Shin Gye-yong, the mayor of Gwacheon in Gyeonggi Province, held a one-person protest in front of the Prime Minister's residence around noon on October 14, reiterating his opposition to the relocation of government agencies and unilateral housing supply policies without the consent of Gwacheon citizens.
During the protest, Mayor Shin held a sign reading, 'Do not proceed with the relocation of the Gwacheon Government Complex and the horse racing park, or unilateral housing supply without citizen consent,' urging that the opinions of Gwacheon city and its residents must be reflected in government policy decisions that significantly impact the future of the city.
This protest responds to concerns about the weakening of the administrative city functions and urban hollowing due to the relocation of government agencies and large-scale housing supply plans. Mayor Shin has continuously demanded the cessation of policy implementation without citizen consent and the establishment of practical discussions and measures.
Earlier, on September 3, Mayor Shin held a press conference with citizens, demanding the complete withdrawal of plans to supply 9,800 housing units on the horse racing park and the site of the Defense Security Command. He also held a press conference opposing the relocation of the Ministry of Justice, arguing that the successive relocations of major government agencies could weaken the administrative city functions and lead to urban hollowing, calling for a review of the relocation plans and the establishment of an official dialogue between the government and Gwacheon.
On October 8, marking 100 days since the start of his term, Mayor Shin initiated his first one-person protest and has continued to express his opposition to the government.
The key issue raised by Mayor Shin goes beyond mere opposition to housing supply; he emphasizes the need to thoroughly examine the impacts of large-scale development and government relocations on the region's administrative functions and urban structure, insisting that citizen opinions must be incorporated into policy decisions.
Mayor Shin stated, "I cannot accept the government's unilateral policies that destroy urban functions by announcing large-scale housing supply that exceeds the capacity of a small city and relocating major government agencies without any measures in place." He added, "Even in a small city with a low population, the government must respect the voices of Gwacheon citizens and prepare responsible measures to maintain administrative city functions and prevent urban hollowing."
Additionally, Mayor Shin has submitted opposition to a proposed amendment to the Happy City Act and has visited the National Assembly to advocate for the incorporation of local opinions and the establishment of support measures through legislative amendments.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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