Seoul Metropolitan Government Comes Up with Too Many Projects

"Come up with a policy that seems impossible first and if there is controversy, shirk responsibility just saying that the policy has not yet decided…"

As the Seoul metropolitan government and its affiliated organizations are recently announcing one pork barrel project after another, which they know are almost impossible, they are under criticism for irresponsible administration.

Seoul Urban Development Corporation Oct. 18 reported to the Seoul city assembly that it would start the construction of a circular city expressway in southern Seoul starting January of 2003.

However, the start of construction according to that schedule is impossible because the Ministry of Environment has not yet finished its assessment about the impact of the construction on the environment and Seoul National University is opponent to the construction of Gwanak Interchange.

An official with Seoul Urban Development Corporation responded, "Though we know that the schedule is impossible, we incorporated the project into the business report to the Seoul city assembly because we cannot omit it from the report.

The Culture Tourism Division of Seoul Metropolitan Government early this month made an announcement on its plan to open to the public the Sukjeong Gate in Samcheong-dong, Seongbuk-gu in Seoul, which was the north gate of Hanyang (old name of Seoul).

However, when the Seoul government announced the opening plan in August, it was faced with the opposition from the Capital Defense Command. The Cultural Properties Administration is also showing a negative attitude toward the plan saying that allowing the public access to the gate is difficult because of security concerns.

However, the Seoul metropolitan government once again announced the opening plan. An official with the Culture Tourism Division explained that they tried to push ahead with the plan for the opening of the cultural property, though they knew it was difficult.

Many government offices just irresponsibly react when controversy follows the announcements of their new projects.

On Oct. 18 Seoul Urban Development Corporation made an announcement on a plan to lift ban on development in some greenbelt zones, such as Noweon and Junggye districts in Noweon-gu, Gangil district in Gangdong-gu, Guro district and Eunpyeong district, as part of the plan to construct 100,000-unit public rental apartments.

However, when Noweon-gu called on the Seoul government to cancel the rental apartment construction plan, an official with the government said, "Whether to build rental apartments in Junggye district is not decided yet. The Noweon-gu office is worrying too much."

Go Gye-hyeon, chief of the policy decision section of Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice, pointed out, "This case showed the fact that the Seoul government has been announced too many pork barrel projects since Lee Myeong-bak was inaugurated as new mayor. Policies can pay off when they are realistic and have detailed plans.

Kwawg-Pyo Lee kplee@donga.com