"Busan City Should Just Step Aside!" ... Oh Gyuseok, Gijang County Governor, Reacts to Delay of 'Gijang Filming Studio'

Busan Gijang County Office.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] “Busan City, please just step back!”

On the 20th, Oh Gyu-seok, Mayor of Busan’s Gijang County, strongly urged Busan City and the Korean Film Council to accelerate the construction of the ‘Busan Gijang Filming Studio’.

Mayor Oh expressed regret, saying, “Due to differences in opinions regarding post-production facilities, the construction of the Gijang Filming Studio, which is to be built on the site of Gijang Ceramic Tourism Healing Village in Giryong-ri, Jangan-eup, has been significantly delayed compared to the original plan, causing growing dissatisfaction among residents.”

He also pointed out, “It is unacceptable for Busan City to propose alternatives instead of new construction, given that the Korean Film Council did not include post-production and other video support facilities in this design due to budget issues.”

Gijang County strongly opposed the idea of leasing and utilizing existing facilities instead of building new post-production facilities.

Mayor Oh emphasized, “Since my inauguration as mayor in July 2010, I have made special efforts to finally secure the Busan Gijang Filming Studio,” and added, “I hope for the prompt commencement of the studio’s construction to meet residents’ expectations and revitalize the local economy.”

He further stated, “The video support facilities, including post-production facilities, which were omitted from this design, must be established on the Ceramic Village site in the next phase to secure international competitiveness,” and criticized, “Busan City has not contributed a single penny from the beginning of the studio’s construction until now, merely standing by and even becoming an obstacle.”

Mayor Oh openly expressed dissatisfaction, saying that it would actually be helpful if Busan City withdrew from the four-party consultative body for the studio’s construction, which consists of Gijang County, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korean Film Council, and Busan City.

The Busan Gijang Filming Studio is a project proposed by Mayor Oh Gyu-seok, where Gijang County provides 249,490㎡ of land at the Gijang Ceramic Tourism Healing Village free of charge, and the Korean Film Council constructs three film shooting studios, art work facilities, and outdoor filming support facilities with a total building area of 12,175㎡.