Jeonnam Assemblyman Hyungseok Lim Urges Transfer of Seoul National University Breeding Center to Gwangyang City

Left Unused for 80 Years... Hindering Local Public Use
"Requesting Transfer and Legal Revisions to Government and National Assembly"

Hyungseok Lim, a member of the Jeonnam Provincial Assembly (Democratic Party of Korea, Gwangyang 1), on October 15 sponsored a resolution urging the transfer of the Seoul National University Breeding Center, located in Chilseong-ri, Gwangyang City, to the local government.

According to Assemblyman Lim, the land at 419-2, Chilseong-ri, Gwangyang-eup, Gwangyang City (with an area of 5,002 square meters) has been under the ownership of the state since September 1948 and has been used by Seoul National University as a "breeding center" for nearly 80 years.

Hyungseok Lim, former Jeonnam Provincial Assembly member

Since the enforcement of the "Act on the Establishment and Operation of National University Corporations, Seoul National University" in 2011, Seoul National University has been managing the land on consignment from the government. It is currently known that negotiations for the transfer between the government and Seoul National University are underway.

Assemblyman Lim pointed out, "Aerial photographs show that in 1979 the site was farmland, in 1985 some trees had been planted, and even this year, only a few trees have grown sporadically, so the land has essentially been left unattended." He further stated, "For nearly 80 years, it has remained unused with little change, tied up as state-owned property in the middle of the city."

He continued, "Although the land is classified under the National Land Planning Act as a general commercial and second-class general residential area within an urban district, its status as state-owned property restricts Gwangyang City's ability to use it for resident welfare projects and public purposes."

Assemblyman Lim referenced a 2019 case in which the Ministry of Economy and Finance rejected Seoul National University's request to transfer the Baegunsan Academic Forest, stating it was "not essential for Seoul National University’s operations." He argued, "Likewise, the breeding center cannot be considered essential land for the operation of Seoul National University, given its current state and management purpose."

He emphasized, "The government should be cautious about transferring the breeding center to Seoul National University, a special corporation, without the consent of the local community," and added, "The land should be reclassified as general property so that Gwangyang City can utilize it for public purposes."

This resolution includes provisions such as: ▲ transferring the state-owned land to the local government after its designation is lifted, and ▲ revising relevant laws so that local government opinions are reflected when disposing of state-owned property managed by Seoul National University.

Assemblyman Lim stated, "It is unacceptable to exclude the opinions of local governments when managing or disposing of state-owned property in the urban core," and stressed, "The government must adhere to the basic principles of managing and disposing of state-owned property."

Meanwhile, the resolution also includes a call to foster Jinhae New Port as a key base for the Arctic route and to encourage the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and public institutions to concentrate new port-related functions in this area.