"Samhakdo Should Be Preserved as a Sanctuary for Mokpo Residents and a Citizens' Park"
"Active Lawmaker's Remarks on Samhakdo Hotel Stem from Ignorance of Mokpo's Sentiments"
Yoon-seok Lee, a candidate for the National Assembly from Mokpo City, held a press conference on the morning of the 8th in front of the Kim Dae-jung Memorial Hall at Samhakdo and issued a statement clearly opposing the controversy over the construction of a hotel on Samhakdo.
Candidate Lee began the statement by saying, “Recently, after the current member of the National Assembly from Mokpo mentioned the construction of a hotel on Samhakdo during a broadcast debate, a flood of opposition opinions from citizens has poured in,” and “I, Yoon-seok Lee, clearly oppose the construction of a hotel on Samhakdo.”
He explained, “Samhakdo is not just a simple island or an ordinary reclaimed land. Along with Yudalsan, it is a stage for heartfelt stories that emotionally connect the people of Mokpo and a site of modern history filled with deep sorrow,” adding, “Samhakdo itself is a symbol of hometown and a sanctuary that resides in the hearts of the people of Mokpo.”
Candidate Lee Yoon-seok is issuing a statement opposing the construction of the Samhakdo Hotel in front of the Kim Dae-jung Memorial Hall at Samhakdo on the morning of the 8th.[Photo by Candidate Lee Yoon-seok's Election Office]
He continued, “Samhakdo should naturally be preserved as a citizens’ park and a ‘hometown’ where citizens can soothe their minds and bodies in its beautiful form,” and pointed out, “If a luxury hotel is built on Samhakdo, the island will become a hotel garden, and citizens will be reluctant to access it.”
He also stated, “Samhakdo is the starting point of the ‘Napoli of Korea’ project I am envisioning,” and “I will develop the section from Samhakdo through Dongmyeong-dong, Daeban-dong, and the Korea Maritime University area to the foothills of Yudalsan into a world-class scenic city.”
Candidate Yoon-seok Lee said, “We will redevelop Samhakdo and Dongmyeong-dong’s inner harbor into an ‘international maritime tourism port’ and install port parks, waterfronts, cafes, and more,” adding, “We will promote networking of the port through marine leisure sports and create marine experience facilities, rest areas, viewing facilities, and green spaces.”
In particular, he emphasized, “The current member of the National Assembly from Mokpo mentioning a hotel on Samhakdo during the debate is a statement born out of ignorance of Mokpo’s sentiment, history, and urban design,” and “If a bigger and better hotel is needed beyond those currently operating or under construction, another location should be sought.”
Finally, he concluded the statement by saying, “I have also heard rumors that the attempt to build a hotel on Samhakdo is due to the greed of certain forces over construction-related interests. I hope this is not true,” and “I, Yoon-seok Lee, firmly oppose the construction of a hotel on Samhakdo together with the citizens of Mokpo.”
Meanwhile, Yoon-seok Lee, a candidate for the National Assembly from Mokpo City, is a political science Ph.D. who served as a two-term National Assembly member from Sinan and Muan, and as a university president. He also served as the head of the central party organization of the Democratic Party of Korea.
In this general election, he ran as an independent candidate in the Mokpo electoral district, advocating for the ‘Mokpo Metropolitan Era’ through the integration of Mokpo, Sinan, and Muan. After being elected, he plans to return to the Democratic Party to judge the prosecutorial dictatorship regime and is determined to regain power in the next presidential election.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
