[Unilateral Real Estate Policy] Government Remains Silent Despite Gwacheon Complex Alternative Proposal

Residents Protest: "Are They Taking Away Even Our Parks for Housing?"
City Proposes Alternative Sites, But Government Pushes Forward Without Response
"Without Communication With Local Governments, February 4 Housing Plans Are Unlikely to Succeed"

[Asia Economy, reporter Ryu Taemin] “What’s the point of suggesting good alternatives? They refuse to listen and stubbornly insist we just follow the government’s orders...” (Official from Gwacheon City)

On February 16, in front of the government complex in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, a vacant lot was covered in snow. Among the snowdrifts, the white hair of a man in his mid-70s stood out as he repeatedly pressed the shutter on his camera with a bitter expression. Kim Yongseop (alias, 75), who has lived in Gwacheon for 38 years, looked troubled by the prospect of the park in front of the government complex, which he considered his home, being replaced by an apartment complex. Kim explained, “I’m taking pictures to remember this place, which holds so many memories.” He added, “There are already too many apartments in Gwacheon. I don’t understand why they want to take away even the playground where children run around just to build more housing,” expressing his frustration.

That afternoon, near Gwacheon City Hall in Gyeonggi Province, the area was filled with banners criticizing the government’s real estate policies. This was a backlash against the government’s plan, announced in the August 4 measures last year, to develop the idle land at the government complex in Gwacheon. Residents expressed strong dissatisfaction and resistance toward the government’s real estate policy. Their anxiety stemmed from the possibility that Gwacheon would be burdened with additional housing supply under the new February 4 measures. Park (54), whom the reporter met near city hall, said, “Last year, they dumped 4,000 units on us. Now, I can’t even imagine how many more they’ll force Gwacheon to take this time.”

Gwacheon City has also openly opposed the government’s unilateral development plans. In particular, at the end of last month, the city proposed an alternative site to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, instead of developing the idle land at the government complex currently used as a public park. The city suggested increasing the floor area ratio in the nearby Gwacheon district, which is already under development, to secure space for 2,000 housing units, and providing land in the outer areas with good transportation conditions to accommodate an additional 2,000 units. This would fully match the 4,000 units the government plans to supply on the idle site.

However, according to Gwacheon City, there has been no progress in discussions with the Ministry of Land regarding this proposal. The ministry has not responded to the city’s suggestion at all. A city official criticized, “We have already compromised by stepping back from our demand to withdraw the original housing supply plan, but there is still no response. At this point, it seems the government has no real intention of negotiating.”

The official further stated, “Blindly supplying housing without proper infrastructure such as sewage treatment, transportation, and educational facilities is not the answer. If more apartments are built in Gwacheon, which is already saturated with apartments, the quality of life for residents will significantly decline.”

Jo Juhyun, professor of real estate at Konkuk University, advised, “For housing supply projects that involve developing residential land, thorough discussions with the local government are essential, including transportation measures and relocation of existing facilities. Without sufficient communication and consultation, the follow-up plans to the February 4 measures, including new residential land supply, are likely to encounter setbacks.”