"Civic Participation and Communication Are More Important Than Ever, It's Time to Speak Up"... "Apply the Polluter Pays Principle, Create a Complete Park Without Residual Contamination"
[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Seoul Metropolitan Council member Noh Sik-rae (Democratic Party, Yongsan 2) held a forum on the 4th under the theme "How to Create a Complete Yongsan Park."
The forum was conducted entirely online via Zoom in accordance with COVID-19 prevention guidelines and was broadcast live in real time through the Seoul Metropolitan Council's YouTube channel.
Accordingly, the discussants participated online from locations including Los Angeles, USA, Busan, Sejong, and Cheonan, and despite the ban on gatherings of five or more people, about 50 audience members actively expressed their opinions through the chat window.
Professor Chang-gyu Choi of Hanyang University Graduate School of Urban Studies, who gave the first presentation from Los Angeles on the topic "Urban Functions and Roles of Future Yongsan Park," emphasized, “A disconnected urban space should be integrated and restructured, preserving and utilizing modern historical cultural resources and natural scenic resources. Above all, various forms of citizen participation must be realized so that a park by the people for the people is created.”
Professor Dong-jin Kang of Kyungsung University Department of Urban Engineering, who gave the second presentation on "The Case and Implications of Busan Citizens Park Creation," stated, “Busan Citizens Park, the first case in Korea of converting a U.S. military base into a park, experienced various conflicts due to rushing the park creation, and due to issues such as oil (environmental) pollution and lack of citizen movement capacity, it was regrettable that a better park could not be made. Yongsan Park should take the Busan Citizens Park creation process as a lesson and establish a more meticulous plan, even if it takes longer.”
Shin Baek-joo, a member of the Yongsan Park Promotion Committee who participated as a discussant, argued, “To match the status of Yongsan Park as a national park, it is necessary to incorporate citizens' diverse imaginations so that contents such as re-examination of historicity and ecological restoration can be filled.”
Kim Eun-hee, representative of the Residents' Group for the Complete Recovery of Yongsan U.S. Military Base, raised her voice, saying, “For Yongsan Park to become a national park that heals the wounds of the nation and restores dignity, the polluter pays principle under domestic and international law must be applied, and a complete park without residual sites such as the Dragon Hill Hotel and the helicopter landing pad must be created.”
Jin Lin, head of the D.A. Group, expressed the opinion, “The creation of Yongsan Park is not only an opportunity to heal the distorted urban organization of the Yongsan area but also an opportunity to revitalize downtown Seoul. Based on sufficient investigation and analysis, plans for relocation, demolition, restoration, and creation must be established, and sufficient communication and opinion gathering should be conducted at each stage.”
Se-hee Ahn, manager of the Yongsan Park Creation Promotion Team at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Ho-jung Yoon, director of the Urban Planning Bureau of Seoul City, announced plans, saying, “The central government and Seoul City will work closely together and listen carefully to the diverse opinions of the public to create a world-class national park.”
Council member Noh Sik-rae, who hosted the forum, stated, “All participants in the discussion emphasized the importance of citizen participation and communication,” and added, “The Ministry of Land and Seoul City should consider and support various methods for more active citizen participation.”
He also proposed, “Yongsan Park is a symbol of hope that has regained spatial sovereignty overcoming a painful history and a meaningful fruit achieved by the national interest and aspiration of all of us. It is time for more citizens to participate more actively and raise their voices to create a complete Yongsan Park where history and ecology coexist.”
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