By Kim Se-jeong
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon opposes the central government’s plan to build government buildings on the site of the current U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) in Yongsan, Seoul, once the base is relocated to Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.
“The piece of land is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the people, and the land should serve as a public park, not for government buildings,” the mayor said during a press conference marking two years into his second term, Tuesday.
His remarks were in response to a scheme announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) in April that it will consider housing government buildings on the former USAG Yongsan. The government had previously said the returned compound will be reopened as a public park by 2027.
The mayor also called for the swift return of the property to the city.
“I urge the U.S. government to return the land as soon as possible and in its original condition.”
In July 2003, the U.S. and Korea agreed on the relocation of the base to Pyeongtaek by 2016. The plan kept being postponed, and is now anticipated to be completed by the end of 2017. The size of the land to be returned has been reduced from the original plan, as the U.S. Embassy will move to the area and the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) will stay where it is.
Park, who is said to be a strong presidential contender, did not answer clearly whether he will run in the presidential election next year.
“I would like to focus on what I am doing at the moment,” Park said. “I am curious why so many people ask me this question, but I guess this means I have done my job well as mayor.”
His presidential bid was highly anticipated after a speech in Gwangju on May 18 in which he said he would not hesitate if history wants him.
“I guess this is why many people have me in mind as a candidate,” he said. “I want to come up with a solution to change despair into hope in Seoul first.”
He mentioned the death of a young subway maintenance worker at Guui Station run by the city-owned Seoul Metro, stressing safety will be a priority.
“That accident showed where Seoul stands and what I need to improve upon as mayor,” he said. The worker was killed by an incoming subway train while fixing a platform safety door. The accident shed light on organizational problems between Seoul Metro and its subcontractors.
Park also said he would not forget his first question of “why I want to be mayor.” “I became mayor not because I wanted to be on the list of former Seoul mayors,” he said. “I’ll solve problems which we all knew about but could not solve.”
Park became mayor in 2011 in a by-election after his predecessor Oh Se-hoon resigned, winning a second term in 2014.