"Wave Park Project and Vacant Commercial Spaces Near Geobukseom
Must Be Clearly Distinguished," Lawmakers Assert
As criticism from the People Power Party and the Reform New Party continues over 'Wave Park,' an artificial surfing facility in the Geobukseom area of Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, which was established during Lee Jaemyung's tenure as Gyeonggi Governor, local Democratic Party lawmakers in Siheung have stepped forward to refute these attacks.
The presidential candidates' camps are intensifying their disputes surrounding 'Geobukseom,' the marine leisure complex in Siheung City. A panoramic view of 'Wave Park,' a representative leisure facility in the Geobukseom area. Siheung City Hall website
On May 27, thirteen Democratic Party-affiliated local and metropolitan council members from Siheung held a press conference in the briefing room of Siheung City Hall, stating, "'Attracting Wave Park' and 'vacant commercial spaces near Geobukseom' must be clearly distinguished." They demanded, "The People Power Party and Lee Junseok, the Reform New Party's presidential candidate, should immediately stop their negative campaigning related to Wave Park and Geobukseom and apologize to the citizens of Siheung."
They explained, "What candidate Lee Jaemyung referred to during his campaign in Siheung was specifically about Wave Park, which is one of the facilities in Geobukseom." They added, "As Lee stated, Gyeonggi Province swiftly completed the process from permits to construction for the Wave Park project within two years to promote marine tourism."
They continued, "The current issue of vacant commercial spaces near Geobukseom is the result of several structural difficulties: the global crisis of COVID-19 that occurred after Wave Park's opening, and, over the past three years under the Yoon Sukyeol administration, an unprecedented economic downturn." They argued, "The People Power Party and candidate Lee Junseok are deliberately distorting the achievement of attracting Wave Park by linking it to the current vacancy issue near Geobukseom for the purpose of negative electioneering."
They also requested that candidate Lee Jaemyung support the revitalization of the Geobukseom area by: ▲expediting the construction and opening of the Ansan?Siheung section of the Second Metropolitan Ring Expressway; ▲actively supporting the marine leisure tourism city project; and ▲easing regulations to revitalize Wave Park, which serves as an anchor facility for the commercial district around Geobukseom.
Previously, on May 24, candidate Lee Jaemyung stated during a campaign event that, as Gyeonggi Governor, he had encouraged the mayor of Siheung and businesses by saying, "'If you come to Geobukseom, we will take the initiative and get things done for you,' and managed to complete permits, construction, and completion within two years." He added, "Lee Jaemyung's Gyeonggi Province was able to attract such a large company so quickly."
In response, the People Power Party commented, "(Candidate Lee Jaemyung) is not reflecting on a failed outcome but is instead trying to present it as an achievement." Candidate Lee Junseok also criticized Lee Jaemyung on his Facebook page, saying, "Candidate Lee Jaemyung went to Siheung and made remarks that show he is out of touch with reality."
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