Ganghwa County Denies Favoritism Allegations Regarding Shinmun District Development

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Ganghwa County announced on the 12th that the public housing projects for Ganghwa-eup Shinmun and Saesijang districts and Gilsang-myeon Onsu district being implemented by LH Corporation are proceeding as planned, and allegations of favoritism related to the free opening of temporary parking lots at project sites are completely unfounded.

According to the county, parking shortages in Ganghwa-eup Shinmun District arose as the Story Walk in the old downtown successfully established itself and increased tourist traffic to Joyang Textile. To address the parking crisis and revitalize the local economy, the county coordinated with LH Corporation to temporarily open the project site to local residents and tourists before construction begins, allowing it to be used as parking space.

The vacant lot in Shinmun District is land purchased by LH Corporation for approximately 3.1 billion won. The county denies that rumors claiming Ganghwa County provided a parking lot worth 60 billion won for Joyang Textile visitors are baseless and false.

Notably, the public rental housing to be built in two locations—Ganghwa-eup Shinmun and Saesijang districts—were selected in the 2016 Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport public project competition. The Shinmun District will supply 130 units with a project cost of 15.4 billion won (national funding 10.5 billion won, LH 3.4 billion won, county funding 1.5 billion won), and the Saesijang District will supply 40 units with a project cost of 8.5 billion won (national funding 2.9 billion won, LH 2.7 billion won, county funding 2.9 billion won).

The Onsu District in Gilsang-myeon was selected in the 2017 Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport public project competition and plans to supply 150 public housing units with a project cost of 18.2 billion won (national funding 11.2 billion won, LH 3.4 billion won, county funding 3.6 billion won).

Currently, the Shinmun and Saesijang districts have completed 80 percent of land compensation. The Onsu District is undergoing a project district revision process according to the expansion project of National Route 84.

In the future, the Shinmun and Saesijang districts plan to begin construction in September this year after land compensation is completed, followed by recruiting residents in 2021 and moving-in beginning in late 2021. The Onsu District plans to begin construction in February of next year, followed by recruiting residents in 2021 and moving-in beginning in early 2022.

County Governor Yu Cheon-ho stated, "Upon completion of the neighborhood renovation-type public rental housing project, we can expect effects of population inflow by providing happy housing to young people and newlywed couples, and we can provide quality housing at affordable rental rates for vulnerable housing groups. We will continue to improve residents' housing environments and create a prosperous Ganghwa where residents are happy," he said.