Gubokgyu County Governor: "I Will Do My Best to Make the Closed Mine a New Start for Hwasun"
On the morning of the 30th, Gubokgyu, the governor of Hwasun County, attended the closing ceremony of the Hwasun Mining Site and expressed a strong determination to fully commit to discovering alternative industries based on negotiations with the government.
On this day, Governor Gu stated, “The Hwasun Mining Site has played a central role in the local economy,” and pledged, “We will spare no effort to ensure it can serve as a pivotal function in building a new Hwasun through consultations with government ministries and related organizations and groups.”
In particular, regarding the Hwasun Mining Site’s mine reclamation project, he firmly maintained the position of “absolute opposition to filling the mine with water.”
As the nation’s first Hwasun Mining Site steps into history, a solemn expression was evident on Governor Gu’s face throughout the event.
Since registering its mining rights in 1905, the Hwasun Mining Site has supplied coal nationwide at the forefront of the industry.
At its production peak in 1989, about 1,600 employees mined 705,000 tons of coal, ranking it among the top four coal mines nationwide alongside mines in Gangwon, Samcheok, and Yeongwol, playing a role in supporting not only the Gwangju and Jeonnam economies but also the South Korean economy as a whole.
Additionally, in the 1980s, when the chairman of a certain corporation (Han0 Group’s Jeong00) attempted to privatize the Hwasun coal mine by aligning with political powers, the miners’ union members took buses to Seoul and fought to protect the Hwasun Mining Site. This episode symbolically demonstrated that the Hwasun Mining Site was both a livelihood foundation and a spiritual center for the people of Hwasun.
Currently, Hwasun County has organized and is operating a dedicated team for mine closure.
To ensure smooth securing of national funds for purchasing land owned by the Korea Coal Corporation, a feasibility study response and the establishment of a master plan for discovering alternative industries are underway. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy is leading a project to commission the formulation of an economic promotion plan for early mine closure areas involving three cities/counties (Hwasun, Taebaek, Samcheok).
The government has revised laws and notifications related to special consolation payments for early mine closure to provide retiring workers with job transition funds and special consolation payments on the condition of early mine closure.
Moreover, Hwasun County has requested the participation of current workers familiar with the Hwasun Mining Site facilities in the mine reclamation survey and restoration project conducted by the Korea Mine Reclamation Corporation to ensure employment succession.
Through the economic promotion plan for early mine closure areas, efforts are being made to discover alternative industries that can create jobs for mining site workers.
Hwasun County plans to actively collect opinions from local residents during the project to prepare effective countermeasures.
Furthermore, the county aims to “renew Hwasun and make its residents happy” by establishing mine closure measures that provide sufficient support and respect to miners who have contributed to the nation and Hwasun’s economy through a lifetime of hard coal mining work and by revitalizing the local economy.
Governor Gu comforted the miners who have led the local economy for 118 years and said, “Mine closure is not the end but can be a new beginning for Hwasun, and we will do our best to make that happen.”
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