Residents Voice Safety Concerns at Hwajeong-dong Apartment Construction Site
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Shin Dong-ho] Jeong Woo-seok, a member of the Gwangju Metropolitan City Seo-gu Council, conveyed residents' opinions regarding the selection of the Seo-gu Facilities Management Corporation garage site and the construction site of an apartment complex in Hwajeong-dong to Seo-gu.
On the 9th, during the 297th Seo-gu Council extraordinary session, Councilor Jeong stated in a 5-minute speech that about 2,000 residents of Yudeok-dong natural village and Deokheung village are engulfed in anger and disappointment.
This reflects residents' opinions following the establishment of the Gwangju Environmental Corporation sewage treatment plant, food waste feed processing facility, Subway Line 2 railway vehicle depot, and now the hydrogen fuel cell business facility, with the addition of the Seo-gu Facilities Corporation garage.
Councilor Jeong said, “The consultative body, which fails to reflect the majority opinion of residents, and the minority interested only in business rights rather than the village’s crisis, have caused continuous discord and conflict,” adding, “The majority of residents are resolved to not hesitate to collectively protest and visit City Hall and Seo-gu Office to oppose the hydrogen fuel cell project and the Seo-gu Facilities Corporation garage.”
He continued, “Approaching this issue requires prior understanding of Yudeok-dong residents’ perception of being harmed by nuisance facilities,” and expressed regret, saying, “The Seo-gu Mayor and the responsible department head’s response that the Facilities Corporation garage is not a nuisance facility is disappointing and hardly acceptable to residents who have suffered from nuisance facilities for decades.”
Furthermore, he argued, “Even if no suitable site can be found for the Facilities Corporation garage, the administrative office should first explain and persuade each Yudeok-dong resident to understand the situation,” and “If opposition from residents remains strong, efforts should be made to meet with opposing residents over time and simultaneously seek a third alternative site.”
Regarding complaints from residents living near the apartment construction site in Hwajeong-dong, he pointed out, “During the recent administrative audit, I raised issues occurring at the Hwajeong-dong construction site and proposed forming a TF team,” adding, “Subsequent communication with the Housing Department head several times involved requests to entrust problem-solving to the Housing Department, and while I respected that opinion, no progress toward resolving the issues has been seen so far.”
He also emphasized, “Compensation for damages caused by the construction is welcome, but before compensation, residents’ right to live is being threatened, and it is doubtful whether the administrative office recognizes this problem or has responded adequately.”
Councilor Jeong presented items dropped at the site during the construction period by residents.
These include objects presumed to be pins used to fasten forms for formwork before concrete pouring during apartment construction, and concrete fragments believed to have fallen during form removal.
He explained, “Residents say that construction site personnel simply dismiss these as ‘not specifically identifiable as construction site falling objects’ and ‘we don’t know,’” adding, “There are no other construction sites nearby.”
He asked, “Currently, about 20 floors have been constructed; do Seo-gu authorities intend to intervene only after residents are injured or vehicles damaged by these falling objects?”
He also pointed out, “Traffic congestion caused by illegal parking of construction site workers throughout the day and the resulting decrease in customers at nearby stores have not improved at all.”
He concluded, “Residents live every day in anxiety, threatened in their right to live by buildings with cracks, subsidence, and leaks,” and emphasized, “I sympathize with residents’ appeals, doubting whether Seo-gu truly supports the residents or sides with the construction company.”
Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Shin Dong-ho sdhs6751@asiae.co.kr
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