Gurye Residents Strongly Oppose New Seoul~Jirisan Seongsamjae Bus Route

On the 16th, Institutional and Social Organizations Hold Countermeasure Meeting...Adopt Resolution and Form Private Countermeasure Committee

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yuk Miseok] “Immediately revoke the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s decision to approve the bus route without even hearing the opinions of the parties involved!” Residents of Gurye-gun have collectively opposed the approval of the Seoul~Jirisan Seongsamjae bus route.

On the 16th, Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do, announced that it held a countermeasure meeting regarding the recent approval of the Seoul~Seongsamjae intercity bus route by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, with about 30 representatives from local institutions and organizations attending at the Gurye-gun Office.

This local opposition arose after the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport unilaterally notified a transportation company based in Gyeongnam of the approval for regular route operation on the Dongseoul Bus Terminal~Jirisan Seongsamjae section on the 10th of last month.

Meeting participants strongly criticized the Ministry’s bus route approval for not listening to the opinions of the most closely related parties, the residents of Gurye-gun. Members of social organizations demanded that Gurye-gun take legal actions such as filing for a suspension of bus operations and administrative lawsuits.

Jeollanam-do opposed the establishment of the route twice, and Gurye-gun was not even notified about the route establishment.

They also pointed out that local small business owners, who are already suffering due to COVID-19, will have to endure even greater hardship.

It was emphasized that the rural bus operating from Gurye-gun to Seongsamjae greatly affects small business owners engaged in the food service and lodging industries.

The frequent occurrence of large bus safety accidents due to poor mountainous roads was also highlighted.

Despite the need to prepare eco-friendly transportation methods to preserve the natural environment of Jirisan, they expressed the opinion that adding intercity bus operations from Seoul to Jirisan encourages environmental destruction. It is claimed that already 500,000 vehicles ascend the Seongsamjae road annually, causing serious environmental problems such as exhaust emissions and the spread of invasive plant species.

An environmental group member attending the meeting criticized the establishment of regular routes, saying, “Creating regular routes is one of the development methods that destroy the environment of Jirisan.”

Gurye-gun Mayor Kim Soon-ho said, “Fifty years ago, the residents of Gurye-gun collected donations bit by bit to make Jirisan Korea’s first national park,” and added, “I hope the government understands the hearts of the residents who love the nature of Jirisan.”

Gurye-gun plans to deliver the resolution and petition adopted at the meeting to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, related government departments, Jeollanam-do, and Gyeongnam-do.

After the meeting, members of private social organizations stayed behind to form a countermeasure committee and decided to promote an all-residents opposition campaign. The committee chairperson is former Gurye-gun Council member Kim Young-ui.

Meanwhile, the Gurye-gun Small Business Association also separately issued a statement opposing the bus route approval, intensifying local opposition to the bus route approval.

The Gurye-gun Council also plans to issue a statement on the 17th calling for the withdrawal of the bus route approval.