Park Jong-hee: "Reasonable Regulations Needed on Large Supermarket Entries"

―Regarding the demand for simultaneous groundbreaking on the Shinbundang Line extension.
▲If the Shinbundang Line is implemented in phases, the Gwanggyo-Homaesilsil section will not be completed until 2019. Simultaneous groundbreaking on the Shinbundang Line was a presidential pledge of the Korean Democratic Party. If construction between Bundang Jeongja Station and Gwanggyo is completed by 2014 and the remaining section begins, a separate 500 billion won railroad vehicle base needs to be constructed, creating problems. Doosan Development has decided to pursue part of it with private investment, and if 1 trillion 10 billion won in profit from Gwanggyo Techno Valley development and the Homaesilsil district development is injected, simultaneous groundbreaking becomes possible.

―Position on promoting Suwon Metropolitan City status.
▲When comparing the scale of Suwon and Ulsan Metropolitan City, arguments for promoting metropolitan city status emerge naturally. However, if Suwon is immediately elevated to metropolitan city status, there will be difficulties including increased tax burden and the need to absorb parts of neighboring Hwaseong or Yongin areas. We need to observe trends such as Gwanggyo New City occupancy and North Suwon development. I believe elevation is premature. Metropolitan city status conditions will ripen only when Gwanggyo New City occupancy occurs in 2015 and administrative district adjustments at the boundaries between Hwaseong and Yongin are implemented.

―What about the relocation of Suwon Airport?
▲Suwon Airport has imposed many problems over 35 years, including restricting property rights for residents of West Suwon and causing noise damage. However, from a national security standpoint, being located at the northernmost point among air force bases makes relocation difficult. Once the emergency runway on National Route 1 is completely removed, property rights can be exercised for some 3,000 households in this area. I will work with the government to promote airport relocation and take the lead in gradually easing building height restrictions in surrounding military protection zones.

―What are the ways to revitalize small business owners and traditional markets?
▲Revitalizing small business owners and traditional markets is the foundation of local economy and a key pledge of the Korean Democratic Party. We must regulate large supermarket entries to a certain degree. At least one parking facility must be built at traditional markets. We will support promotional activities through partnerships with schools and businesses, activate unsecured small-amount loan systems, and implement mutual aid programs and startup support for small business owners. Additionally, we must reduce credit card processing fees for business owners to the 2-3% range and urgently raise the standards for value-added tax special taxation applicants.

―What is the plan for utilizing the former KT&G; manufacturing plant site in Jeongja-dong?
▲This land is a precious asset for the Jeongja 2, 3-dong and Hwaseo-dong areas of Jangan-gu, but it is clearly private property. It would be desirable to return it to citizens' hands as culture, art, welfare, and sports facilities, but this is difficult with limited budgets. Through urban plan changes, we should address the area along the railroad with commercial zones or neighborhood living facilities, and ensure that remaining portions can be donated to Suwon City through transparent procedures including public hearings and advance reviews.

―What about designating Gwanggyo Mountain as a provincial park and preserving it?
▲The Gwanggyo Mountain area faces significant inconvenience for residents of Upper and Lower Gwanggyo-dong due to overlapping regulations including development restrictions and water source protection zones. However, promoting a provincial park in this area would require approximately 2 trillion won in funding. Rather than focusing only on Gwanggyo Mountain, efforts must be coordinated to include Cheonggyesan, Baekun Mountain, and Moraksan for green space conservation and ecosystem restoration. If six nearby cities—Suwon, Seongnam, Yongin and others—form a consultative body and share finances jointly, we can prevent haphazard development and create a harmonious provincial park.

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