Park Junghyun, Mayor of Buyeo, Calls for Expanded Compensation for Residents in Historic and Cultural Preservation Areas

Park Junghyun Buyeo County Governor

Park Junghyun, Governor of Buyeo County in South Chungcheong Province, proposed expanding compensation for residents living in historical and cultural preservation areas at a local government meeting held at the South Chungcheong Provincial Office on the 27th.

Governor Park stated, "Although the government established a legal basis to support residents living in historical and cultural preservation areas through the amendment and enforcement of the Cultural Heritage Act last November, the guidelines announced in the same month did not include any support plans that residents could actually feel," adding, "There are only indirect support provisions such as landscape or facility development and maintenance projects."

He continued, "Restrictions on activities within preservation areas result in losses due to public use limitations and infringements on private property rights. Therefore, practical solutions must be presented for residents who have no choice but to live alongside cultural heritage."

Historical and cultural preservation areas can be designated within a 500-meter radius from the outer boundary of designated cultural heritage sites, and public law restrictions are imposed by announcing necessary matters for the value and protection of cultural heritage, such as restrictions on buildings and facilities.

Governor Park also proposed revising the guidelines to establish a basis for prioritizing the employment of local residents in projects such as green landscape development, tree felling, and the construction and maintenance of viewing facilities within the area, so as to provide direct economic benefits to the residents.

He said, "We can no longer turn a blind eye to the suffering and relative inequality of residents who must live near cultural assets for the sake of their preservation," and added, "The government should present practical and proactive compensation for losses to reasonably address the disadvantages caused by social restrictions."