16 Local Governments in Gyeonggi Province Discuss Mutual Growth Plans with LH

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] The Emergency Response Committee of 16 local governments in Gyeonggi Province held a meeting with Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Noh Hyung-wook on the 23rd to discuss smooth operations between local governments and LH and establish mutual growth measures.

Four local government heads, representing the 16 local governments, attended the meeting: co-chairs Kwak Sang-wook, mayor of Osan City, and Jung Jang-seon, mayor of Pyeongtaek City; vice-chairs Park Seung-won, mayor of Gwangmyeong City, and Kim Sang-ho, mayor of Hanam City.

At the meeting, the Emergency Response Committee demanded: △strengthening guidance and supervision of LH by the superior agency, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport; △institutional improvements to reflect opinions of local governments; △clarifying ambiguous definitions of development gains and expanding the scope of public facilities transferred without compensation to local communities; △detailed and transparent cost disclosures rather than formal ones; △swift action on identified issues during the handover of public facilities; and △prioritizing public interests in project implementation.

Co-chair Kwak Sang-wook stated, "Local governments are bearing the full brunt of damages arising from LH business projects, and to resolve this, structural reforms are necessary, including the establishment of a project adjustment deliberation committee for legislative and institutional improvements."

In response, Minister Noh Hyung-wook said, "I will actively review the requests made by the Emergency Response Committee."

This meeting was a follow-up to the meeting with LH's CEO held on July 29.

Meanwhile, the Emergency Response Committee plans to visit the chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Land, Infrastructure and Transport to make every effort to ensure smooth operations between local governments and LH.