Suncheon City Audit Office Recommends Strict Punishment by Judicial Authorities for Illegal Land Activities

Illegal Activities Persist for Years in Suncheonman Ecosystem Protection Zone, Must Prevent Second Offense
Billions of Citizens' Taxes Spent on Large-Scale Enforcement, Time and Costs Incurred for Claims
No Remorse or Willingness to Improve, Defying

Comparing the right photo showing partial landfill from last year with the aerial photo taken this year after the landfill, a significant difference in the area of illegal activity can be observed.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] In July 2018, UNESCO designated the entire area of Suncheon City as a biosphere reserve.

Starting with the UNESCO designation and the hosting of the 2023 Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo, Suncheon City is expecting a second leap forward as an ecological and garden cultural city from the ecological capital of Suncheon.

Also, as part of the universal design city policy promoted during the 7th elected administration, Suncheon City is preserving the ecosystems of sky, land, and water well to create a city where people, nature, and life coexist peacefully.

In this context, Suncheon City established the first-ever Illegal Activity Inspection Team in the Audit Office last July to crack down on illegal land development activities, including in mountainous areas, and rewards are given to informants.

Despite these efforts by Suncheon City, a large-scale illegal activity covering 33,958㎡ of land in Nongju-ri, Haeryong-myeon was detected. Upon confirmation, Suncheon City issued an order to restore the original state and filed a criminal complaint.

The land in question consists of farmland classified as ‘dap’ (rice paddy) and salt fields and ponds, and the alleged illegal activities include illegal reclamation of public waters, illegal development activities, and illegal farmland conversion.

Suncheon Bay Conservation, which confirmed the illegal reclamation of public waters last December, followed up with an order to restore the original state and filed a criminal complaint with the Yeosu Coast Guard.

In February, the Urban Department issued an order to restore the original state due to illegal development activities and filed a criminal complaint with the Suncheon Police Department’s Investigation Division.

Additionally, the Agricultural Policy Department issued an order to restore the original state and filed a criminal complaint with the Suncheon Police Department’s Intelligent Crime Investigation Team for illegal farmland conversion charges, and in April, conducted a hearing procedure related to the imposition of enforcement fines for violations of the Farmland Act.

Suncheon Bay Wetland completed an on-site inspection last year and is currently preparing for registration as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site this year.

The land where the illegal activities occurred is located between Suncheon Bay Wetland and Waon Beach, designated as a green area and ecosystem protection area, which is why Suncheon City is taking strong action against illegal activities.

Meanwhile, according to Suncheon City’s investigation and aerial photo analysis, the illegal activities on the land have been occurring since 2016.

Recently, some media outlets reported critical articles targeting the Suncheon City Audit Office, which leads the Illegal Activity Inspection Team.

The head of the Audit Office appealed to judicial authorities to “raise social awareness and ensure strict public authority so that second and third illegal development activities within the Suncheon Bay ecosystem protection district do not occur anymore,” and “recommended that the accused be detained and investigated.”

An official from the Audit Office stated, “The accused has continuously and intelligently committed illegal development over several years, showing no remorse or improvement despite orders to restore the original state and complaints, mocking public authority. If restoration is not carried out, administrative enforcement involving billions of won of taxpayers’ money will be required, along with exercising the right of recourse, which involves time, cost, and uncertainty. For these reasons, such recommendations were made.”

Most citizens promise to reflect and improve and restore the original state when illegal activities are revealed.

If there are citizens who do not do so, this raises the question of what kind of administration Suncheon City should undertake.

Furthermore, if such illegal activities are protected simply because they are citizens and public officials who take administrative actions are criticized, it is pointed out that public authority will collapse.