Incheon City Councilor Jo Gwang-hwi, "Measures Needed for Original Residents in Yongyu Noeulbit Town Project"

On the 13th, the standing committee approved the project consent proposal

Kwanghwi Jo, Incheon City Council Member

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Jo Gwang-hwi, a member of the Incheon City Council (Junggu District 2nd Electoral District, Chairman of the Incheon Airport Economic Zone Development Special Committee), has called for the establishment of reasonable relief measures, including relocation plans and compensation for the original residents, regarding the 'Incheon Yongyu Noeulbit Town Development Project.'

According to the city council on the 15th, the Yongyu Noeulbit Town Development Project is a project by Incheon Urban Corporation to create a cultural and artistic complex recreational space leading Incheon’s cultural tourism on a 565,259㎡ site in Eulwang, Nambuk, and Deokgyo-dong areas of Jung-gu, Incheon. On the 13th, the project consent proposal was submitted and approved as originally planned at the 2nd Administrative and Safety Committee meeting of the 270th extraordinary session.

However, at this meeting, Councilor Jo Gwang-hwi additionally requested the Urban Corporation to prepare appropriate relief measures such as relocation plans and compensation for the original residents within the project area, despite the original consent proposal.

The Urban Corporation has been in conflict with residents by filing lawsuits for unjust enrichment claims and land return against original residents living on the land since the Korean War evacuation during the project implementation process.

Councilor Jo claimed, "The original residents have lived there for over 70 years since relocating in the 1960s and had been promised ownership transfer from the Seonin Foundation, the original landowner. However, this was nullified by the 1994 municipalization, and until 2006, before the transfer to the Urban Corporation, they had rental contracts with the city and continued to reside there."

He added, "Although rights verification on the site should have been prioritized when the city took over the land, the Urban Corporation delayed this and suddenly proceeded with legal procedures to push the project forward, which points to negligence in management by the Urban Corporation."

Councilor Jo emphasized, "As residents’ anxiety grows during the development process, a residents’ countermeasure council should be formed to establish reasonable relief measures such as relocation and compensation to prevent innocent victims."

In response, Lee Seung-woo, president of Incheon Urban Corporation, said, "It is true that there have been management shortcomings due to manpower shortages. We will look for relief measures to minimize the damage to the original residents during the development process."