Mayor Shin Kye-yong stated on August 13 that the government's push for 9,800 housing units is "trampling on Gwacheon's future," urging a comprehensive review of public housing developments around the racecourse and the National Intelligence Service headquarters.
This call comes in response to the government's decision to expedite the supply of 9,800 public housing units by lifting development restrictions in the Gwacheon racecourse area (Let's Run Park) and the National Intelligence Service.
On this day, Mayor Shin expressed his opposition to the government's "rapid supply measures for stabilizing the rental and sales markets," stating, "We cannot accept a housing supply approach that lacks sufficient regional transportation plans or self-sufficient land."
He emphasized that housing supply without adequate transportation and infrastructure measures is unacceptable.
The government's plan includes advancing the relocation of facilities on the site and the start of construction to December 2029, aiming to expedite the construction of approximately 9,800 housing units.
Mayor Shin believes that the capacity and self-sufficiency of the entire city should take precedence over the scale and speed of housing supply.
Currently, large-scale development projects are underway in Gwacheon, including the Knowledge Information Town, Juam District, Gwacheon District, and Galhyeon District.
As a result, traffic congestion on major roads such as Gwacheon-daero, the Gwacheon-Bongdam Urban Expressway, and Namtaeryeong Pass during rush hours has already reached serious levels.
Mayor Shin is concerned that without effective regional transportation improvements and road network expansions, the addition of nearly 10,000 new residential units could exceed the limits of not only traffic but also essential facilities like water supply, sewage, and schools.
In particular, the racecourse is considered a key facility from a financial perspective for Gwacheon.
The Korea Racing Authority contributes over 50 billion won in local taxes annually, accounting for about 10% of the city's total budget.
Mayor Shin has raised concerns that if the relocation of the racecourse and large-scale housing construction proceed without separate financial and self-sufficiency measures, it could weaken the local financial foundation.
There is growing concern among local citizens regarding the government's unilateral push for public housing districts.
Residents of Gwacheon point out that rushing large-scale housing supply amid existing traffic congestion and infrastructure burdens from ongoing development projects is a policy that ignores the realities of Gwacheon.
Regarding the relocation of the racecourse, there is a prevailing sentiment that the approach should not simply involve supplying housing on the new site.
Decisions should be made after a comprehensive review of the impact on local finances, job and industrial functions, transportation, and living infrastructure.
Above all, there are concerns that a uniform housing supply that does not consider Gwacheon's urban scale and geographical conditions could ultimately burden citizens with traffic chaos and insufficient infrastructure.
In the community, there is a growing demand for a thorough review of the designation and development plans for public housing districts around the racecourse and intelligence agency, emphasizing the need for sufficient consultation and participation from Gwacheon city and its residents.
Mayor Shin Kye-yong stated, "While the government is pushing forward with exceptions to the total regulation on lifting development restrictions and advancing construction schedules, we cannot accept unilateral housing supply that does not consider Gwacheon's future and the lives of its citizens."
He added, "The consequences will fall squarely on Gwacheon city and its residents, and we will maintain a clear opposition to the government's unilateral housing construction and relocation initiatives."
Meanwhile, Mayor Shin is urging the central government to halt unilateral project implementation and conduct a comprehensive review of the plans, while collaborating with the local community and relevant agencies to uphold a future city strategy for Gwacheon that encompasses transportation, infrastructure, finance, and self-sufficiency.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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