Improving Seo-Suwon's Residential Environment Through Legislative Efforts

Representative Cha Hee-sang is a Gyeonggi Provincial Council member representing Seo-Suwon, which includes Gosaek-dong and Pyeong-dong in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon (Suwon's 4th electoral district).

Elected in a by-election in June 2004, he began his tenure as a 6th-term provincial council member. He is now a re-elected member who advanced to the 7th Gyeonggi Provincial Council.

Representative Cha's daily routine begins with commuting to the Gyeonggi Provincial Council office. Unless there are special matters, he invariably heads to the Urban Environment Committee's office, where he receives reports on executive and council business matters and checks on current issues for his legislative activities that day.

Additionally, serving as a standing committee member of the Gyeonggi Branch of the Korea Amateur Radio Federation, he has been engaged in volunteer activities from time to time, including supporting recovery efforts at flood sites in Gangwon Province last year with fellow branch members.

Representative Cha is the inaugural chair of the Urban Environment Committee, newly established in the 7th council.

Representative Cha's legislative activities naturally align with parliamentary legislative petitions for balanced coexistence between preservation (environment) and development (urban planning and residential environment).

The revision to the "Gyeonggi Province Urban and Residential Environment Improvement Ordinance" passed in the plenary session on March 20 is one such example. By relaxing standards for deteriorated and dilapidated houses, the amendment established grounds for allowing reconstruction projects for single-family and multi-unit houses built less than 20 years ago if they have structural problems or defects.

Representative Cha stated, "At the September provincial extraordinary session, I will submit a 'request for early enactment and amendment of related laws for supporting underdeveloped areas,' urging the National Assembly to proceed with the enactment of the 'Military Installations Protection Act' and the revision of the 'Capital Region Adjustment Plan Act.'"

His legislative efforts to support residential environment improvement in underdeveloped or aged areas stem from the fact that his electoral district in Gwonseon-gu—including Gosaek-dong, Pyeong-dong, Seodun-dong, and Geumho-dong—is Seo-Suwon, where development demands are intensifying.

Regarding the recent issue of forming a resident support consultative body for the Gosaek-dong food waste treatment facility, he is also seeking solutions. Representative Cha plans to meet with Representative Go Hee-seon (Hwaseong), a member of the National Assembly's Labor and Environment Committee, to request amendments to the enforcement decree of the relevant ordinance.

Serving as Urban Environment Committee chair while managing legislative activities and district representation, Representative Cha juggles multiple roles. He has no choice but to diligently collect data, develop policy alternatives, and work actively on the ground.

A colleague on the Urban Environment Committee said, "As chair, he approaches problem-solving with composed and calm logic rather than a sense of authority."

Representative Park Jang-won of the Suwon City Council (Pyeong and Geumho-dong districts) stated, "He is recognized for his diligent legislative activities to the extent of serving as the inaugural chair of the Urban Environment Committee. Befitting this role, he has a wide network of relationships and, once he sets a principle, pursues it stubbornly."

Regarding concerns that legislative activities at the provincial council might lag as the December presidential election approaches, Representative Cha plans to make every effort to prevent a gap in legislative activities, including preparations for the provincial administrative inspection audit in November.

"All-out efforts for improving water quality of Paldang water source and New Town projects" <Interview> Representative Cha Hee-sang —Could you explain your legislative activities over the past year? ▲I focused on establishing the framework for the Urban Environment Committee's executive branch operations, including the creation of a residential environment improvement division. At the same time, in March of this year, I revised the Gyeonggi Province ordinance to facilitate smooth redevelopment and reconstruction in underdeveloped areas by relaxing standards for deteriorated houses. In May, I submitted a "request for improvement of the Gyeonggi Province railroad project system and expansion of investment" to secure national treasury funding for smooth implementation of wide-area railroad projects including the Shinbundang Line. —What about resolving various issues related to your electoral district such as the Shinbundang Line and Homaesilae development? ▲Regarding the Shinbundang Line issue, I maintain the position that unified opening as a medium-capacity transit system must be realized to maintain policy consistency as a national project and for citizen convenience. For the Homaesilae residential development project, I plan to attract a cultural arts center, comprehensive social welfare center, and women's center, while also making efforts to preserve the Chilbosan wetland, improve the water quality of the Hwangguji stream, and create a riverside park. —What are your plans for future legislative activities? ▲I will make all-out efforts to improve the water quality of the Paldang water source, which supplies drinking water to 23 million residents across the capital region including Suwon and Seoul, from Grade 2 to Grade 1. To this end, I am developing plans to improve various restaurants and livestock facilities in the vicinity of the water source protection area. I plan to recommend to the National Assembly that the "Military Installations Protection Act" be enacted and the "Capital Region Adjustment Plan Act" be revised so these matters can be processed at the September regular National Assembly session to alleviate capital region regulations.