'Lee Jae-myung's Top Livelihood Issue' Anyang Yeonhyeon Village to Become a Public Park

[Asia Economy (Anyang) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] A 'citizens' park' with eco-friendly green space will be established on the site planned for the public development project in Yeonhyeon Village, Anyang, which has been highlighted as Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung's 'No. 1 livelihood issue.'

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 16th that it has withdrawn plans to build public housing for 1,187 households on approximately 117,000㎡ of the asphalt factory area in Seoksu-dong, Manan-gu, Anyang City, and decided to create a citizens' park of about 40,000㎡.

If the eco-friendly park is built as planned, Anyang citizens will be able to enjoy a pleasant 'urban forest.' Gyeonggi Province will also be able to save 70 billion won in noise barrier installation costs.

The area has been a source of continuous complaints from local residents due to air pollutant emissions and noise.

Governor Lee Jae-myung visited this site for the first time after taking office in July 2018, openly exchanging opinions with residents and proposing a public development method.

The province originally planned to promote the 'Anyang Yeonhyeon Village Public Development Project' to build public housing here.

However, due to the location conditions surrounded by the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway and the Seohaean Expressway, the development project inevitably required a massive additional budget of 70 billion won for noise barrier installation.

Therefore, prioritizing the comfortable leisure use of Anyang citizens, the direction was changed to create a citizens' park instead of building public housing.

This is the 'nation's first' case of utilizing nearby city and county sites for the 'restoration of damaged areas in development-restricted zones.' It is also evaluated as a nationwide exemplary case faithfully implementing the government policy, which is based on the principle of 'direct restoration.'

The current 'Special Act on the Designation and Management of Development-Restricted Areas' mandates that if development-restricted areas are damaged by various development projects, an area equivalent to 10-20% of the total damaged area must be secured within the jurisdiction of the city or county or adjacent areas and restored as green space.

However, if restoration is difficult, it is stipulated that a corresponding burden fee must be paid. Most project implementers pay the burden fee as a customary practice instead of securing land for restoration, citing difficulties in securing sites.

Considering this, the province decided to promote the creation of a citizens' park by utilizing the restoration quota of damaged development-restricted areas in nearby cities and counties of Anyang.

The province plans to finalize the asphalt factory site in Yeonhyeon Village, Anyang, as a restoration target for development-restricted areas through administrative procedures this year, start compensation and construction in 2021, and complete it in 2023.

Kim Joon-tae, Director of the Provincial Urban Housing Office, said, "If a park is built on the old and polluted factory site, it is expected to create a pleasant leisure environment and improve convenience for citizens by linking with the nearby Seoksu Sports Park," adding, "We will actively support administration to make it a 'landmark' representing the Anyang area."