Kwon Hyangyeop: "Protecting Land Ownership Rights through Efficient Hot Spring Development"

Representative Proposal of the "Amendment to the Hot Spring Development Promotion Act"

Kwon Hyangyeop, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea representing Suncheon, Gwangyang, Gokseong, and Gurye (South Jeolla Province), announced on the 23rd that she has proposed the "Amendment to the Hot Spring Development Promotion Act" as the chief sponsor. The amendment aims to ease regulations so that development plans for hot springs can be established quickly following the discovery of a hot spring.

Under the current law, the person who reports the discovery of a hot spring and owns the land where the hot spring well is located is granted the priority right to use the hot spring. If the priority right holder does not intend to develop the hot spring, or if no procedures for hot spring development are initiated within three years after the report of discovery is accepted, the mayor or county governor may cancel the acceptance of the discovery report.

Kwon Hyangyeop, Member of the National Assembly.

However, because there is no clear regulation on the validity period of the priority right to use the hot spring, if the mayor or county governor does not cancel the acceptance of the discovery report for a right holder who has no intention to develop, the hot spring may be left neglected for an extended period.

In fact, the Ildong-myeon area of Pocheon City, which was designated as a hot spring source protection district in the 1990s, was left neglected for 30 years because the priority right holder did not begin development. It was only in August of last year that the acceptance of the discovery report was finally canceled and the protection district designation was lifted. In addition, there has been no progress in development after the acceptance of discovery reports for Daedunsan Hot Spring in Wanju County and Maisan Hoebong Hot Spring in Jinan County.

The amendment sets the duration of the priority right to use the hot spring at 10 years from the date the discovery report is accepted, and allows for extensions in five-year increments, taking into account the right holder's intention to develop. It also stipulates that when the priority right is to be revoked, a hearing must be held to ensure procedural fairness.

Kwon emphasized, "Due to legislative shortcomings, hot springs, which are valuable natural tourism resources, have become burdens and are hindering regional development, while also infringing on residents' land ownership rights. For rapid and efficient hot spring development, the amendment must be passed, and active administration by the relevant local governments must also be pursued in parallel."