It was confirmed on the 5th that Gyeonggi Province designated the conflict over the construction of a logistics center between Osan and Hwaseong as a "priority management grade." As the dispute between Hwaseong, which is creating a logistics center in the Dongtan area on a scale comparable to Seoul Coex, and Osan, which opposes it, has dragged on, the province determined that coordination at the provincial level was also necessary.
According to Gyeonggi Province, the Conflict Management Deliberation Committee recently decided through deliberation to designate the logistics center dispute between Osan and Hwaseong as a priority management grade. The committee is operated to provide support aimed at resolving various conflict situations that arise within the region.
Not only this logistics center dispute, but also issues that face strong local backlash, such as the establishment of burial facilities in the area, can be included. A priority management grade means the conflict is ongoing and requires intensive management and response.
A provincial official said, "We have drawn up a plan to respond to the conflict going forward through expert advisory support," and added, "As this is a major conflict that has arisen within the province, we are closely monitoring the situation."
The logistics center at issue is to be built in Jangji-dong, Hwaseong, with a total floor area of 406,000 square meters (about 122,815 pyeong), ranging from four floors underground to seven floors above ground. It is a large logistics facility the size of 57 soccer fields.
Osan Mayor Lee Kwon-jae argued, "By 2030, the number of vehicles using Gyeonggidong-ro will reach about 12,000 a day, making severe traffic gridlock unavoidable." This figure reflects the operation of the Yongin system semiconductor national industrial complex in 2030 along with the logistics center.
Lee has publicly pushed back, even attending rallies opposing the establishment of the logistics center. After attending a rally against the construction of the logistics center held at Dongtan Lake Park in Hwaseong in June last year, Lee also appeared at a rally in front of Hwaseong City Hall in Dec. the same year. There is an assessment that it is unusual for the head of a local government to personally take part in a rally opposing another local government's administrative matter.
A local lawmaker is also raising the issue. Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party, a lawmaker for Hwaseong-eul, recently cited the results of a poll and said, "It was found that 92% of residents of Dongtan 8-dong, near the planned site of the logistics center, oppose it." The most common reasons for opposition were traffic congestion and safety issues (74.9%) due to increased passage of large trucks. Lee said, "The numbers confirm that this is effectively a project with no resident consent."
Hwaseong, on the other hand, says there are no legal issues with building the logistics center. The establishment of the logistics center has been proceeding in accordance with urban planning that began in 2010. The city also says it will respond according to the original plan because the traffic congestion issue passed the Gyeonggi Province traffic impact assessment deliberation committee.
A Gyeonggi Province official said, "The final decision-making authority rests with the relevant cities," and added, "The province will continue to play a role in supporting conflict consultations."