[Reporter's Desk] Boryeong Faces Comprehensive Crisis Under 8th Administration... Company Lawsuits, Stalled Projects Signal Collapse of Administrative Trust

"Investment, Promises, and Trust Are All Faltering"

Boryeong City Hall Exterior View

The Boryeong municipal government under its 8th popularly elected administration is facing a comprehensive crisis across industry, tourism, and public administration. Outwardly, the city promotes itself as a “business-friendly city and a hub of marine tourism,” but in reality, the exodus of companies, delayed investments, lawsuits over unpaid subsidies, and stalled large-scale tourism projects have severely undermined public trust in the city’s governance.

Korea Wheel Co., Ltd., a company rooted in Boryeong, signed an investment agreement in May last year with Daejeon Metropolitan City to relocate its headquarters and factory. Under this agreement, worth a total of 117 billion won, Korea Wheel will build a new factory and relocate both its research center and headquarters to a site of approximately 99,000 square meters in the Pyeongchon Industrial Complex in Seo-gu, Daejeon.

This company, once a source of pride for Boryeong as a leading local manufacturer, has cited the lack of administrative support, delays in permits and approvals, and inconsistent policies from the city as the direct reasons for its departure.

Meanwhile, another company that relocated to Boryeong is now engaged in a legal dispute due to the city’s failure to pay promised subsidies.

Although the city promoted its investment attraction performance externally, in reality, the subsidies were not properly disbursed after the agreement, leaving a deep scar on the credibility of its administration.

Public investment agreements are the foundation of administrative “promises” and trust, but due to the city’s inadequate response, companies are now expressing distrust, saying, “We cannot trust Boryeong City’s word.”

The Wonsando Daemyung Sono Resort development project, which was once touted as the future of Boryeong tourism, also remains stalled. Sono International Co., Ltd., the project operator, plans to apply for approval to change the development plan from South Chungcheong Province within this year, but it is virtually impossible for construction to begin within the current administration’s term.

The Wonsando Resort, once a flagship project symbolizing “Boryeong, the hub of marine tourism,” has become a source of cynicism, with residents saying, “All that remains is false hope.” There is growing criticism among locals that “the province and the city are shifting responsibility to each other and wasting time.”

The situation in Boryeong under its 8th popularly elected administration is not a matter of isolated incidents. The departure of companies, lawsuits over subsidies, and stalled major projects are all common signals that administrative trust has been shaken. While the city’s administration once basked in the spotlight at various signing ceremonies, it has proven powerless in follow-up management and fulfilling its promises.

Even under the provincial brand “Powerful Chungnam,” Boryeong is falling behind on its own. What Boryeong needs now is not superficial promotion, but an administration that keeps its promises and leadership that can manage crises. No matter how grand a vision may be, an administration that has lost trust will not be followed by citizens or businesses.