Hwaseong New City "Integration Support" Growing

While Hwaseong City maintains a firm stance of opposition to administrative integration, voices of residents supporting integration are growing louder, centered around Dongtan New City.

Not only residents of Dongtan New City with a population of approximately 75,000, but also residents of new cities in Bongdam and Hyangnam are gathering opinions through various online and offline meetings, raising issues they have previously been dissatisfied with regarding Hwaseong City, drawing attention to the results.

A large internet café called 'My Home in Dongtan New City' (with 41,719 members), created by residents of Dongtan New City, is conducting a pro-con vote on the integration of Suwon, Hwaseong, and Osan. Looking at the progress of this vote, as of the 17th, a total of 685 people participated, with 635 people (92%) in favor and 50 people (7%) opposed, showing overwhelmingly dominant support.

Through posts and comments, members argued that on such a major issue as city integration, Hwaseong City's unilateral announcement of opposition should be countered by gathering residents' opinions and conveying them to the city.

A member with the ID "Ul-aga-sarang" commented, "When government offices push the 'opposition' atmosphere through banners and surveys, people who don't know much might think 'I guess I should oppose it,' and cast an opposing vote in a referendum." The member added, "On important issues like the naming of Seo-Dongtan Station, it's not pleasant to see organizations that we've never seen before conducting opposition signature campaigns and installing banners."

In fact, banners claiming 'opposition to integration' by organizations rarely found in general media outlets are hung throughout Hwaseong City.

The 'Dongtan New City Residents Union,' which is preparing for incorporation as a civic organization through the internet café, also plans to conduct a pro-con vote starting on the 23rd. The union plans to conduct online voting in parallel while also organizing meetings where representatives from each complex will gather to discuss future schedules.

A union official stated, "Issues like the naming of the Giheung-Dongtan Interchange and the location of the Eastern Sub-office planned to be installed at Byeongjeom Complex Town are causing members to voice complaints, as Hwaseong City is overly focused on the western region compared to the eastern area where living standards are higher." The official added, "Residents want a local government that is stronger than the current Hwaseong City."

Residents unions of other new city apartments in Bongdam, Hyangnam, and other areas of Hwaseong City are also conveying the voting process of Dongtan residents, claiming that they too must gather opinions and convey them to the city.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has a policy to decide on integration if the relevant local governments agree, and to hold a referendum to determine whether integration will proceed if they do not agree, drawing attention to whether the opinions of new city residents, who account for a significant proportion of the population and have high voter turnout, will be reflected.