Gyeonggi Province Steps in to Mediate Disputes Between Neighboring Municipalities

Gyeonggi Province has decided to step in to mediate long-standing conflicts between adjacent local governments over administrative boundary confirmation and the installation of nuisance facilities.

According to the province on the 16th, Namyangju City and Guri City have been holding consultations on adjusting municipal boundaries since the straightening project of the Wangsuk Stream, which marks the boundary between the two regions, was completed in 1993 and the stream's appearance changed.

Following a field survey, the Korea Cadastral Survey Corporation proposed incorporating 215,197 ㎡ (approximately 65,000 pyeong) from Namyangju City to Guri City and 266,749 ㎡ (approximately 80,600 pyeong) from Guri City to Namyangju City. However, this would reduce Guri City's total area by 51,552 ㎡ (approximately 15,600 pyeong), and the dispute has continued for 14 years.

In another conflict, Yongin City issued a permit in 1997 to install a slaughterhouse at the upper reaches of the Bokha Stream, which flows into Icheon City. Icheon City immediately opposed this, citing concerns that 600 tons of slaughterhouse wastewater would be generated daily and accelerate water pollution.

Meanwhile, a water resource dispute between Yongin and Pyeongtaek has persisted for several years.

Yongin City is requesting the designation of the Namsamin area as a water source protection zone in 2004 be lifted to create an advanced industrial complex, while Pyeongtaek City has opposed this on grounds of drinking water protection and environmental conservation, causing conflict between the two local governments.

The province plans to hold meetings with stakeholders in affected areas to find common ground, and when applications for dispute resolution committee proceedings are filed, it will concentrate administrative resources to process them as quickly as possible.

Last year, disputes over ▲construction of an underground passage on National Route 1 (Anyang-Uiwang) ▲passage through an underground corridor crossing the Gyeongbu Expressway (Seongnam-Yongin) ▲construction of Yongin's delegated wastewater treatment plant (Seongnam-Yongin) ▲construction of the Second Free Road (Goyang-Paju) ▲closure of Jungnang Stream automobile-exclusive road (Uijeongbu-Yangju) ▲rejection of stream right-of-use permit (Dongducheon-Yeoncheon) were resolved through consultations between the province and related agencies.