The site, which has remained largely vacant for 19 years since American troops departed in 2005, was designated last September by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as a candidate for a national model district for urban regeneration and innovation. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
CHUNCHEON, Jun. 5 (Korea Bizwire) –A proposal to develop Camp Page, a 520,000 square meter former United States military base in the heart of Chuncheon, has sparked a bitter divide within the local community, pitting residents who support the project against those who demand a restart of the process.
The site, which has remained largely vacant for 19 years since American troops departed in 2005, was designated last September by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as a candidate for a national model district for urban regeneration and innovation.
Chuncheon city officials have announced plans to transform the area into a mixed-use development with residential housing and parks. They held a public hearing last month and intend to apply for the ministry’s program this month.
But the city’s efforts have drawn opposition from some civic groups and a political party, who argue that the process has lost procedural legitimacy and are calling for a comprehensive review.
Aerial view of Chuncheon Citizen’s Park
On June 5, a civic association representing more than 750 members from 25 districts held a news conference to voice its support for the Camp Page redevelopment.
“The urban regeneration and innovation district project is an opportunity to revitalize the dilapidated Camp Page area and transform it into a future city where advanced industries, culture, housing and public facilities coexist,” the association said in a statement.
The group added that the development would attract cutting-edge companies and create new, high-quality jobs.
In contrast, members of the opposition People Power Party on the Chuncheon City Council held a news conference on June 4, calling for a review of the plans.
“Cities typically develop based on a basic master plan established through procedures such as public hearings and consultations with experts from various fields, with appropriate revisions made according to changing circumstances,” the council members said, citing concerns about securing sufficient funding for the project. They opposed the city’s application for the ministry’s program.
Chuncheon spent 121.7 billion won from 2012 to 2017 to acquire ownership of the Camp Page site, but little progress has been made in determining a redevelopment strategy due to years of disagreement.
A city official said the time had come to resolve the long-standing dispute over the site’s future “for the sake of building a city for tomorrow.” The official added, “Claims that this is a hasty process are unfounded. We have followed a lengthy procedure, and we will cooperate with relevant agencies to carry out the project according to due process.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
