Councilor Jeon Seok-gi: "SH Corporation must promptly complete relocation procedures and fulfill promises to citizens"... "Mayor Oh Se-hoon also stated there will be no setbacks in the corporation's relocation, so active commitment to the agreement is required"
[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Jeon Seok-gi, Vice Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council’s Urban Planning and Management Committee (Democratic Party, Jungnang 4), who spearheaded the proposal, saw the “Resolution to Urge the Implementation of the Agreement for the Relocation of Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation to Jungnang-gu” pass at the 306th Seoul Metropolitan Council extraordinary session plenary meeting on the 8th.
This resolution calls for the prompt completion of procedures for the relocation of the corporation in accordance with the “Agreement for the Relocation of Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation to Jungnang-gu” signed in September 2020 by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Jungnang-gu, and SH Corporation, ensuring the relocation is completed on schedule. The resolution was jointly proposed by 17 Democratic Party members, including Assemblyman Jeon Seok-gi.
The relocation of SH Corporation to Jungnang-gu began under the motto of balanced development between Gangnam and Gangbuk with the announcement of the headquarters relocation in August 2019. In November 2020, the ordinance concerning the relocation and promotion of Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation to Jungnang-gu was enacted, establishing administrative support measures.
Additionally, in December of the same year, the district unit plan was amended and approved to upgrade the site to a quasi-residential area and abolish school facilities. In July 2020, the feasibility review by the Local Public Enterprise Evaluation Institute was completed, finalizing all preliminary administrative procedures for the relocation. However, recently, internal procedures within SH Corporation, such as the Investment Review Committee and board resolutions, have not been conducted, causing the relocation to be delayed for several months.
During the 306th Seoul Metropolitan Council Urban Planning and Management Committee meeting, Assemblyman Jeon Seok-gi stated, “Currently, the SH Corporation labor union claims difficulties in relocation due to issues such as public transportation accessibility for citizens and financial burdens. If these are the problems, Seoul Metropolitan Government and SH Corporation should negotiate and prepare transportation measures and financial burden mitigation plans.” He expressed strong regret over the delay, saying, “It is hard for not only Jungnang-gu residents but also Seoul citizens to accept that a project that had been proceeding smoothly for years is now delayed for such reasons.”
Assemblyman Jeon also said, “The relocation of SH Corporation could have proceeded as scheduled if Mayor Oh Se-hoon and the new president had pushed the project more actively. The project was progressing smoothly before Mayor Oh’s term, but has been continuously delayed since his inauguration.” He urged the Seoul Metropolitan Government and SH Corporation to take active administrative measures, adding, “Mayor Oh previously stated at a breakfast meeting that the relocation would be carried out without setbacks, so he should no longer overlook the delays and must strive to provide administrative support and prepare countermeasures for the relocation.”
Furthermore, Assemblyman Jeon said, “The relocation of SH Corporation to Jungnang-gu is a long-standing wish of Jungnang-gu residents. Continued delays in the relocation would not only betray their expectations but also undermine the policy rationale of balanced development between Gangnam and Gangbuk, as well as the consistency and reliability of Seoul Metropolitan Government’s administration.”
He went on to say that Jungnang-gu residents plan to continue relay protests in front of Seoul City Hall and the SH Corporation headquarters, and concluded, “Seoul Metropolitan Government and SH Corporation must promptly form a tripartite working-level consultative body as stipulated in the agreement, prepare concrete implementation plans for administrative and financial support, and do their utmost to ensure the relocation is completed on schedule.”
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