"Change Needed" Gwangju Singa-dong Redevelopment Association President and Executives Dismissed

[Report] At the Executive Dismissal General Meeting on the 22nd
Around 400 Members Say, "The Project Must Be Normalized Again"
Motion to Dismiss President and Executives Passes by Overwhelming Majority

"Isn't it time for a change now?"

On the afternoon of the 22nd, the third floor of the Kimdaejung Convention Center in Gwangju. The once quiet lobby was filled with members of the Singa-dong housing redevelopment association. Around 400 members gathered that day, their faces tense. One member told us, "Today is the last chance. If the current president has been in office for 10 years, it's time for a change," raising his voice.

Another member, nodding in agreement nearby, added, "The current president and executive team have let the project drift for nearly two years after the demolition was completed in 2023, due to conflicts with the construction company over a reasonable sale price. The selection of an alternative construction company also failed twice. In the end, the members had no choice but to step up."

On the 22nd at 2 p.m., the Gwangsan District Singa Redevelopment Normalization Promotion Committee is holding an executive dismissal general meeting at the Kim Daejung Convention Center. Photo by Song Bohyun

At 2 p.m. on the 22nd, the Gwangsan District Singa Redevelopment Normalization Promotion Committee held an executive dismissal general meeting at the Kim Daejung Convention Center. About 400 union members attended the meeting. Photo by Song Bohyun

The general meeting to dismiss the executive team, organized by the Singa Redevelopment Normalization Promotion Committee, began at 2 p.m. that day and reached a quorum within 36 minutes. When the moderator declared, "We will present the dismissal of the president, directors, and auditors," sighs could be heard throughout the hall.

A total of 849 members participated in the vote, including those who submitted written resolutions and those who voted on-site. Members took turns heading to the voting booth one by one. Some clutched their ballots tightly and let out deep sighs.

The result was overwhelming. The motion to dismiss the president passed with 836 votes in favor, 3 against, and 10 abstentions. The motions to dismiss the directors and auditors also passed with a majority in favor. At the moment of the announcement, there were exclamations from all around. Some people clapped, while others quietly wiped away tears.

At 2 p.m. on the 22nd, the Gwangsan District Singa Redevelopment Normalization Promotion Committee held an executive dismissal general meeting at the Kim Daejung Convention Center. On this day, a union member is examining a ballot paper. Photo by Song Bohyun

With the dismissal decision, according to the association's bylaws, the senior-most director among the board will serve as acting president. However, replacing the president and executives does not immediately solve all the problems. There is still a long way to go before the project can be normalized.

The Singa-dong redevelopment project, designated as a maintenance zone in 2011, is a large-scale project with a total budget of 1.8 trillion won. It aims to build an apartment complex with 4,718 units (including 403 rental units) in buildings ranging from three basement levels to 29 above ground. Although the project received approval for its management and disposal plan in 2020, it has not made any progress since then.

Now, the association has started to move again. The fate of the project will depend on the direction set by the new executive team. As members left the hall after the general meeting, their expressions varied. Some looked relieved, while others still wore heavy expressions.

Perspective view of the redevelopment project in Singa-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju. Provided by Gwangju City