Regarding the Yonhap News report that controversy has arisen over a potential conflict of interest as Mayor Park Gang-su's building is expected to be included in the tourist special zone managed by Mapo-gu Office in Seoul's Mapo District.
Mapo-gu has clarified that "the controversy related to conflict of interest is completely unfounded."
On the 25th, Yonhap News reported, "Mapo-gu Office states that the designation of the tourist special zone was already planned, but residents point out that it is a pursuit of private interests by the mayor."
In response, Mapo-gu provided the following explanation.
1. Background of the research project for changing the area of the Hongdae tourist special zone
The designation of a tourist special zone is a project promoted under the Tourism Promotion Act with the purpose of strengthening urban competitiveness through tourism activation, proactively responding to rapidly changing tourism environments, and enhancing the city’s image as a representative tourist attraction of Seoul.
Since 2018, Mapo-gu has been conducting various tourism activation projects, including the ‘Research Project for Mapo Tourism Activation,’ and there has been a continuous opinion that it is necessary to expand the concentration of tourists centered around Hongdae to the Han River to establish a global tourism base.
Seoul City and Mapo-gu have long established consistent plans (such as the '2040 Seoul Plan' (2023, Seoul City), '2030 Living Area Plan' (2018, Seoul City), and 'Han River Management Basic Plan' (2015, Seoul City)) aiming to build a pedestrian network connecting the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail to Danginri Power Plant Park and the Han River waterfront axis around the area designated for long-term rental housing near Sangsu Station, creating open spaces to strengthen and improve pedestrian accessibility to the Han River.
Currently, the ‘Tourist Special Zone Expansion Project’ is at the stage of ‘setting the scope’ by assessing the effectiveness of the area as an expansion zone and adjusting the expansion range.
2. Whether the mayor’s building is included in the Mapo-gu tourist special zone... Regarding the conflict of interest controversy
The tourist special zone expansion has not yet been decided or designated, and the project is currently underway for the research on changing (expanding) the area of the Hongdae Culture and Arts Tourist Special Zone.
Authority to designate tourist special zones: Mayor of Seoul
Designation procedure: Among areas meeting the designation requirements, the district mayor applies
The mayor consults with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and related administrative agencies
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and related agencies provide opinions within 30 days
Expert consultation and on-site investigation are conducted
(Review of necessity for designation, etc.)
Mayor’s designation announcement
The research project to propose the optimal expansion area, review feasibility, and seek development plans for the tourist special zone expansion area has no relation whatsoever to the mayor’s privately owned building.
Therefore, the controversy related to conflict of interest is completely unfounded.
3. Whether the research project for changing the Hongdae tourist special zone area violates the Conflict of Interest Prevention Act
According to consultations with two lawyers, it was concluded that there is no conflict of interest under the Conflict of Interest Prevention Act. However, since there are no clear standards such as rulings on the meaning of conflict of interest under the current law, it was emphasized that conservative handling of the matter is necessary, leading to an active request for recusal from the work.
4. Regarding the claim that the mayor’s building is newly included in the expanded tourist special zone
The claim that the mayor’s building is newly included in the tourist special zone is not true.
Before Mayor Park Gang-su’s inauguration, the area had been planned as a comprehensive and systematic management zone through plans such as ▲Mapo’s Four Major Growth Hub Activation Plan (2014, Mapo-gu) ▲Comprehensive Development Plan for the Area Surrounding Seoul Thermal Power Plant (2015, Mapo-gu) ▲Han River Management Basic Plan (2015, Seoul City) ▲2040 Mapo Urban Development Master Plan (2022, Mapo-gu).
5. Regarding the scope of the newly proposed expansion of the special zone
The spatial scope in the task instruction for the research project on changing the Hongdae Culture and Arts Tourist Special Zone area was drafted as an example for smooth project progress, referencing existing plans and using roads as reference points.
In particular, the task instruction specifies that the optimal expansion area should be proposed within the content scope, clearly indicating that the example map is illustrative.
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