Gijang-gun, Busan, announced on the 19th that it firmly opposes the relocation of Poongsan, a defense contractor, without resident consent, and called on the Busan city government to promptly and transparently disclose the relocation site for Poongsan.
This statement comes as anxiety and conflict among Gijang residents have intensified due to recent reports suggesting that Jang-an-eup in Gijang-gun is a leading candidate for Poongsan's relocation site and that Poongsan's top management has internally finalized the relocation area.
The county has repeatedly contacted Busan city officials to verify the facts, but has only received the response that "relocation site matters are confidential."
In response, County Governor Jeong Jongbok strongly criticized Busan's unilateral administrative approach, stating that excluding not only local residents but also the relevant local government from important regional matters such as Poongsan's relocation goes against the era of local autonomy and seriously undermines the foundation of basic local governments.
He also emphasized that the site should be transparently disclosed and the impacts of the relocation thoroughly analyzed to ensure the protection of residents' property rights and minimize environmental damage, adding that if Busan city and Poongsan proceed with a unilateral decision without following these procedures, they will face significant challenges in securing resident acceptance in the future.
In 2021, Poongsan also attempted to relocate to Ilgwang-eup, Gijang-gun, but the plan was scrapped due to strong opposition from local residents.
Governor Jeong Jongbok said, "It is very regrettable that we are learning about such a critical matter through the media, especially when there has been no official position from Busan city regarding Poongsan's relocation since September 2021. The partial amendment to Busan's urban planning ordinance, which was passed last November, also lacked sufficient consultation with local residents in advance. Busan city should take this as a lesson, and if the relocation site has indeed been decided internally, promptly disclosing it will be beneficial for Gijang-gun, Busan city, and Poongsan alike."
He further stressed, "Since Gijang-gun and local residents are the direct stakeholders in Poongsan's relocation, Busan city must transparently disclose all progress to date and promptly implement a consultative process to gain residents' understanding and consent."
Gijang County Office.
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