Lawmakers back city's expression of regret over Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announcement
Urge government to guarantee transport-first principle, fiscal burden sharing, jobs and residents' rights before move-in
Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers on the Gimpo City Council said Friday that the city's four demands must be met before the Gimpo Ara public housing district project moves forward, following the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's announcement of the site as a candidate zone.
In a joint statement released Friday, the Democratic Party lawmakers said they "deeply sympathize" with the city's expression of regret over the ministry's decision to proceed with the Gimpo Ara district announcement despite the city's concerns and opposition, and called on the government to "immediately issue a clear position" on the four demands Gimpo has put forward.
The lawmakers identified four core preconditions that must be resolved to protect residents' rights: a substantive guarantee of the "transport first, move-in later" principle; government sharing of the local fiscal burden arising from national housing policy; securing jobs and lifestyle infrastructure in parallel with housing supply; and protecting the legitimate rights of existing residents and ensuring community continuity.
The lawmakers said they are hearing a wide range of voices from residents — from concerns about worsening traffic and living conditions following the ministry's announcement, to hopes for development in areas long constrained by greenbelt designations and military and aviation regulations. "If the project goes ahead, we will make sure the conditions are met and turn this into an opportunity for Gimpo as a whole," they said.
The lawmakers also called on the People Power Party to join in cross-party cooperation, urging the party to "stop distorting the mayor's opposition and expression of regret and instead work together to address residents' concerns and secure Gimpo's demands."
The lawmakers said they would "work alongside the city to press the government for strong measures to protect the lives of Gimpo residents and build a better Gimpo, and closely monitor the implementation process going forward."
gilbert@heraldcorp.com
