'Special Act for First-Generation New Towns' Gains Momentum... Ruling Party Pushes for Member Legislation

Minister Won Hee-ryong Attends Policy General Meeting to Report on Special Act
Joo Ho-young: "After Review, Floor Deputy Representatives Will Propose"

The People Power Party is accelerating the promotion of the "Special Act on the Maintenance and Support of Aging Planned Cities (Special Act on the Redevelopment of 1st Generation New Towns)," a campaign pledge of President Yoon Suk-yeol.

On the morning of the 10th, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, told reporters after a policy members' meeting at the National Assembly, "Members of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee and deputy floor leaders will propose the special act."

Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Photo by Asia Economy DB)

Floor leader Joo added, "We will review and check the bill once," and explained, "Since there are members of the opposition party who support it, I told them to look into it."

The "Special Act on the Maintenance and Support of Aging Planned Cities," announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport last month, includes provisions to exempt or ease reconstruction safety inspections in 49 aging residential land districts nationwide, including 1st generation new towns such as Bundang, Ilsan, and Pyeongchon. The redevelopment of 1st generation new towns is one of President Yoon Suk-yeol's campaign pledges, and the People Power Party is supporting the fulfillment of the Yoon administration's pledge through member legislation.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport requested the ruling People Power Party to propose the bill in the form of member legislation, citing that government legislation takes a long time. Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong reported on matters related to the special act at the policy meeting that day.

After the report, Minister Won told reporters, "Since this is entirely a matter under the jurisdiction of the National Assembly, we decided to proceed in the form of member legislation for now," adding, "Government legislation takes too much time." He also said, "There is no major disagreement between the ruling and opposition parties."

Regarding criticism that "residents' opinions were not properly reflected in the special act," Minister Won responded, "That is not the case. The bill was developed over several months with multiple rounds of resident opinions and internal public hearings, centered on many local governments with 1st generation new towns and aging original downtown areas in each region," adding, "We will work to reflect any shortcomings further during the legislative process."

On that day, ruling party lawmakers reportedly raised questions such as "How will the deterioration of cities not covered by the special act be addressed?" and "Is the remodeling promotion part left unresolved?" In response, Minister Won explained, "Since there is an existing Urban Maintenance Act, redevelopment can be done under that," and added, "Remodeling has its advantages, so when it is promoted, we will provide careful support to ensure there is no significant disadvantage compared to redevelopment."