[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Former People Power Party Supreme Council member Lee Jun-seok expressed opposition to the 'Chinatown (Korea-China Cultural Town)' being developed in Gangwon Province, saying, "I hope Chuncheon in my heart remains known for dakgalbi, makguksu, and the Soyanggang Dam."
On the 12th, Lee shared an article on his Facebook about Gangwon Governor Choi Moon-soon’s past remark referring to the Korea-China Cultural Town project as a "Belt and Road Initiative in the heart," and expressed his stance.
Lee opened by saying, "In cities around the world, Chinatowns are generally perceived as low-grade residential and commercial areas where Chinese people gather. The security is relatively poor, and they are not considered good neighborhoods. The Chinatown in front of Incheon Station in our country just feels like a place with many jajangmyeon restaurants, but globally, that’s the case."
He continued, "Chinatowns are often formed in gateway cities because immigrants find it easier to settle there. In the past, these were port cities; nowadays, they are places with airports. But Gangwon Province is not a gateway city. Why are they trying to build a Chinatown there and even flatter it by calling it a Belt and Road Initiative?" targeting Governor Choi.
He added, "I hope Chuncheon in my heart remains the hometown of dakgalbi, makguksu, and the Soyanggang Dam. I don’t want it to become a place associated with malatang, jajangmyeon, and gaoliang liquor," expressing his doubts about why the Gangwon governor is so fixated on China.
Finally, Lee mentioned the Korea-China Cultural Town’s promotion of 'IT cultural spaces' and 'K-Culture,' saying, "Here too, cheap keyword marketing inevitably appears. IT, K-Culture... let’s stop."
A petition titled "Please withdraw the construction of Chinatown in Gangwon-do" posted on the Blue House National Petition Board on the 29th of last month. Photo by Blue House Board capture
Gangwon Province signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with China’s People’s Daily Online and others in 2019 to promote the construction of a Korea-China Cultural Town within the Lavi? Belle tourism complex in Chuncheon and Hongcheon. Gangwon plans to create a K-Pop museum, media art, and other attractions themed around Korean and Chinese cultures integrated with information and communication technology. The project is scheduled for completion in 2022, with an estimated budget of about 1 trillion won.
However, amid growing anti-China sentiment due to recent controversies over the Northeast Project, public opposition to the project has intensified. On the 29th of last month, a petition titled "Withdraw the construction of Gangwon’s Chinatown" was posted on the Blue House’s public petition board. The petition garnered over 200,000 signatures?the threshold for a Blue House response?within a day.
In response, Gangwon Province stated on the 12th to a media outlet, "This project is not funded or promoted by Gangwon Province but is a development led by private companies. Gangwon only provides administrative support such as permits and approvals."
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