Gyeonggi Province Stirs Controversy Over Free School Site Supply in Gwanggyo New City

Gyeonggi Province has stirred up controversy after announcing through the media that four developers have agreed to provide school sites free of charge in Gwanggyo New City. Suwon and Yongin cities have strongly objected, saying "we have given no such consent." In particular, Suwon City, which has publicly declared it will use Gwanggyo New City development profits for the restoration of Suwon Hwaseong, plans to issue an official statement on the 15th clearly contradicting the province's announcement.

On the 13th, Gyeonggi Province announced that co-developers of Gwanggyo New City—the province, Suwon City, Yongin City, and Gyeonggi Urban Development Corporation—have agreed to provide school sites for elementary and middle schools in the new city free of charge.

The province held an emergency meeting at the provincial government office on that day, explaining that it agreed to provide free school sites for elementary and middle schools in Gwanggyo New City and reached consensus on ensuring the uninterrupted progress of the development project and preventing damage to residents.

However, both Suwon and Yongin cities strongly objected, saying they have never agreed to free provision and that media manipulation to shift problems that should be resolved by the province and Gyeonggi Province Office of Education onto local governments is unacceptable.

Suwon City stated on the 14th, "We heard through the media about agreement to free provision. There is no reason for local governments to step in regarding Gwanggyo New City school sites and the 960 billion won in unpaid school site acquisition fees that the province and the education office should resolve," firmly denying any consent.

In particular, Suwon City has publicly stated it will focus on investing development profits generated from Gwanggyo New City in the restoration of Suwon Hwaseong, making it impossible to compromise. Therefore, Suwon City plans to issue an official statement on the 15th that directly contradicts the province's announcement of consent.

Yongin City agreed that the issue of school site charges needs to be resolved, but maintains it has never stated it would provide free sites.

Consequently, criticism is emerging that Gyeonggi Province's offensive on the school site issue is a media play timed one day before the National Assembly's Administrative Safety Committee's state audit on the 14th to avoid attack. Moreover, despite expecting backlash from Suwon and Yongin, speculation is arising that such a statement is a calculated strategy to make the school site charge issue a public debate and force the cities to reluctantly pay the development charges.

In response, Gyeonggi Province dismissed the matter, saying "it was only one of the items under review at that meeting and has not yet been officially announced."

Meanwhile, Gwanggyo New City is scheduled to have 14 schools built (6 elementary, 4 middle, 4 high schools), with elementary and middle school site supply costs estimated at 180 billion won and high school site supply costs at 100 billion won.