Joint Countermeasure Coalition, "Will Fight If Promises to Citizens Are Not Kept"
Mayor Jo Gwang-han, "Cancellations Must Also Follow Legal Grounds and Procedures"
The "Joint Countermeasure Coalition to Block the Byeollae-dong Logistics Center" is displaying a banner at the Namyangju City Council urging the cancellation of the permit for the Byeollae-dong Logistics Center. [Joint Countermeasure Coalition to Block the Byeollae-dong Logistics Center]
[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] A conflict is escalating between residents opposing the construction of a logistics center in Byeollae-dong, Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, who are demanding the "immediate cancellation of the building permit," and Namyangju City, which insists that the issue must be resolved "through procedures established by law."
The "Joint Countermeasure Coalition to Stop the Byeollae-dong Logistics Center" (hereafter Joint Countermeasure Coalition) held a press conference at the Namyangju City Council on the 18th and issued a statement saying, "The logistics warehouse disguised as a warehouse in Byeollae-dong must be immediately canceled."
According to the Joint Countermeasure Coalition, Namyangju City granted a warehouse construction permit last May for the area around 798 Byeollae-dong. It was reported that the permit was approved by the director alone and was not reported to the mayor at the time.
The Joint Countermeasure Coalition claimed, "In addition to a simple warehouse, loading docks, logistics terminals, and home delivery facilities cannot be constructed on the site. One floor of the seven-story building is about 11 meters high, and the total height reaches approximately 90 meters," adding, "The design drawings clearly indicate loading docks intended for a logistics center."
Residents, who learned belatedly in July last year about the warehouse construction permit, collected over 12,000 signatures and filed a public interest audit request with the Board of Audit and Inspection as well as a petition to amend ordinances with the Namyangju City Council.
In response to residents' protests, the 'Civil Complaint Mediation Committee,' the 'Active Administration Review Committee,' and the 'Architectural Law Society' consecutively recommended that Namyangju City cancel the permit.
The Joint Countermeasure Coalition strongly warned, "If promises made to citizens are not kept, we will launch a new phase of civic struggle against Namyangju City to stop the Byeollae-dong logistics center."
Han Cheon-hyun, representative of the Joint Countermeasure Coalition, criticized, "Mayor Jo Gwang-han publicly stated that he is 'considering canceling the permit,' yet he delayed the process by replacing the person in charge, and the department head failed to carry out even the cancellation hearing procedure promised to residents, showing irresponsible and deceptive behavior."
Earlier, the "Byeollae Citizens' Coalition" (Chairman Kim Chang-sik) collected support signatures to stop the logistics center. Local lawmakers and provincial and city council members also participated in the signature campaign.
Meanwhile, Namyangju Mayor Jo Gwang-han also issued a statement regarding the Byeollae-dong logistics center on the same day.
In his statement, Mayor Jo said, "I fully empathize with the residents' shock and anger," and added, "The relevant department heads visited the site and held frequent countermeasure meetings, mobilizing maximum efforts to resolve the issue."
He continued, "Even if the permit process was lawful, I thought it was problematic for a high-rise warehouse to be built near residential areas, so I pushed the officials harshly," explaining, "I instructed them to actively pursue all possible measures to respond to the residents' appeals."
However, Mayor Jo emphasized, "The city's administrative actions must follow procedures established by law and cannot be based on the mayor's personal thoughts and emotions," adding, "Cancellation must also follow legal grounds and procedures."
He also stated, "Efforts to explore all possible methods, as long as not prohibited by law, are being disparaged and criticized by residents as 'stalling' and 'changing stories.'"
Addressing the residents, he expressed discomfort, questioning, "I wonder whether they have exercised the rights they have regarding the issue themselves."
Mayor Jo pointed out, "Despite asking residents to provide the content and legal grounds for their claims of illegality, there has been no response, and only physical or political methods are being used."
He also hinted that if illegal matters are found, the city could suspend the effect of the building permit and cancel it.
Mayor Jo promised strict accountability, stating, "Along with institutional solutions including changes to the district unit plan, we are considering initiating an audit and requesting investigation of the relevant employees."
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