"Choi Moon-soon Impeachment" vs "Hanok Complex" Gangwon-do 'Chinatown' Construction Controversy

Choi Moon-soon, Governor of Gangwon Province: "Chinatown? Hanok Village"
500,000 Agree to 청 Petition Opposing Chinatown
Kim Jin-tae: "Choi Moon-soon, Cancel Gangwon Province Chinatown Plan"

Choi Moon-soon, Governor of Gangwon Province [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Controversy has erupted over the establishment of a 'Korea-China Cultural Town' in Chuncheon and Hongcheon, Gangwon Province. Amid intense anti-China sentiment due to China's 'New Northeast Project' controversy, questions arise as to why a 'Chinatown' is being constructed now. In response, Gangwon Governor Choi Moon-soon refuted the claims, stating it is a hanok complex and a cultural tourism content facility.

However, opposition sentiment has not easily subsided, with a Blue House national petition calling for Governor Choi's impeachment also being posted. More than 500,000 people have agreed to this petition. Voices from opposition parties are also calling for the immediate withdrawal of the construction plan.

On the 15th, a petition titled 'We demand the impeachment of the Governor of Gangwon Province' was posted on the Blue House national petition board. The petitioner pointed out, "The reason for impeachment is Governor Choi Moon-soon's incompetence and authoritarianism," adding, "He is the one who made the people angry."

Regarding the Korea-China Cultural Town, the petitioner criticized, "The people are firmly opposed to promoting Chinese culture on our land. The blatant New Northeast Project has unified public sentiment into anti-China sentiment," and "The former governor called himself a 'joint investor' and described this project as the Belt and Road Initiative. He supported Sinocentrism and said he would promote Chinese culture."

The petitioner further stated, "The governor, who should lead the growth of his own province, is only dreaming of the Chinese Dream," and "He has also shown immoral behavior, such as attending the provincial council in a drunken state and collapsing during a response. Now, despite strong opposition, he is pushing forward with Legoland and plans to build the China Cultural Town." This petition surpassed 500,000 supporters on the 13th of this month, two weeks after being posted.

Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Board Capture

As the controversy continued, Governor Choi appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 16th and explained, "The term 'Chinatown' has various meanings. It is not the kind of Chinese residential area we have, but a golf course," adding, "We are building a golf course, and since there is a lot of land left, there will be various play and performance facilities like condos. That kind of thing."

He also said, "Gangwon Province is not the main party. This is not a provincial project but a business run 100% by private companies," and "Chinatown can be described as a cultural tourism content facility."

He emphasized, "If you visit the site, it is a hanok complex," and "Among our country's tourists, the largest group is Chinese tourists. The purpose is to host them, showcase traditional culture, and promote cultural exchange."

In 2019, Gangwon Province signed a business agreement with China's People's Daily and People.cn to establish a Chinese complex cultural town in the Lavie Belle tourist complex located in Chuncheon and Hongcheon. The scale is ten times that of Incheon Chinatown. It was promoted with the aim of revitalizing the domestic tourism industry.

Regarding concerns raised amid the 'China New Northeast Project' controversy about whether Gangwon Province should take the lead in creating a Chinese cultural complex, Governor Choi rebutted, calling it "an excessive argument," and said, "Most tourists to our country come from China, and China is our top trading partner. Denying that fundamentally is wrong." He added, "Cultural exchange and mutual understanding help reduce political conflicts."

Meanwhile, opposition voices have also emerged. Kim Jin-tae, former member of the People Power Party and chairman of the Gangwon Chuncheon City Party Members' Council, pointed out in a joint statement from the party, "Governor Choi Moon-soon denied the Chinatown construction plan as fake news but expressed his intention to proceed with the 'Chinese Complex Cultural Town'."

Former lawmaker Kim criticized, "Is it just that the name is unpleasant? We call the Chinese Complex Cultural Town a Chinatown," and "Whether for residential or business purposes, if Chinese people gather, it is a Chinatown. When running a Chinese restaurant, people end up living there; it is difficult to distinguish between residence and business."

He continued, "We oppose the introduction of Chinese capital into clean Gangwon, whether for residential or tourism business purposes, because it cannot be separated from China's Belt and Road Initiative and the New Northeast Project," emphasizing, "It is problematic that the project was announced abruptly without properly explaining the details to the residents of Gangwon."