Suwon City Accelerates Kwonseon District Development Project

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] The long-delayed Kwonseon District development project in Suwon City is expected to gain momentum.

Suwon City has recently announced a blueprint that will accelerate development by revising the district unit plan to encourage development of idle land within Kwonseon District, establishing a 'school complex facility' as 'public contribution' from the development, and pushing forward the establishment of a 'future-oriented integrated school' for kindergarten, elementary and middle school students in the area.

The city's plan is expected to improve the educational environment for elementary and middle school students in the area, while also meeting the demand for public cultural and sports facilities among local residents through the 'school complex facility.'

The 'school complex facility' is a cultural and sports facility installed on school grounds with added public value, and is an essential requirement for establishing a 'future-oriented integrated school' that helps form school-centered community in the area. Facilities such as swimming pools, gymnasiums, and libraries provided within can be freely used by local residents outside of class hours.

The city also plans to encourage development of idle land within Kwonseon District through revision of the district unit plan.

The city had previously requested the Kwonseon District development project implementer to promptly implement the project on idle land that was planned as 'commercial and retail facility' land. In response, the implementer submitted a proposal to Suwon City in April of last year that partially changed the use of the site and established a school complex facility through a corresponding 'method of public contribution.'

Based on this, Suwon City comprehensively considered the needs of local residents and the implementer's proposals, including the establishment of indoor public sports facilities and the construction of a new middle school, and prepared a revised district unit plan that includes the 'school complex facility' public contribution method. Subsequently, the city explained the revised plan to residents at resident briefing sessions held twice in October of last year and in February this year.

In fact, residents of Kwonseon District have consistently requested the establishment of schools due to overcrowding at elementary schools and the absence of middle schools in the area.

In response to such requests from residents, Suwon City collected opinions and began earnestly pursuing the establishment of a 'future-oriented integrated school' from 2019, and passed financial investment reviews from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety last year.

The 'Kwonseon District Future-Oriented Integrated School' being pursued by the city is not a new establishment due to increased students but rather a kindergarten, elementary and middle school integrated school (total 35 classrooms) that includes a 'school complex facility' built and operated by the local government.

The 'Kwonseon District Future-Oriented Integrated School' is a special case that passed the Ministry of Education's central education finance investment review by integrating three elements: the regional characteristics of Kwonseon District, ▲integrated operation of kindergarten, elementary and middle schools ▲establishment of future school concepts, and ▲linkage with local government complex facilities.

When Suwon City's blueprint is implemented, it is expected that through the 'Kwonseon District Future-Oriented Integrated School' based on the 'school complex facility,' a 'urban-type future school' will be created as the nation's first exemplary case of an educational community linking schools and villages and connecting future-oriented curricula.

Meanwhile, Suwon City is preparing a plan to partially revise the plan for outdoor sports facilities that were originally planned to be installed on idle land owned by the Ministry of Defense in the Kwonseon District area, reflecting resident opinions.

The city plans to coordinate with the Ministry of Defense, the landowner, to remove the soccer field that was included in the original plan in response to resident concerns that it would cause damage from noise and light pollution and illegal parking, and instead create an 'X-game field' (extreme sports game field) and a lawn plaza that can be enjoyed by families of all ages and genders.