Suncheon-si to Build Happy Housing... Will Continue Without Issues

Creation of Yeosun 10·19 History Park in Jangdae Park and Yeosun History Trail on Dongcheon Embankment

Issue Passed by City Council Plenary Vote... Controversy Over Councilor Lee Young-ran's Inappropriateness

The area around Jangdae Park, where the 10.19 History Park and Yeosun History Trail will be established

[Suncheon=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Suncheon City (Mayor Heo Seok) announced its position on the recently controversial site for the construction of Jogok Happy Housing on the 29th.

Jogok Happy Housing is a public rental housing project supplied to young people such as newlyweds, early career workers, and university students to alleviate housing insecurity, located around 193-3 Jogok-dong. The Jogok Happy Housing project, originally planned as a "half-price rental apartment construction" with about 120 units, was suddenly caught up in controversy over the creation of a historical park and was at risk of being scrapped, but Mayor Heo Seok has expressed his determination to continue the project.

Suncheon City initially pursued Happy Housing in the Jangcheon-dong area in 2019, but the Suncheon City Council cut the related budget of 9.2 billion won, citing the site as inappropriate, and the location was changed and re-pursued in the current Jogok-dong area.

After various twists and turns, in July last year, the "half-price rental apartment construction" project passed the candidate site selection committee review of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, giving momentum to the Jogok Happy Housing construction project.

The city planned to finalize a business agreement with LH next month, obtain approval for the housing construction project from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, start construction this year, and complete it by the end of next year. However, the project has been delayed significantly due to setbacks such as rejection in the city council's standing committee.

On the 16th, Suncheon City Council member Lee Young-ran (Wangjo 2-dong, Democratic Party) criticized in a 5-minute free speech at the 2nd plenary session of the 253rd extraordinary meeting, stating, "Suncheon City has selected the Jangdae Park area, which bears painful historical traces, as the site for Happy Housing and is pushing for apartment construction," making the Happy Housing project a subject of controversy.

With the passage of the Yeosun Incident Special Act led by National Assembly member So Byung-chul on the 29th of last month, and this council member proposing to develop the Jangdae Park area into a Yeosun Incident historical park in line with the act, there were many concerns that the Happy Housing project might be stalled.

Regarding this, some have raised controversy that the Suncheon City Council is falling into self-denial.

There is debate over whether it is acceptable for the city council to attempt to overturn the Jogok Happy Housing project, which was passed by a plenary vote last month, just days later on the grounds that a park must be created following the enactment of the Yeosun Incident Special Act.

In response to this controversy, citizen A said, "If they intended to promote Jangdae Park as a Yeosun Incident historical park, it should have been pursued long ago," adding, "Now that the special law led by the local National Assembly member has passed, discussing the historical park project at this point seems like a strategic move ahead of next year's election."

Citizen B said, "Opposing the Happy Housing, which is for early career workers, newlyweds, and university students, by suddenly demanding the creation of a historical park and changing the site is depriving the younger generation of affordable housing opportunities," and added, "I cannot understand how one council member can shake a project passed by the city council."

Citizen C said, "The Happy Housing project and the Jangdae Park historical park project can be pursued separately," and suggested, "If the Jangdae Park site is too small, nearby detention basin sites or Dongcheon sites can be additionally utilized."

A city official said, "Changing the Happy Housing site could incur additional costs exceeding 8 billion won," and added, "In the case of Jindo County, the local government bore 6.5 billion won to build 100 units."

Mayor Heo Seok stated, "I welcome the enactment of the Yeosun Incident Special Act to restore the honor of victims and bereaved families after 73 years, and I sympathize with the need to create a historical park including a memorial tower related to the painful history that occurred around Jangdae Park during the Yeosun Incident."

Accordingly, Suncheon City plans to install the Yeosun 10·19 Memory Park and Peace Stone Tower within Jangdae Park and create the Yeosun History Trail on the opposite Dongcheon embankment by September.