Cleanliness and Coexistence Are Constitutional Values Chosen by Jeju Residents
Governor Won: "Prohibit Development Without Considering Scenery, Business Integrity, and Ecosystem... Introduce Environmental Conservation Contribution Fee"
Jeon Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju, is announcing the 'Clean Jeju Songak Declaration' at a press conference held on the 25th at Songaksan, Seogwipo City. Photo by Jeju Provincial Government
[Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Chang-won] Won Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, announced the ‘Clean Jeju Songak Declaration’ on the 25th, which includes measures to protect Jeju’s pristine nature and secure funding for environmental conservation.
At 11 a.m. on the same day, at Songaksan in Seogwipo City, Governor Won stated at the ‘Clean Jeju Songak Declaration’ press conference, “We will put an end to concerns about reckless development that still remain today.”
Governor Won asserted, “Jeju’s nature is a precious asset of the Republic of Korea that all citizens have the right to enjoy, and cleanliness and coexistence are constitutional values that the people of Jeju have chosen and will not compromise on,” emphasizing, “We will apply the principles of cleanliness and coexistence in handling reckless development issues and proceed through lawful procedures.”
He added, “Development that damages natural scenery will be strictly prohibited to prevent privatization of the landscape, and for large-scale investments, we will rigorously review the credibility of capital and the thoroughness of business content.”
Furthermore, he said, “The basic premise of development projects is not to damage Jeju’s ecosystem,” and added, “All investments and developments in Jeju must contribute to Jeju’s future value.”
He continued, “Jeju’s nature is not only for the current generation but must coexist cleanly and safely for future generations as well,” stressing, “We will protect the beauty of Clean Jeju for the rights of Jeju residents, citizens, and future generations.”
Additionally, he announced, “Jeju will actively promote the introduction of the Environmental Conservation Contribution Fee system as a practical means to strengthen environmental conservation.”
In the Q&A session following the press conference, Governor Won responded, “Today is a declaration of Jeju Province’s principles, and we are discussing specific directions to completely dispel residents’ concerns regarding this. We will take corresponding measures after this declaration in accordance with final lawful procedures.”
At a subsequent meeting with residents, Governor Won stated, “The benefits from development projects must return to the village residents,” and added, “We will soon arrange a meeting with Jeju Province and village residents and personally oversee it.”
At a meeting with the opposition group against Songaksan development, he said, “The direction that Jeju Province and the opposition group should take regarding Songaksan development is aligned,” but emphasized, “Since administration involves lawful procedural issues, we will resolve these problems while protecting Songaksan and Jeju’s pristine nature and preventing reckless development.”
Since Governor Won Hee-ryong’s inauguration in 2014, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province has put brakes on large-scale and reckless development by attracting investments considering Jeju’s future value, establishing the three investment principles for Jeju, and strengthening guidelines for mid-mountain development.
Moreover, through strengthening environmental impact assessments and ordinances related to conservation areas, projects that damage natural scenery or focus on real estate development and sales have been halted.
However, despite these strengthened measures, projects permitted before 2014 have continued, causing ongoing concerns about environmental destruction and conflicts.
Jeju Province plans to apply strengthened principles first to controversial projects such as Songaksan, Ora Tourist Complex, Animal Theme Park, Healthcare Town, and Bijarim-ro expansion.
Additionally, Jeju Province is initiating the institutionalization of the ‘Jeju Environmental Conservation Contribution Fee’ to address the continuously increasing costs of environmental pollution treatment caused by the surge in visitors and to discover new funding sources for new environmental policies considering Jeju’s characteristics.
The Environmental Conservation Contribution Fee has been continuously discussed since its introduction was proposed in the 2013 ‘Jeju Global Environmental Capital Creation Support Special Act Research Project,’ followed by the preparation of a roadmap for system improvement and feasibility studies for its introduction.
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