Community Backlash Grows... District Mayor Stages Solo Protest
Gwangsan District Council Demands Submission of Fire Recovery Roadmap
It has been one month since the fire broke out at Kumho Tire's Gwangju factory. The factory remains shut down, the local economy is reeling, yet the major shareholder has remained silent.
Local economic experts estimate that the fire will result in losses of approximately 450 billion KRW and the reduction of more than 2,000 jobs. The suspension of factory operations is causing a chain reaction, severely impacting nearby partner companies and the distribution industry.
Black smoke is rising from Kumho Tire's Gwangju factory due to a fire that occurred on the morning of the 17th of last month. Photo by Song Bohyun
However, Doublestar, the Chinese major shareholder that holds the key to restoring normal operations, has yet to make a clear statement. With no announcement on whether the factory will be rebuilt or relocated to another region, anxiety among workers and citizens is mounting. Some in the local community have even raised renewed concerns about a potential "eat-and-run" scenario.
Meanwhile, Gwangsan District in Gwangju has organized a joint response meeting involving labor, management, residents, and government officials to address the situation, and District Mayor Park Byungkyu is personally staging a one-person protest. Local politicians and civil society groups are also calling daily for Doublestar to take responsible action.
On the 19th, members of the Gwangsan District Council issued a statement, saying, "Kumho Tire's announcement that it will submit a roadmap by early July is not enough," and demanded, "Immediately disclose a concrete recovery plan that includes the construction of a new factory and compensation measures for residents." They added, "On behalf of the 410,000 residents of Gwangsan District, we strongly urge prompt recovery from the damage and responsible action."
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