"Resident and Environmental Group Participation-Based Environmental Policy Alternatives Needed"

Rep. Nam Kyung-pil of the Grand National Party (Suwon Paldal district) held a forum on "Current Status and Solutions to Environmental Issues in Gyeonggi Region" on the 19th at the Ritz Hotel in Suwon, co-hosted with the Gyeonggi Province Green Federation.

Rep. Nam said that day, "Unlike Seoul, the capital, Gyeonggi Province has become a symbol of haphazard development due to rapid development and remains an area with high development demand," adding "it is a place where a new residential environment harmonizing with beautiful natural surroundings can be realized, and due to this, it is a region with conflicts stemming from diverse and acute environmental issues."

Rep. Nam further emphasized, "Gyeonggi Province needs planned regional management that harmonizes with the environment while having more concrete implementation plans," and "there is a need to present participatory alternatives that allow stakeholders including residents and environmental groups to play their respective roles."

Meanwhile, the presentations at the forum included ▲"Haphazard Development in Gyeonggi Province due to Residential Land and Road Construction and Urban Master Plans" by Park Eun-ho, Secretary-General of the YMCA Gyeonggi Council (Executive Committee Member of the Gyeonggi Environmental Conservation Joint Action) ▲"Current Status of DMZ in Gyeonggi Province and Ecological Conservation Measures" by Choi Ju-young, Professor at Daejin University (Co-representative of the Gyeonggi Green Federation) ▲"River Water Quality Improvement Plans in Gyeonggi Province with Public-Private Cooperation" by Lee Ki-young, Research Fellow at the Gyeonggi Research Institute of Environmental Policy ▲"Current Status of Tidal Flats in Gyeongman Bay and Conservation Measures" by Lim Byung-jun, Secretary-General of the Siheung Green Federation (Secretary-General of the Shihwa Lake Coalition) ▲"How to Solve Gyeonggi Province's Green Space Conservation and Golf Course Issues" by Lee Hang-jin, Operating Committee Chair of the Yeoju Green Federation ▲"Climate Change and Gyeonggi Province's Response Measures - Focusing on Energy Policy" by Jung In-hwan, Professor at Hyupsung University (Operating Committee Chair of the Gyeonggi Energy Citizens Coalition).

Participants in the discussion included Kim Hyun-sam, Secretary-General of the Gyeonggi Council of the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice, Lee Hong-geun, Secretary-General of the Hwaseong Green Federation, Ji Un-geun, Secretary-General of the Seongnam Green Federation, and representatives from women's organizations.