The Haeundae District Council has revealed divisions over the utilization of the current city hall ahead of its relocation.
While there is general agreement on the need to expedite the use of the current city hall, council members are divided on when and how to proceed, resulting in a lack of a unified voice.
Within the ruling People Power Party, three differing opinions emerged: "Let's wait for the results of the study," "Utilize it simultaneously with the relocation," and "We should prepare for construction at the same time as the relocation." Critics argue that the council should send a clear message to the administration through bipartisan cooperation and coordination on this critical local issue, rather than exposing internal disagreements.
The resolution titled "Urgent Confirmation of Current City Hall Utilization Plan and Establishment of Execution Plan" was passed on the 18th during a council meeting, with 13 votes in favor and 4 against out of 20 members present. Three members did not vote either way. Just before the vote, Councilman Park Gi-hoon requested a recess for further discussions, but Chairperson Shim Yoon-jung proceeded with the vote, stating that sufficient deliberation had taken place.
Representative Lee Tae-hee of the Democratic Party, who proposed the resolution, pointed out that discussions on the current city hall's utilization have been excessively prolonged. Since 2020, studies, public competitions, resident briefings, and roundtable discussions have occurred, yet a mid- to long-term utilization direction has not been established. He emphasized the need for concrete measures to address changes in the local economy and living conditions due to the relocation of approximately 1,400 personnel.
The resolution calls for a phased execution plan aligned with the relocation schedule, including strategies for collaboration with national agencies, securing total project costs and funding from national and city budgets, the scale of local financial burdens, and the operating entity and costs. Lee stated, "It is time to move from review and discussion to decision and execution."
However, responses from People Power Party members did not converge. Councilman Seo Chang-woo clearly expressed his opposition during discussions, arguing that since the administration is currently conducting studies on short- and long-term utilization plans and coordinating a final proposal, it is appropriate to first review the study results.
He explained that even a non-binding resolution could reflect distrust toward the administration, and that the progress could be adequately monitored through committee reports and administrative audits.
In contrast, Councilwoman Kim Min-jung insisted that the utilization of the current city hall should not be delayed any further. During a five-minute free speech session, she urged that administrative efforts should focus on enabling short-term utilization of the current city hall simultaneously with the relocation.
Kim stated, "The process of consulting with residents has been thoroughly conducted over the past five years," emphasizing the need to move beyond prolonged discussions to the execution phase. She pointed out that if the current city hall, built in 1981, remains vacant for an extended period, it could lead to a loss of around 1,000 daily visitors, directly impacting local businesses and residents' lives.
However, in a conversation with this publication, Kim clarified that she did not oppose the resolution. She had informed Lee Tae-hee in advance that she was preparing a speech on the current city hall's utilization and sought his understanding. She noted that her speech content largely overlapped with the resolution, prompting her to visit the chairperson's office shortly before the meeting.
Kim explained that she found it difficult to agree with the resolution's demands for securing national and city funding, given that the administration is already progressing with related procedures. She also emphasized that her position differs from Seo's.
The stance of the People Power Party's Haeundae Gap district committee was also different. The committee advocates for expediting administrative procedures to begin construction on the current city hall's utilization simultaneously with the relocation. They argue that if around 1,000 daily visitors leave due to the relocation, local businesses will be immediately affected, necessitating preparations for construction by 2028.
The committee also raised questions about the effectiveness of the council's resolution, suggesting that since the district is already progressing with studies and related procedures, there may be no need for a separate resolution to reiterate the call.
The issue lies in the fact that while there is consensus on the need to expedite the current city hall's utilization, the council, district committee, and individual members are proposing different solutions.
The resolution's proposal and the five-minute free speech session were conducted as separate procedures, and the differences in positions among members of the same party were evident during the vote. It was confirmed that supporting the resolution and advocating for a swift decision on the current city hall's utilization are distinct matters.
While individual council members making independent judgments on local issues is an important aspect of legislative activity, it is crucial for the council to establish a minimum level of consensus through sufficient communication and coordination, especially for long-term issues like the Haeundae City Hall that involve local economies, residents' lives, and significant financial burdens.
If the council's role is to oversee the administration, it is also their responsibility to present a clear message to residents about the direction of local issues, transcending party lines and factions. The council's performance in this matter has been criticized for having "individual voices" but lacking a clear "council voice."
The issue of utilizing the current city hall is not merely about determining the use of a single building. It encompasses surrounding businesses, residents' living conditions, district finances, operational cost burdens, and future urban space reconfiguration. Currently, the focus is on options such as a multi-purpose cultural platform and a multi-purpose parking facility, but key aspects such as project costs, operating entities, and funding strategies have yet to be finalized.
According to the current schedule, the basic conceptual study is expected to be completed by December, with the basic plan to be established by February and the short-term utilization facility's operating department to be confirmed by June. The actual operation of the facility is projected for June 2028, following the relocation.
Funding remains a challenge. During the council meeting on the 18th, various opinions were expressed regarding the utilization of the current city hall, but no estimates for total project costs or funding accumulation were mentioned. Chairperson Shim Yoon-jung previously pointed out that the funding plan has been stagnant for five years.
Ultimately, the key issue is how to translate the study results into an execution plan by December. The decision on whether to wait for the study, utilize the facility simultaneously with the relocation, or prepare for construction alongside the relocation can no longer be postponed.
Above all, the internal disagreements within the council regarding local issues should not be viewed merely as a question of "who is right." While expressing differing opinions is a normal function of the council, the process of reconciling those opinions and creating a joint solution for residents is also the council's responsibility.
If the ruling People Power Party fails to consolidate its stance on speed and order before the December study results are released, there is a significant risk that the council's demands will once again become fragmented. Achieving a unified coordination within the council to translate over five years of discussions into a tangible project remains an urgent task.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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