Gyeonggi Province Detects Over 30% Illegal Activities in Green Belt Development Areas...26 Sites Identified

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun Reporter] As a result of a special inspection by Gyeonggi Province of management conditions in green belt development areas, approximately 32.5% of sites that received use approval for permits such as construction were found to have engaged in illegal activities contrary to their approved use.

According to the province on the 6th, from May 13 to July 6, inspections were conducted in 21 cities and counties with green belt areas. Out of 163 sites that received activity permit use approvals from December 2022 to May 2023, 80 samples were extracted and inspected, resulting in the detection of 26 sites (32.5%) engaged in illegal activities.

The illegal activities include 11 cases of illegal construction, 10 cases of use conversion, 4 cases of land alteration, and 1 case of structure installation. This represents a significant improvement compared to the 65% illegal activity rate from the inspection in the second half of last year.

Notable cases include a badminton court located in Siheung City, which was found to have illegally converted and operated facilities. Rest areas, shower rooms, and other sports facilities were illegally converted into charcoal kiln ticket booths, changing rooms, saunas, and other unauthorized uses.

Additionally, a footvolley court and restaurants in other areas were also detected operating after illegally converting their uses, contrary to their original approved facilities.

As the rate of illegal activities remains high, the province has directed municipal officials to conduct on-site investigations during construction inspections for activity permits before granting use approval. The province has also mandated that cities and counties conduct special quarterly inspections within one year of use approval under provincial oversight and supervision.

Meanwhile, the province confirmed through this inspection that 5,182 sites (95.1%) out of 5,450 illegal activities identified through aerial photograph analysis from 2020 have been restored to their original state through administrative measures by the cities and counties.

Ryu Ho-guk, director of the Regional Policy Division at Gyeonggi Province, stated, "We are conducting special inspections at least once every half-year on the status of activity permits and enforcement in 21 cities and counties with green belt areas." He added, "We will rigorously manage post-use approval procedures to eradicate illegal activities within green belt areas."