On the afternoon of the 22nd, a broadcast reported that Mayor Lee is spending hundreds of billions to build a community resort in his hometown Jeongeup... Gangdong-gu stated, "To build a community resort, we will proceed through proper procedures including public opinion surveys and community representatives, not unilaterally," and clarified, "Mayor Lee will not build a community resort during the 7th term."
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Lee Jeong-hoon, mayor of Gangdong-gu, clarified that the media reports claiming he is investing hundreds of billions of won to build a recreational facility for residents in his hometown, Jeongeup, Jeonbuk, are "completely untrue."
A senior official from Gangdong-gu stated in a phone call with a reporter on the morning of the 23rd, "A broadcast news report yesterday claimed that Gangdong-gu is building a recreational facility in Jeongeup, but this is not true."
The official explained, "Among the 25 autonomous districts of Seoul, nine districts including Seongdong-gu, Seocho-gu, and Dongjak-gu operate recreational facilities for residents in places like Gangwon and Jeonnam. Following a proposal from a Gangdong-gu council member, the relevant department considered building a recreational facility in Gangdong-gu as well, but there are no concrete plans or decisions regarding the site, building scale, or any other specifics related to the facility."
He added, "To establish a recreational facility, a steering committee must be formed with residents' opinion surveys, Gangdong-gu council members, and local community representatives, and the candidate site must be decided through proper legal procedures. It is not possible to unilaterally push for a specific area."
However, the misunderstanding arose when Gangdong-gu and Jeongeup City signed a sister city agreement, during which a Jeongeup official reportedly said, "If Gangdong-gu is to build a recreational facility, Jeongeup, which has Naejangsan, would be a good location," and requested "active consideration."
Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon is said to have given a routine response to this.
Gangdong-gu officials analyze that some parties may have created this public opinion to politically harm Mayor Lee using this information.
Accordingly, on the 22nd, Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon reportedly stated, "During my term, I will absolutely not build a recreational facility anywhere, including Jeongeup."
Meanwhile, Seongdong-gu operates recreational facilities for residents in two locations: Yeongwol, Gangwon-do, and Yeosu, Jeonnam.
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