Jung Jong-bok, Gijang County Governor, Expresses Strong Regret Over Standing Committee Approval of 'Urban Planning Ordinance Amendment'

Jeong Jong-bok, the mayor of Gijang County, expressed strong regret on the afternoon of the 21st at the Busan Metropolitan Council's Marine City Safety Committee regarding the passage of the 'Busan City Urban Planning Ordinance Amendment' and stated his intention to fight until the end to block the ordinance amendment.

Jeong Jong-bok, the mayor of Gijang-gun, is appealing the unfairness of the amendment to the urban planning ordinance together with residents at Busan City Hall on the 21st.

The Busan City Urban Planning Ordinance amendment, which passed the standing committee of the Busan Metropolitan Council that day, includes provisions to reclaim the authority to decide on urban planning facilities such as cemeteries, parks, and waste disposal facilities, as well as the designation of project implementers and approval of implementation plans, from district mayors and county heads back to the Busan City government.

The county strongly opposes the amendment, stating that if it is finally passed at the Busan Metropolitan Council plenary session on the 22nd, the opinions and decision-making rights of local residents regarding various undesirable facilities will be seriously undermined.

Jeong Jong-bok, mayor of Gijang County, emphasized, “The passage of this ordinance amendment through the Busan Metropolitan Council standing committee has caused great loss and anger among the residents of Gijang County,” adding, “If Busan City forcibly proceeds with this anachronistic amendment, it will face strong opposition from basic local governments including Gijang County and local residents.” He continued, “If a waste disposal facility is introduced in the future without sufficient consultation with residents, I will stand with the people of Gijang County to block it until the very end.”

Since the legislative notice of the 'Busan City Urban Planning Ordinance Amendment,' Gijang County has opposed the amendment, arguing that local residents and basic local governments, who are direct stakeholders of undesirable facilities, must actively participate in the policy decision-making and implementation processes concerning these facilities.

However, the city pushed forward with the ordinance amendment procedure, citing the need to reflect the overall demand of Busan City. Mayor Jeong Jong-bok held solo protests on the 15th and 18th, delivering a statement to the Busan Metropolitan Council urging the suspension of the amendment, and continued opposition protests with local residents on the day of the standing committee meeting on the 21st.

The Gijang County Council also held a 'Press Conference Condemning the Amendment of the Busan City Urban Planning Ordinance' on the 18th, calling for a halt to the amendment. On the 21st, the Busan City District Mayors and County Heads Council passed a proposal submitted by Mayor Jeong Jong-bok of Gijang County urging the rejection of the 'Partial Amendment to the Busan Metropolitan City Urban Planning Ordinance' and submitted a petition to the Busan Metropolitan Council.

Additionally, Park Jong-cheol, a member of the Busan Metropolitan Council’s Marine City Safety Committee representing Gijang County 1, expressed his frustration at failing to block the urban planning ordinance amendment and declared his intention to prevent the passage of the amendment through a re-vote at the Busan Metropolitan Council plenary session on the 22nd, even if it means shaving his head.