Support for Affected Areas Becomes 'Institutionalized'

On the morning of the 13th, Suwon Mayor Kim Yong-seo held a press conference at City Hall's situation room and personally announced a comprehensive response plan regarding Suwon Airfield. The plan includes improvement of educational environments for students in noise-affected areas and an English education belt project, noise countermeasures for daycare centers, health promotion programs and medical services for residents.

● 2.6 Billion Won Invested in Educational Environment Improvement

Starting next year, Suwon City will invest a total of 2.603 billion won to support facility improvement projects for educational environments at 19 schools.

First, the city will install noise prevention facilities at 2 schools with 334.45 million won, and air circulation systems (333.267 billion won total) at 3 schools. The city will also remodel libraries at 4 schools (509.31 million won) and support installation of sports and cultural facilities at 10 schools (1.460 billion won).

Beginning in March next year, the city will promote support for specialized programs at schools in noise-affected areas. Support amounts will be 15 million won for elementary schools, 20 million won for middle schools, and 30 million won for high schools.

In particular, Goesaek High School will receive an annual 200 million won in support for a three-year 'Making Good Schools' project.

Additionally, the city will invest 75 million won to support the 'Western Region English Education Belt Project' for 6,296 students at 8 schools including Gohyeon Elementary School.
The city will also establish an 'Elementary Childcare Home' project providing 20 million won each to Goesaek, Guun, Seopyeong, and Omok Elementary Schools to operate after-school childcare programs for dual-income families and low-income households.

● Soundproofing Facilities for Municipal Daycare Centers

Among municipal daycare centers in Suwon, there are 6 centers exposed to noise levels of 75 decibels or higher.

The city will invest 43.98 million won at Pyeongdong Daycare Center, which is exposed to noise levels of 90 decibels or higher, to install soundproofing facilities (interior soundproof windows) starting this month. However, as two children at Pyeongdong Daycare Center withdrew due to hearing loss, indicating serious noise problems, the city plans to relocate the daycare center starting in 2012.

Additionally, the city plans to support 1.25 million won in cooling costs for Pyeongdong Daycare Center for five months from May to September next year.

The city will also support 6.15 million won in five-month cooling costs for the remaining 5 municipal daycare centers. The city will invest 100 million won to support soundproof window installation at Beudnae and Dansudong daycare centers.

● Promoting Support Ordinance for Noise-Affected Residents

The city will push forward with enacting a support ordinance to establish legal grounds for supporting residents living in noise-affected areas around Suwon Airfield.

The support ordinance is expected to include soundproofing and cooling facility support and electricity cost assistance for schools, kindergartens, childcare and welfare facilities, as well as airfield noise countermeasure project plans and operation of district-level noise countermeasure committees.

The city plans to make a legislative announcement of the support ordinance in January next year and submit it to Suwon City Council in April.

Once the support ordinance is enacted, formation of the Suwon Airfield Noise Countermeasure Committee, with co-chairs from Suwon City and Air Force Airfield representatives, will be promoted.

The noise countermeasure committee, targeting establishment in August to September next year, will consist of 15 to 25 members and will deliberate on establishment and implementation of noise countermeasures and related budget execution.

● Customized Medical Services Including Hearing Examinations

By May next year, the city will complete identification of affected residents in areas with noise levels of 90 decibels or higher and, starting in June, will provide health education and customized health and medical services.

Target residents will receive basic health checkups and consultations. Residents suffering from hearing loss will be referred to Ajou University's Department of Occupational Medicine for detailed hearing tests.

Residents experiencing stress from noise will also be referred to Ajou University's Department of Occupational Medicine for neuropsychological testing, and the city will subsequently work with Suwon Mental Health Center to provide follow-up care including psychological counseling.

The city will provide oriental medicine education and laughter therapy services for elderly and chronic disease patients, and will conduct circulation exercise (strength and aerobic exercise) programs for housewives.

While expanding and providing various health programs to affected residents, the city plans to extend health and medical services to residents in 80-decibel areas.

Additionally, starting in January next year, the city plans to invest 96.67 million won to install double doors, soundproofing facilities, and cooling systems at community centers in Pyeongdong, Seodun-dong, and Guun-dong. The city will also invest a total of 77.5 million won to install noise reduction facilities and provide cooling equipment at 28 senior centers in 10 districts including Seryou 1-dong, Gwonseon-gu.

● Pursuing Academic Research on Relaxing Altitude Restrictions

Following research findings showing that residents are suffering property rights damage, the city will promote an academic study on relaxing altitude restrictions related to Suwon Airfield.

Academic research by the Ministry of Defense on altitude restrictions for military aircraft sites will be completed in January next year. Once operating guidelines are issued to Suwon Airfield, the city will consult with the military and establish an academic study plan for relaxing height restrictions due to altitude limitations by May.

The regions where altitude restriction relaxation will be promoted are expected to be Flight Safety Zones 5 and 6, where many residents live.

The city, which budgeted 182.85 million won for research costs in next year's budget, plans to issue a research project in August 2010 and, once the study is completed in 2011, will gather opinions from Suwon citizens, regional organizations, and lawmakers before demanding altitude restriction relaxation through multiple channels.

● Forming Joint Airfield Countermeasure Council... 'National Support and Interest Also Needed'

Following announcement of the comprehensive response plan, the city will first hold discussions with Suwon-area lawmakers in November or December. The city also plans to submit policy proposals regarding Suwon Airfield to various government departments including the Blue House, National Assembly, and Office of the Prime Minister to urge implementation of effective countermeasures.

In March next year, the city will establish district-level noise damage resident countermeasure committees centered on districts with 75 decibels or higher, while simultaneously supporting the launch of the 'Suwon Airfield Damage Joint Countermeasure Council' with participation from noise-affected area resident representatives and academic experts.

The joint countermeasure council is expected to reflect public opinion and conduct activities such as submitting damage countermeasure proposals to the government.

While Suwon City's announcement and promotion of a comprehensive response plan regarding Suwon Airfield is meaningful in that the local government has taken steps to resolve resident damage caused by military facilities, observers point out that national interest and support should accompany such efforts.

A member of the City Council's special committee on the airfield noted, 'Budget support for resolving airfield damage cannot rely solely on municipal funding,' and stressed, 'Since this damage results from national security facilities, national support and interest must be secured.'