Changwon City Residents' Solidarity, "Lift All Development Restriction Zones!"

The Residents' Solidarity of the Greenbelt Area in Changwon-si, Gyeongnam, held a press conference on the 17th urging the complete removal of the greenbelt restrictions in Changwon-si. Photo by Se-ryeong Lee ryeong@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] On the morning of the 17th, the Residents' Solidarity of the Development Restriction Zone in Changwon City, Gyeongnam, urged the complete lifting of the development restriction zone at the main gate of Changwon City Hall.

Changgaeyeon held a press conference in alliance with the unit organizations of Seongsan, Uichang, Hoewon, Happo, and Jinhae District Offices, representing 200,000 residents of the development restriction zone in Changwon City.

They argued that the development restriction zone in Changwon City, located in the city center, hinders balanced development and causes significant obstacles to corporate economic activities.

Kang Dae-woo, Chairman of the Residents' Solidarity of the Greenbelt Area in Changwon-si, Gyeongnam (center front row), is reading the press conference statement.

Chairman Kang Daewoo said, “As of 2021, 33% of Changwon City's administrative area of 745.3㎢, or 248.5㎢, remains designated as a development restriction zone.”

“In 1998, following a Constitutional Court ruling on private property infringement, development restriction zones outside the metropolitan area and major cities were lifted, but Changwon City remains the only area still restricted,” he added, “and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Gyeongnam Province, and Changwon City are neglecting their duties.”

“Citizens of Changwon have been unable to exercise their private property rights and have only faced regulations for 50 years,” he raised his voice, “The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport must completely lift the development restriction zone in Changwon City.”

He explained that in January, the Changwon City Council unanimously passed a resolution to the government for the complete lifting of the development restriction zone, and that the pledge to fully lift the development restriction zone in Changwon City was included in President Yoon Seok-yeol’s campaign promises.

They also demanded that the complete lifting of the development restriction zone in Changwon City be adopted as a pledge by candidates running in the nationwide local elections in June.

Chairman Kang said, “Changwon is an area where housing prices continue to rise among local cities,” and added, “If the greenbelt is eased to build youth housing, newlywed housing, half-price housing, and industrial complexes, it will stabilize housing prices, prevent the outflow of local talent, and stop population decline.”

A representative of Changgaeyeon stated, “Laws that inconvenience the people are unfair laws,” and said, “If the development restriction zone is eased, Changwon City’s tax revenue will increase significantly, and it will become a region where people gather rather than leave.”

Changgaeyeon is an organization founded in February by residents and landowners of the Masan development restriction zone in Changwon City, and plans to strengthen its organization as a corporation in the future.

They announced plans for a lobbying campaign to meet with the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and urge the early implementation of the president-elect’s campaign promises.