Namyangju City Releases Official Statement Following Constitutional Court's Dismissal of Petition

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Eom In-yong] Namyangju City released an official statement on the 2nd regarding the Constitutional Court's dismissal of a constitutional petition (2020Hun-Ma1454) related to water source regulations on November 27th.

Mayor Joo Gwang-deok made clear his determination to respond going forward in a statement released that day, stating, "We can no longer turn a blind eye to the infringement of fundamental rights of Namyangju citizens due to irrational water source regulations that have persisted for over 50 years."

Mayor Joo also explained, "The city's constitutional petition was a process prepared over five years with Joan-myeon residents beginning in 2020, and we did our utmost to respond by submitting reference briefs eight times during the Constitutional Court's full bench deliberations and collecting petitions with 93% participation from civil servants."

He added, "Although the result was dismissal, we attach great significance to the fact that we brought the reality of infringement on residents' fundamental rights to national attention, and going forward, we will continuously demand institutional reforms from the central government and National Assembly."

The following is the full text of the official statement released by Namyangju City.

[Letter to the Residents of Joan-myeon]

Greetings. This is Namyangju Mayor Joo Gwang-deok.

First, regarding the result of the constitutional petition related to water source regulations announced as "dismissed" on November 27th, I express my deep regret and apologies to all 740,000 Namyangju citizens and residents of Joan-myeon.

In October 2020, Joan-myeon residents and Namyangju City filed a constitutional petition to restore the fundamental rights of residents that have been infringed upon due to irrational water source regulations that have persisted for over 50 years.

Following the Constitutional Court's decision to accept the case for review, Namyangju City did its utmost to ensure the best outcome of this constitutional petition by submitting reference briefs eight times during the Constitutional Court's full bench deliberations, organizing petitions with 93% participation from Namyangju civil servants, and conducting citywide signature campaigns.

However, the Constitutional Court's answer to our collective and urgent plea for improvements to water source regulations over the past five years was "dismissal." No matter how much I reflect on this, it is a conclusion difficult to accept, and I cannot hide my sense of sorrow. In particular, I can only imagine the disappointment and sense of emptiness the residents of Joan-myeon must feel.

Dear and respected residents of Namyangju!

Although the result of the constitutional petition is difficult for Namyangju City and its citizens to accept, and leaves us with great regret, the challenge and effort we have shared over the past five years have not been in vain. This constitutional petition was a meaningful process in bringing national attention to the reality of infringement on the fundamental rights of Joan-myeon residents and elevating the issue of irrational water source regulations sustained for 50 years to the arena of constitutional debate.

Namyangju City will not be discouraged by this result and will make every effort to improve water source regulations so that residents of Joan-myeon can recover from the damage they have suffered and have their infringement on fundamental rights resolved.

Furthermore, we will continuously make recommendations and demands to the central government and National Assembly for the establishment of multifaceted legal measures that can substantially protect residents' fundamental rights.

Protection of the Paldang water source is not a value that contradicts residents' fundamental right to live in their homeland, and a path forward that reconciles both must be pursued. Namyangju City will stand with 740,000 residents, including those of Joan-myeon, to the end. Thank you.