors and County Governors Council of the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province for the 8th popularly elected term, held in Yeongwol County, where he formally requested solidarity and cooperation from cities and counties to oppose the submergence of the Jangseong Mine.

In addition to visiting the outdoor protest headquarters of the committee, Mayor Lee Sangho personally presided over an official meeting, and the leadership, including the vice mayor, has been continuing communication with residents by making ongoing on-site visits.

Meanwhile, the Taebaek City Council unilaterally called for an emergency policy meeting, claiming that it had not been briefed regarding the submergence of the Jangseong Mine.

In response, the Jangseong Mine Submergence Opposition Committee and local residents demanded not a meeting, but that the council play a substantive role in dealing with the central government and relevant agencies.

An official from Taebaek City also expressed a skeptical view of the city council's proposed emergency policy meeting.

A Taebaek City official said, "Even though we are overwhelmed with tasks on the ground to oppose the submergence of the Jangseong Mine, such as communicating with citizens, visiting and submitting proposals to central government ministries, and requesting cooperation from neighboring cities and counties, it would be a waste of administrative resources to attend a meeting that has no legal basis just to argue over reporting procedures," adding, "After the court's decision on the application for a provisional injunction to suspend the halt of operation of the underground mine drainage and purification facilities within the Jangseong Mine, we will establish step-by-step response measures and do our utmost to stand together with citizens on the ground."

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