The Controversial Site for 'Yeongam Public Library' Finally Confirmed as Gyodong District

Yeongam Public Library

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] The planned new site for the Yeongam Public Library in Jeonnam has been abruptly changed from Wolchulsan Gichan Land to the Gyodong District.

According to Yeongam County on the 6th, after distributing 32,000 opinion survey forms to Yeongam residents and collecting feedback, the final decision was made to locate the new Yeongam Public Library site in the Gyodong District.

The resident opinion survey was conducted from August 22 to September 4 by sending text messages via SNS to 17,000 people. Among a sample of 7,248 residents, 3,570 (49.2%) chose the Gyodong District as the site for the new public library.

The Yeongam Public Library project had been abruptly reconsidered amid controversy that the new site was unilaterally decided as Wolchulsan Gichan Land without resident consultation. In particular, Wolchulsan Gichan Land faced many issues due to suitability concerns and accessibility problems for library users.

Accordingly, Yeongam County conducted a resident opinion survey to reconsider the new site, taking into account library accessibility and urban planning expansion possibilities.

County Governor Woo Seung-hee stated, “As a result of the resident opinion survey conducted until September 4, the Gyodong District was confirmed,” and added, “We are proceeding with follow-up procedures with the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education.”

The construction of the Yeongam Public Library is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, with a construction budget of 17 billion KRW (7 billion KRW from the Office of Education, 5 billion KRW from Yeongam County, and 5 billion KRW from national funds). It will be built on a 6,600㎡ site with a total floor area of 3,900㎡ (1 basement floor, 3 above-ground floors, 570 reading seats), aiming for opening in March 2024.