Criticism of Exciting Zone, SRF, and Subway Line 2
"System Improvements Needed to Meet Citizens' Expectations... Trust Must Be Restored"
Lee Gwisun, member of Gwangju City Council, is asking Mayor Kang Gijeong questions about city administration during the 334th extraordinary session plenary meeting on the 16th. Provided by Gwangju City Council
On July 16, Lee Gwisun, a member of the Gwangju City Council (Democratic Party of Korea, Gwangsan District 4), pressed the city government for its poor administration during a city administration inquiry at the 334th extraordinary session, calling for comprehensive improvements.
During the session, Lee scrutinized major issues in detail, including the unfairness of public architectural design competitions, the controversy over the Cheongjeong Bitgoeul SRF arbitration, and setbacks in the construction of Subway Line 2.
In particular, regarding the Yeongsangang Exciting Zone international design competition, Lee stated, "This is a case where fairness and transparency have been completely undermined," pointing out that "the winning entry was ultimately selected despite clearly violating design guidelines, such as exceeding the total floor area standard and placing an illegal parking lot within the river district."
In response, Mayor Kang Gijeong said, "We will thoroughly review the appropriateness and fairness of the administrative procedures, and if improvements to the design competition system are necessary, we will take appropriate measures."
On the SRF arbitration issue, Lee sharply criticized the city for signing the agreement without legal review, which exponentially increased the burden on citizens. She highlighted the situation in which POSCO's requested amount surged from 7.8 billion won to 210 billion won, and called for a full-scale audit regarding suspicions of preferential treatment.
Regarding the construction of Subway Line 2, Lee detailed structural problems such as poor waterproofing, design deficiencies, disputes over the signaling system, and frequent route changes in Section 13 of the Suwan District.
Lee criticized, "The design did not reflect reality, and the administration did not even provide explanations to citizens," adding, "Not only the budget and schedule, but even citizen safety is now under threat."
In response, Mayor Kang stated, "Since Subway Line 2 is a key project for improving citizen transportation convenience, we will re-examine the entire design and construction process and immediately address any problems."
Meanwhile, in her closing remarks, Lee emphasized, "This inquiry is not about a single project, but a matter of trust in the overall administration of Gwangju City," and urged, "The city should not merely emphasize legal legitimacy, but must restore public trust through responsible and sincere explanations and institutional improvements."
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