Gwangju Seo-gu Council Passes Resolution Urging Special Act for Sangmu District New Town Redevelopment

Representative Im Seonghwa's Proposal

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Shin Dong-ho] The Seo-gu Council of Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 28th that the ‘Resolution Urging the Inclusion of Gwangju Sangmu District and 1st Generation New Town Redevelopment Master Plan and Special Act’ was unanimously approved at the 306th 2nd plenary session.

The resolution was primarily proposed by Councilor Im Seong-hwa.

Councilor Im stated, “For national balanced development, local hub new towns such as Gwangju Sangmu District must be mandatorily included in the 1st generation new town redevelopment master plan and special act promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.”

The redevelopment of the 1st generation new towns is a campaign pledge of President Yoon Seok-yeol. In May, National Assembly member Ha Tae-kyung also took the lead in proposing the ‘Special Act for the Revitalization and Support of Aging Planned Cities’ to urge the redevelopment of local hub new towns for balanced development between the metropolitan area and local regions.

Furthermore, in the June 1 local elections, both ruling and opposition parties voiced a unified stance on deregulation for urban redevelopment.

Accordingly, on August 16, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced the ‘Plan to Realize National Housing Stability’ and declared that it would conduct a research project for the redevelopment of the 1st generation new towns, a campaign pledge of President Yoon, within this year.

Subsequently, on September 8, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong held a meeting with heads of local governments of the 1st generation new towns in Gyeonggi Province; however, local government heads of local hub new towns were entirely excluded on that day.

Councilor Im said, “The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport responded to National Assembly member Ha Tae-kyung that local hub new towns are included in the redevelopment research project for the 1st generation new towns, but I doubt whether they are truly included,” adding, “At a time when the current government is advocating the local era and national balanced development is more important than ever, it is natural that local hub new towns be included in the 1st generation new town master plan and special act.”

Meanwhile, the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, which has set ‘An Era Where Anywhere in the Republic of Korea is a Good Place to Live’ as a national agenda, announced the legislative notice of the ‘Special Act on Local Autonomy Decentralization and Regional Balanced Development (Draft)’ on the 14th.

Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Shin Dong-ho yjm3070@asiae.co.kr