Gwacheon City Opposed to Government Housing Policy...Demanding Full Withdrawal of Racetrack Park and Anti-Espionage Service Building Sites

On the 3rd at 5 p.m., Gwacheon City held an 'Opposition Press Conference to the Government's Unilateral Housing Supply Policy' at the Siwae Tower Plaza of Gwacheon Civic Center and called for the full withdrawal of the government's plan to supply housing on the racetrack park and anti-espionage service building sites.

Present at the scene were 33 people including Gwacheon City Mayor Shin Kae-yong, Gwacheon City Council Chairman Hwang Sun-hee, Private Joint Committee Co-Chairman Kim Hang-sik, and resident representatives, along with approximately 300 citizens who raised their voices.

The press conference began with a statement from Mayor Shin Kae-yong and was followed by a performance of signatures and thumbprints from citizens expressing their will. Resident representatives held placards containing messages with single characters and chanted slogans together, publicly expressing the unified will of Gwacheon citizens and their demand for withdrawal of the housing supply policy.

Following this, Gwacheon City Council Chairman Hwang Sun-hee and Private Joint Committee Co-Chairman Kim Hang-sik came forward as citizen representatives to deliver free remarks expressing citizens' voices regarding the government's unilateral housing supply policy. Finally, a performance of the song 'Beautiful Gwacheon' containing messages of solidarity and hope from Gwacheon citizens concluded the press conference.

On this day, Gwacheon City pointed out that the urban and financial burdens that must be borne due to the government's unilateral housing supply policy have already reached their limit, and demanded an immediate halt to additional housing supply plans made without sufficient consultation with citizens.

Mayor Shin Kae-yong of Gwacheon stated, "If the government ignores our requests and enforces the policy, we will actively respond by mobilizing all means permitted by law and institutions to protect Gwacheon's urban competitiveness, citizens' lives, and the environment of future generations."

Following the Capital Area Housing Supply Expansion Plan announced on August 4, 2020, Gwacheon experienced significant conflict among citizens over the housing supply on unused land at the Gwacheon Government Complex. Subsequently, the supply volume for the Gwacheon District expanded from an initial 7,000 units to over 10,000 units, and approximately 1,000 units were added to the Galhyeon District, explaining that they have already accommodated a considerable scale of housing supply.

Additionally, supplying approximately 9,800 units on the racetrack park and anti-espionage service building sites was characterized as excessive development exceeding the city's absorption capacity, stating that prior to pursuing unrealistic new supply, the four public housing projects currently underway should prioritize completing promised transportation and living infrastructure facilities.

Gwacheon City demanded the government address five items: △full withdrawal of the housing supply plan for the racetrack park and anti-espionage service building sites △cessation of unilateral housing supply policies that do not consider Gwacheon's urban absorption capacity and financial conditions △implementation of measures to strengthen self-sufficiency functions and support urban development △halt to indiscriminate greenbelt development △and genuine consultation with Gwacheon City and its citizens.