Union Protests Gwangju Gwangsan-gu's Plan to Replace Offices with Lounges

Union: "The Plan Contradicts the Budget's Purpose... Withdraw the Lounge"

Gwangsan-gu in Gwangju is facing opposition from the public servants' union after relocating some departments externally to address the shortage of office space, only to plan the creation of a lounge in the vacated area. The union criticized the move, stating, "This goes against the original intent of the relocation, which was to secure more office space. It is a decision that undermines trust in the administration."

The Gwangsan-gu branch of the Gwangju Regional Headquarters of the Korean Government Employees' Union issued a statement on the 27th, saying, "This measure ignores the reality of employees who suffer from stress due to cramped office spaces," and added, "The space secured by relocating the Traffic Administration Division should be used for office space, not a lounge."

Gwangsan District Office in Gwangju.

Gwangsan-gu plans to temporarily relocate the Traffic Administration Division and the Traffic Guidance Division to the Songjeong KT Building and the PSY Building near the district office, respectively, starting from July 12. The district explained that this is a measure to reduce congestion related to civil complaints. The vacated office space will be turned into an integrated lounge to be used by both citizens and public servants.

However, the union believes this plan deviates from its initial purpose. The Gwangsan-gu branch stated, "We recommended the relocation of the Traffic Division to solve the shortage of office space, and although the related budget was initially rejected, it was approved after the union explained its necessity to the council," adding, "The explanation that only a lounge is possible now, and not office space, is unconvincing, and the lack of prior explanation is a deception of the union."

Gwangsan-gu maintains that it is difficult to create additional office space because the relocated departments are still included in the total office area. In response, the union stated, "If such restrictions had been known from the beginning, we would have opposed the relocation," and demanded, "Reallocate all departments according to area and staff numbers, and withdraw the plan to create a lounge even now." The union further criticized, "Spending 350 million won for a temporary relocation budget and about 200 million won in annual rental fees without securing a final site is a clear waste of budget."