Candidate Lee Donghwan Urges Choo Mi-ae: "Address Goyang's Three Key Issues Before Making Vague Pledges"

Lee Donghwan, Goyang Mayoral Candidate
Public Questions to Choo Mi-ae on Goyang's Three Major Issues
Calls for Clear Answers on K-Culture Valley and Free Economic Zone
"Goyang Issues Halted by Gyeonggi Province: Choo Mi-ae Must Take Responsibility"

Lee Donghwan, the People Power Party candidate for mayor of Goyang, stated on May 15 that, “If Choo Mi-ae, the Democratic Party's candidate for Gyeonggi Province Governor, wants to talk about the future industries of Goyang, she should not present vague blueprints. Instead, she must first address the issues of the K-Culture Valley and Free Economic Zone, both halted by Gyeonggi Province, as well as the matter of the provincial subsidy rate.”

Lee Donghwan, candidate for mayor of Goyang, is expressing his stance on current issues in Goyang. Photo provided by candidate Lee Donghwan

On May 14, Choo Mi-ae, the Democratic Party's candidate for Gyeonggi Province Governor, visited Korea Aerospace University in Goyang and announced her pledge to foster the aviation industry in the northern Gyeonggi region.

Regarding Choo Mi-ae's pledge, Lee Donghwan remarked, “While it is easy to announce new pledges, solving the existing issues facing Goyang citizens is a matter of responsibility. If Choo wants to discuss the development of northern Gyeonggi and the future industries of Goyang, she must first present concrete execution plans for the major issues Goyang is facing.”

Lee Donghwan first raised the issue of the termination of the K-Culture Valley and CJ LiveCity agreement.

The K-Culture Valley project aims to develop a K-pop arena and cultural and tourism facilities on a 326,400-square-meter site in Janghang-dong, Goyang, with a total investment of 1.8 trillion won. However, CJ LiveCity completely halted construction in April 2023, and in July 2024, Gyeonggi Province announced the termination of the agreement with CJ LiveCity and its intention to switch to a public development model.

Lee Donghwan said, “While Gyeonggi Province talks about making Goyang a hub for K-content and MICE, there is still no visible roadmap for normalizing the K-Culture Valley project, which is Goyang’s representative cultural and economic initiative. Choo Mi-ae must clarify to the citizens of Goyang how she plans to normalize this project, including fundraising, the business model, the extent of private sector participation, and the targeted start and completion dates.”

The site where the K Culture Valley construction was suspended. Provided by candidate Donghwan Lee

He was even more critical regarding the delays in designating the Goyang Free Economic Zone.

Lee Donghwan stressed, “The Free Economic Zone is a core project that will determine Goyang’s jobs, tax revenue, business attraction, and self-sufficiency. If Gyeonggi Province, which has the authority to draft the plan, delays its decision, Goyang has no choice but to wait. Choo Mi-ae must put an end to blame-shifting and obstruction, and publicly disclose her plan to coordinate with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for the final designation of the Goyang Free Economic Zone, including a concrete roadmap.”

He also raised in-depth concerns about the provincial subsidy rate and the burden of costs for large-scale projects.

Lee Donghwan pointed out, “There have been ongoing concerns that Goyang receives only 20% support, as the provincial subsidy rate is set at 30%, but an additional 10% is deducted for Goyang. If the financial burden for large-scale projects such as welfare and transportation is excessively shifted to local governments, this will inevitably put pressure on both citizen services and the city’s fiscal management.”

Finally, Lee Donghwan posed three public questions to Choo Mi-ae: ▲When will you present a roadmap for normalizing the K-Culture Valley? ▲Are you willing to fully initiate negotiations with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for the final designation of the Free Economic Zone? ▲Will you adjust the principles of the provincial subsidy rate and cost burden to suit a special city of 1.08 million residents?

A panorama of the Economic Free Zone. Provided by candidate Donghwan Lee

Lee Donghwan stated, “The citizens of Goyang want an execution plan that will resolve the current deadlocks,” and urged, “Choo Mi-ae must clearly present her roadmap for normalizing the K-Culture Valley, her strategy for achieving final designation of the Free Economic Zone, and her plan for improving the provincial subsidy rate, all in front of Goyang’s 1.08 million citizens.”

He added, “If Choo Mi-ae wishes to discuss future industries in Goyang, she must first provide a responsible answer regarding the issues in Goyang that have been halted by Gyeonggi Province, in the name of all 1.08 million citizens.”

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