[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Wanyong] The development project of ‘Gupo Waeseong Historical and Cultural Park (Deokcheon Neighborhood Park)’ in Deokcheon-dong, Buk-gu, Busan, is facing setbacks due to controversies over cultural heritage preservation. The project, initiated through a public contest as a private park special project by Busan City, has been put on hold because the Cultural Heritage Deliberation Committee, an advisory body of the city, deferred the review over concerns about potential damage to the nearby Gupo Waeseong fortress.
According to Busan City and related industries on the 28th, the Deokcheon Neighborhood Park development project in Buk-gu, Busan, has been underway since IPC Development was selected as the project operator in 2017. However, the project was halted after the 5th review of cultural heritage alteration was rejected in October 2020. Although the 5th review was scheduled for the 24th, it was canceled due to conflicts between the Busan City Cultural Heritage Committee and the project operator.
The Busan City Cultural Heritage Committee rejected the agenda citing the possibility of damage to Gupo Waeseong, and the project operator has yet to start even the land compensation procedures as no re-examination has been held. A representative of the Busan City Cultural Heritage Committee stated, "The terrain surrounding the fortress is also part of the fortress walls," and added, "The committee is concerned about damage caused by development since the site is recognized as a historic cultural asset."
On the other hand, IPC Development, the project operator, strongly opposes the cultural heritage review, finding it difficult to accept. A representative from IPC Development said, "Currently, Gupo Waeseong is increasingly damaged due to the expansion of religious facility zones, illegal parking lots, cultivated land, and encroachments, making preservation urgent," and argued, "Ironically, the best way to properly preserve Gupo Waeseong as a cultural asset is to quickly develop Deokcheon Park, but the Cultural Heritage Committee is blocking this."
They continued, "If Busan City had decided on preservation from the start and not announced the project to operators, we would not have participated," and appealed, "We raised 13.7 billion KRW in financing for the project, but no one is taking responsibility for the burdens caused by the project delay."
With the stark differences in positions between the Cultural Heritage Committee and IPC Development, the Deokcheon Neighborhood Park development project is expected to lead to legal battles. Currently, IPC Development is preparing various legal responses, including requests for disqualification of committee members and complaints against the Busan City Cultural Heritage Committee.
Meanwhile, the Deokcheon Park private park special project was promoted by Busan City to prevent indiscriminate development following the urban park sunset policy implemented from July 2020. The project, with a budget of 125.2 billion KRW, was planned to create 70,739 square meters of park facilities along with constructing six apartment buildings ranging from one basement floor to 15 floors above ground, totaling 230 households.
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