Direct Appearance at Jungtowi Deliberation to Announce Measures for Strengthening Public Interest
Signal for Full-Scale Project Launch 13 Years After Designation of Tourist Complex
Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam recently announced on the 31st that it received a "conditional approval" from the Central Land Expropriation Committee of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (hereinafter referred to as the 'Central Committee') regarding the Gusan Marine Tourism Complex Development Project.
Accordingly, acquisition plans have been established for lands that were difficult to purchase due to seizure or unregistered status, opening the way for the long-stalled project to proceed in earnest.
In particular, on the 26th when the Central Committee meeting was held, Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, attended the review, personally presenting explanations about the Gusan Marine Tourism Complex Development Project, the city's firm determination to push forward, and measures to strengthen public interest, actively responding to the committee members' inquiries.
Especially, public officials from Gyeongnam Province and Changwon City worked as one team, preparing for several months with great effort. As a result, this achievement was made on the first challenge of the Central Committee review during the 8th elected administration.
Previously, the city requested consultations for project recognition from the Central Committee in 2019 and 2020, but the committee, citing the Constitutional Court's ruling on the unconstitutionality of land expropriation, opposed the project on the grounds that the urgency and public interest were lacking, as the project involved creating revenue by selling and operating luxury golf courses and resorts.
The city expects that linking the Gusan Marine Tourism Complex with nearby attractions such as Jeodo Kwai River Bridge, Robot Land, and the Marine Drama Set, establishing a permanent festival site for the Masan Chrysanthemum Festival within the tourism complex, and even adding the Masan Marine New City will open the door to a Masan Renaissance era, shifting the center of the South Coast tourism industry, traditionally represented by Geoje, Tongyeong, and Yeosu, to the Masan area.
It is also expected to serve as a signal marking the start of the "Grand Design for Masan Bay Regeneration," which Mayor Hong pledged to lead for the revival of the Masan area.
The Gusan Marine Tourism Complex Development Project is a plan to create a four-season family resort tourism complex on 2.84 million square meters in Gubok-ri and Sim-ri, Gusan-myeon, Masanhappo-gu. It was designated as a tourism complex by Gyeongnam Province in 2011, received development plan approval in 2015, and in November 2017, Changwon City signed an implementation agreement with the Samjeong Enterprise Gusan Consortium through a private business operator competition.
However, the project has not been able to start full-scale construction because the entire project land has not been purchased. Currently, most of the project site has been acquired by Changwon City after compensation, but some land could not be purchased due to seizure or unregistered status. According to the implementation agreement, construction can only begin once compensation is completed for the entire or individual districts.
Since the 8th elected administration, Changwon City has focused on normalizing this long-stalled project and has worked to meet the public interest review criteria of the Central Committee. Following the recent decision by the Central Committee, lands that were previously impossible or unacquired can now be negotiated or deposited through the local land expropriation committee's expropriation decision. This opens the way for the project to proceed in earnest 13 years after the tourism complex designation in 2011.
To comply with the Central Committee's conditions, the city plans to reflect a land use plan with a golf course site ratio of 30% or less, prepare specific activation plans for facilities other than the golf course, synchronize the completion times of profit and non-profit projects, and include the operator's social contribution activities in the detailed operation plan, thereby strengthening the project's public interest aspects.
Mayor Hong said, "The government is promoting a southern regional wide-area tourism development plan connecting Mokpo, Jeonnam, and Gyeongnam, and the Gusan Marine Tourism Complex Development Project will be the starting point of this plan." He added, "The most important thing is to secure accessibility for general tourists. Once the maritime section of National Route 5 between Masan and Geoje is completed, and if public transportation that allows easy access from Masan Station is established along with plans linking to Masan Fish Market's food offerings, the tourism synergy is expected to be maximized."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
