hankyoreh

Gyeongi Province

By Hong Yong-duk, Senior Staff Writer　

Once called the “geese that laid the golden eggs,” controversial New Town redevelopment projects have fallen on hard times. On eight out of ten sites in Seoul, construction has yet to even begin, while vehement resident objections have come in Gyeonggi Province in the wake of a series of renunciation announcements from local governments there.

According to a report published Monday on the status of New Towns in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province as of January, the city of Seoul has designated a total of 35 districts and 237 project zones since 2002, when it launched its New Town effort, but it has begun or completed constructions on just 32 zones. A full 86.5 percent of Seoul’s New Town project zones have yet to even see the start of construction. Of the 35 New Town districts, only ten have seen even one of their project zones begin construction.

Gyeonggi Province, which has designated 23 districts since 2007, has been reeling in the face of developments such as the cancellation of district designations beginning last year, the fourth of the project. In September 2010, the designation lapsed for the Manan district in Ansan due to divisions among residents for and against the project, without any announcement having yet been made for the decision. This came in the wake of a similar situation with Geumjeong in Gunpo. Pyeongtaek is pursuing the cancellation of the Anjeong district, which is opposed by 80 percent of residents, while Osan is pushing to cancel all but three of its 19 zones through a referendum.

Currently, New Town projects are under way at 77 sites nationwide covering an area of 79.29 million square meters, some 94 times greater than the area of Seoul’s Yeouido. But in Seoul, delays are occurring even with the zones that have begun construction due to resident frictions, association improprieties, and conflicts between associations and construction companies. Growing residents objections and conflict are feared this year with approval expected for administration and disposal plans prior to relocation and demolition for 96 project zones in Seoul.

A number of New Town efforts were pursued simultaneously in Gyeonggi Province with the 2006 inauguration of provincial Governor Kim Moon-soo, who made the projects part of his election pledge. But with relatively few profits to be gained compared to Seoul, objections have become increasingly vehement from residents concerned about the loss of their survival rights. Resident committees opposing New Towns have been rapidly proliferating through the different districts in Gyeonggi Province, with previous committees in Anyang and Gunpo followed by new ones in Bucheon, Uijeongbu, and Guri. Opposition has become increasingly intense in Bucheon and Uijeongbu, where residents have undertaken long-term city hall occupations.

“The Seoul regions are facing problems of rising key money prices and rental fees due to a large-scale loss of housing if there is an onrush of the New Town Project sites awaiting approval for their administration and disposal plans,” said Hope and Future Regional Policy Bureau Director Lee Ju-won. “And in Gyeonggi Province, extreme objections may erupt from residents for whom resettling is difficult.”

Last year, around 48 thousand household units of housing were demolished in Seoul for redevelopment and other purposes. With a supply amounting to just 22 thousand units, there is an estimated shortfall of around 26 thousand units.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]