Temple Moves Into Apartment-Factory in Suwon, Causing Controversy

Suwon City has stirred up controversy by allowing a temple operated by a monk renowned for Goryeo-era Buddhist paintings to move into an apartment-factory complex zoned exclusively for light manufacturing, then belatedly initiating a zoning change to convert the space into a Buddhist painting exhibition hall.

Suwon City explained that the move was made to provide temporary shelter for the monk's temple, which was recently acquired through residential development, and that legal procedures were delayed because the monk promised to donate over 60 Buddhist paintings free of charge.

According to Suwon City on the 8th, G Temple, operated by Monk H, known for expertise in Goryeo-era Buddhist paintings, moved into the S Techno Park apartment-factory complex in Woncheon-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, which was completed in 2003 with two basement levels and seven stories, on August 17th and has remained there since.

The temple's occupancy became public when nearby businesses recently filed complaints, asking, "How can a temple move into an apartment-factory complex where only manufacturers are allowed?"

It was revealed that the city's Culture and Tourism Division facilitated the temple's move without informing the Business Support Division, which oversees apartment-factory operations, leading to criticism that Suwon City itself promoted illegal activities.

Under the law on industrial cluster revitalization and factory establishment, apartment-factory complexes in urban areas can only accommodate businesses engaged in low-noise light manufacturing industries approved by the relevant city department. Suwon City violated this requirement.

In response, the city stated, "The temple's recent acquisition through residential development made relocation unavoidable, and as we searched for a location to store and display Buddhist paintings exceeding 3 meters in height, we believed an apartment-factory complex would be suitable for temporary temple relocation. The third floor where the temple is located was previously used as a billiards hall, so we thought there was no problem, but we later learned it had been rezoned as industrial land."

The city also revealed, "We plan to convert the third floor where the temple is located into an exhibition hall to display 64 Buddhist paintings, including 16 pieces already donated by the monk and 48 pieces to be received later. Since 30 percent of apartment-factory complexes can be rezoned for neighborhood commercial facilities, we are currently consulting with the building owner to pursue the zoning change."

An official from the Culture and Tourism Division stated, "We got the order of procedures backwards in our eagerness to receive the monk's Buddhist paintings, which have received presidential commendations and have been exhibited multiple times domestically and internationally. We understand the temple will move to another location soon."