Changwon City, Gyeongnam Province, which suffered a setback in the first trial regarding the maintenance of the status as the developer of the Jinhae District 1 in Ungdong, has decided to appeal.
On the 22nd, the city stated in a press release, "We are appealing to prioritize the citizens' interests in Ungdong District 1," adding, "It is necessary to have a higher court review the Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone Authority's discretionary power abuse and deviation in canceling the developer status."
The city explained, "We were designated as the developer after receiving 36% of the total area of Ungdong District 1 as a condition for resolving citizen complaints related to dredged soil dumping," and "Since then, we have devoted active administrative efforts to resolve complaints from extinct fisheries, successfully addressing them in 2021, and have done our best to complete the project."
"Nevertheless, it is very regrettable that the first trial court judged it as a civil law association and ruled that the cancellation of the developer designation was justified jointly without distinguishing the faults of our city and the corporation," the city explained.
Furthermore, the city emphasized, "If we give up the appeal, a confirmed financial burden due to the termination of the business agreement will arise, and this damage will directly fall on the citizens of Changwon," adding, "Failing to take any action despite the expected damage is an act that neglects the city's responsibilities."
The city anticipated, "After the successful completion of the Ungdong District 1 development project, by 2040, a new public-led development plan can be established in line with future changes such as the opening of Gadeokdo New Airport and Jinhae New Port, which will significantly contribute to enhancing public welfare."
In addition, the city welcomed the recent proposal by the Gyeongnam Provincial Council to mediate the resumption of the five-party consultative body related to the project, stating, "Regardless of the appeal decision, we plan to actively cooperate with the Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone Authority and Gyeongnam Province in promoting the project."
Development site of Ungdong 1 District, Jinhae-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam. Provided by Changwon Special City
The Jinhae Ungdong District 1 development project is a project to create accommodation, leisure, and recreational facilities over an area of 2.25 million square meters in the Sudodong area of Jinhae District, Changwon City. Construction began in November 2013, but progress stopped after only a golf course was developed in December 2017.
After Governor Park Wan-su took office, a five-party consultative body consisting of the Free Economic Zone Authority, which has the authority to approve the implementation plan, Changwon City and Gyeongnam Development Corporation as implementers, private business operator Jinhae Ocean Resort, and Gyeongnam Province was formed. Despite several months of repeated meetings, they ultimately failed to narrow their differences.
Earlier, the Free Economic Zone Authority found that Changwon City and Gyeongnam Development Corporation, as joint project implementers, were responsible for the long delay in the project and on March 30 last year, canceled their developer designation and revoked permission to use land and other properties before the completion inspection.
Changwon City filed a lawsuit in May of the same year, claiming the Authority's disposition was unfair, but lost in the first trial held on the 7th at the Busan District Court's 1st Administrative Division.
After losing the first trial, Changwon City, which was reviewing whether to appeal, decided to submit an appeal to the Busan District Court on the last day of the appeal deadline.
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