Chuncheon Mayor Yook Donghan Meets with First Vice Minister of Land to Present Local Issues

Request for Government Action on Sion Forest Morning View Tenant Damages
Proposals Submitted on Key Issues Including Retirement Village, Gangchon-ri Urban Regeneration, and Enterprise Innovation Park
Kim Itak, First Vice Minister of Land, "Understanding the Purpose of the Projects, Will Closely Review with Relevant Ministries"

Yook Donghan, Mayor of Chuncheon, met with Kim Itak, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, in Seoul on the 20th to present proposals regarding local issues in Chuncheon.

Yook Donghan, Mayor of Chuncheon, is meeting Kim Itak, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, in Seoul on the 20th to deliver a proposal on Chuncheon regional issues. Provided by Chuncheon City

On this day, Mayor Yook held a meeting with First Vice Minister Kim at the National Land Development Exhibition Hall and submitted a proposal requesting government-level support for the recovery of damages suffered by tenants related to the Sion Forest Morning View project in Chuncheon.

The Sion Forest Morning View private rental apartment project was halted in 2024 after the construction company went bankrupt, resulting in prospective residents losing their deposits, which amount to approximately 30 billion KRW. The project site has been put up for public auction twice, but both attempts failed. Mayor Yook emphasized that government intervention is necessary to normalize the project and minimize damages, so that the situation does not escalate into local conflict and further harm to citizens.

Previously, in November of last year, Mayor Yook visited the protest site of the prospective residents to offer his support and has continued to submit proposals to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety since last year.

In addition, Mayor Yook submitted proposals on other key issues in Chuncheon, including the retirement village development project, the urban regeneration project in Gangchon-ri, Namsan-myeon, and the leading enterprise innovation park project.

According to the "Special Act on the Establishment and Operation of Retirement Villages," which is currently pending in the National Assembly plenary session, Chuncheon’s retirement village project aims to go beyond traditional senior towns by integrating healthcare, welfare, housing, and leisure into a community-based residential space. Having entered a super-aged society, with over 20% of its population aged 65 or older, Chuncheon plans to leverage its university hospital-based medical infrastructure, accessibility to the Seoul metropolitan area, and its natural environment of mountains and lakes to create a community-centered senior residence near the city. Chuncheon intends to develop this not merely as a housing complex, but as a sustainable village operation model that can serve as a national benchmark.

The urban regeneration project in Gangchon-ri, Namsan-myeon, is designed to revitalize the once-iconic Gangchon tourist destination by rebranding the city using local resources and stimulating the commercial district. Chuncheon aims to invigorate the area and enhance visitor retention by creating spaces that combine emotion, ecology, and culture, such as Imagination Garden, Ecological Playground, and Garden Street. The city will compete in this year’s urban regeneration project contest.

The Chuncheon Enterprise Innovation Park leading project is a large-scale national growth hub initiative that aims to create a self-sustaining innovation space combining advanced industry, residential, educational, medical, and cultural functions. Chuncheon plans to strengthen regional industrial competitiveness by focusing on data-based healthcare and AI-bio convergence industries, attracting private investment, and creating quality jobs for young people. For this purpose, the city has requested government support for the attraction of public institutions in the second relocation phase and the expansion of infrastructure.

At the meeting, Mayor Yook stated, "The Sion Forest Morning View project continues to cause damages to prospective residents who have not been able to recover their deposits since the construction company’s bankruptcy. With two failed public auctions, government-level intervention and review are necessary to minimize damages and normalize the project." He added, "The retirement village, Gangchon-ri urban regeneration, and enterprise innovation park projects are key initiatives that will reshape Chuncheon’s future industry and residential structure, and they align with the government’s policy direction. Therefore, I request your active interest and support."

In response, Kim Itak, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "I fully understand the purpose and necessity of these projects," adding, "We will closely review the details together with the relevant ministries."