Landowners and residents of Hoeseong-dong, Masanhoewon-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam, held a rally opposing the land compensation plan for the Complex Administrative Town site. / Photo by Ryeong Lee ryeong@
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Se-ryeong] Some landowners and residents in the Hoeseong-dong area of Changwon City, Gyeongnam, where a complex administrative town is being established, held a rally in protest against the land compensation prices.
On the 20th, those gathered in front of Changwon City Hall stated, “The current land compensation amount is only 50-60% of the surrounding market price,” and demanded, “Invalidate the compensation amount at its source.”
The Hoeseong-dong Self-Sufficient Complex Administrative Town Land Compensation Committee reported that out of about 600 compensation recipients, around 300 have rejected the compensation proposal.
They explained that the area was planned for an administrative town after the greenbelt was lifted in 2009, but the project was canceled in 2014.
They claimed, “Since the project was canceled in 2014, Changwon City has imposed restrictions on landowners’ activities, infringing on property rights.”
The current project, which began in 2020, is completely different in terms of the greenbelt lifting timing, project area, land use plan, and method compared to the previous plan. Residents argue that the land should be re-evaluated as natural green space, the current standard, rather than greenbelt.
Landowners criticized, “Changwon City is engaging in deceptive practices by using the name ‘administrative town’ while holding public office sites that are less than 10% of the development area,” and added, “In reality, they are opening the door for private developers to profit from apartment sales.”
They sharpened their stance, saying, “Who would stand by and watch such plunder when asked to give up their land for less than half the market price? We will never cooperate with the project led by Changwon City.”
They pointed out that the mayor of Changwon is granting special rights of expropriation to private developers and ignoring residents’ voices as if acting as a subcontractor for private developers, urging police and Board of Audit and Inspection investigations and the suspension of the project.
The Hoeseong-dong Complex Administrative Town development project is a plan by Changwon City to invest private capital in 703,954㎡ in the Hoeseong-dong area of Masanhwoe-gu to build residential facilities such as apartments and detached houses, elementary schools, and public offices.
The city is proceeding with the project aiming to start construction in September this year, and earlier this month, the project implementer, Changwon Self-Sufficient Complex Administrative Town, notified landowners with a request for land compensation negotiations.
Although the compensation proposal was prepared by reflecting the land prices as of March based on the appraisal results conducted in June-July last year, some landowners have refused to negotiate, claiming the compensation price is too low.
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