Luxury Pension on Closed School Site... Wando Residents 'Strongly Oppose'

Residents Demand 'Cancellation' of Permit for New Construction Without Consent on Site Steeped in Village History

Authorities State "Legally Decided, No Legal Issues... Will Mediate Between Both Sides"

Residents of Daldori, Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do, have opposed the construction of a luxury townhouse on the site of a closed school. Photo by Reader Provided

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] When ultra-luxury townhouses were planned to be built on school grounds donated by residents of Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do in the past, residents collectively opposed the project.

On the 12th, according to Wando Office of Education and Wando-gun, the administrative authorities granted construction permission last year on October 25 to Company A, an external construction company, for building ultra-luxury townhouses on the closed Daldo Elementary School site in Gunoe-myeon.

The Daldo Elementary School closed site was sold to an individual in 2002 and was reportedly purchased last year by Company A, an out-of-town construction company.

Company A plans to lease ultra-luxury townhouses, supplying 15 units in four buildings totaling 2,451㎡ on a land area of 10,018㎡.

Local residents are demanding the cancellation of the permit, arguing that the administrative authorities unilaterally approved the new construction without residents’ consent or consultation, which would destroy the village’s residential environment and threaten the communal way of life.

Daldo Elementary School opened on April 10, 1952, and was closed in 1995.

At the time of its opening, Wando was an island without bridges, so students traveled to school by ferry and on foot. Residents donated part of the land to establish the school for the children’s education.

During construction, residents also helped directly by digging the playground with shovels and pickaxes.

When it was revealed that the historically significant school site was sold to outsiders and an ultra-luxury villa complex was to be built, residents strongly opposed the plan.

Local residents and hometown natives who learned of the construction permit belatedly criticized, “Wando-gun granted construction permission to an out-of-town construction company for a luxury pension-style villa complex that is completely inconsistent with the village’s sentiment, without any consultation, destroying the peaceful lives of residents.”

They also appealed, “This is not development aimed at regional growth through stay-type tourism facilities, and although a long-used small road is included within the site, the developer is unilaterally blocking it, causing inconvenience.”

Residents are concerned that if a luxury pension-style villa village is built on the closed school site in this rural fishing village, the relative deprivation and alienation felt by residents could break down the village community.

Additionally, there are ongoing concerns that large-scale development will pollute the marine environment in the waters near Daldo.

Village chief Jeong Byeong-sam said, “The Daldo Elementary School closed site was land donated by residents for the education of future generations, and the foundation was made by residents with shovels and hoes. The administrative authorities sold Daldo Elementary, created by the blood and sweat of the villagers, to a private individual at a low price without consulting residents, and built a luxury villa complex without any notice, completely destroying residents’ lives.”

He added, “I understand that the residents moving in have no intention of settling in Wando and use the high-end luxury townhouses as vacation homes. When a group of outsiders come in, not just one or two, local residents feel a great sense of alienation. Nevertheless, the administrative authorities granted permission without any consultation, which angers the residents.”

The Jeollanam-do Office of Education is promoting projects to transform closed schools into emotional centers of local communities in cooperation with local governments and village communities, moving away from policies focused mainly on ‘sale or lease’ of closed schools.

However, it is reported that this situation occurred because the Daldo Elementary School closed site was sold in 2002 before the Office of Education’s closed school project was initiated.

A Wando Office of Education official said, “When Daldo Elementary was sold, residents were given priority, but since conditions were not met, it was sold to an individual. Afterward, the owner changed several times without the knowledge of the Office of Education, which seems to have caused this situation. If prior consultation with local residents had been conducted regarding the new construction on the closed school site, the conflict might have been resolved smoothly.”

A Wando-gun official explained, “The construction permit for Daldo Elementary was legally decided through the review of the deliberation committee, so there is no legal problem. Also, building-related laws do not require holding residents’ briefings when granting development permits.”

He added, “To resolve residents’ dissatisfaction, we have met with related parties several times. We will mediate well to ensure no problems arise between parties and strive to resolve conflicts.”