Pushed Forward Without Resident Consultation... Legitimacy in Question
"Eight Schools and Seventeen Apartment Complexes Clustered Within a One-Kilometer Radius"
The Gwangju Branch of the Progressive Party has called on the Ministry of Justice to withdraw its plan to build a detention center in Ilgok-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju. The party cited the lack of resident consultation and concerns over the impact on residential and educational environments as reasons for its opposition.
The Progressive Party held a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul the previous day, stating, "The planned site for the Gwangju Detention Center is only 180 meters away from an apartment complex, and within a 1-kilometer radius, there are 17 apartment complexes and 8 elementary, middle, and high schools clustered together." The party argued that "the residential and educational environments will be severely degraded."
On the 10th, the Progressive Party Gwangju Branch held a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, urging the withdrawal of the plan to build a detention center in Ilgok-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju.
The party continued, "Since the Ministry of Justice announced the plan to establish the detention center in Ilgok-dong, Buk-gu in 2022, it has been pushing the project forward unilaterally, despite strong opposition and concerns from residents." The party further stated, "Nearly 10,000 residents have made their opposition clear through a petition against the construction." It added, "There is no reason why students and residents should have to live in fear."
The Progressive Party emphasized, "There was no prior consultation or process to gather opinions during the site selection process." The party insisted, "The construction of the detention center, which has proceeded without resident consent, must be immediately canceled. In the future, transparent procedures must ensure that residents' opinions are fully reflected."
The Gwangju Detention Center construction project was announced by the Ministry of Justice in 2022 and is being pursued in the area of 1-3 Ilgok-dong, Buk-gu, with a total floor area of approximately 36,000 square meters. The total project cost is about 119.3 billion won, with a planned capacity of 900 inmates, and completion is targeted for 2028.
Site location for the planned Gwangju Detention Center. Provided by the office of Representative Son Hyejin.
The Ministry of Justice has explained the need for relocation and new construction by citing the fact that the existing Gwangju Detention Center (located in Munheung-dong, Buk-gu) is in the city center and suffers from severe aging of its facilities. However, residents continue to oppose the new construction because the proposed site is only 180 meters from densely populated apartment complexes and within a 1-kilometer radius there are 8 schools and 17 apartment complexes.
Residents have organized a protest movement, with about 10,000 people signing a petition, raising concerns about 'infringement on the residential environment' and 'exclusion of resident opinions.' Some have sent protest letters to the city hall and the Ministry of Justice, while others have formed the 'Gwangju Detention Center Opposition Countermeasures Committee' to coordinate their response.
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