Environment Plan: Boon for Golfers?

As early as possible, the system of so-called “special arrangement zones” where residents in green belt zones can establish profitable businesses such as golf practice centers to replace illegal constructions. When such a system is introduced, however, it is likely to stir a fierce legal controversy as a flurry of speculating money is coming into the development-limited areas, some point out.

On June 30, the ministry of construction and transportation revealed a revised bill, the “Designation and Management of the Green Belt Act,” at a hearing under the theme of “institutional innovation for green belt zones” at the Construction Center located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The Korean government plans to designate 10 or more development-limited areas including Namyangju, Siheung, Hanam in Gyeonggi province and Gangseo-gu in Busan as special arrangement zones in order to combat the vicious cycle of illegal environmental damage leading to its crackdown and then simply repeating itself again.

In these zones, residents can begin to set up for-profit businesses when they unionize for their rights and voluntarily demolish illegal buildings with government support for land and infrastructure. Profitable businesses, however, are limited to camping sites for youth, golf courses and golf practice centers and museums. To prevent over- development, the designation of such areas requires stipulations such as the area needing to be over 100,000 pyeong, that more than 50 percent of the area is environmentally damaged due to illicit construction and that a certain level of participation of residents is met. Nonetheless, some raise doubt about the feasibility of such a project as high-cost businesses including the construction of golf courses are likely to meet strong opposition from residents.

Lee Jae-hong, the director of city environmental planning in the ministry of construction and transportation, gave an explanation that it is a careful decision after a one-year period of consultation and debate with residents living in development-limited zones.

With it, the ministry agreed to offer an annual 1.5 million subsidy as support for home- heating fuel to residents in the area instead of supports for infrastructure out of an annual 90 billion budget earmarked on their financial support. The ministry also plans to prevent the building of illicit structures by setting up environmentally friendly facilities including parks and outdoor fitness centers in green belt zones where more environmental damage is expected. In order to achieve its goal, the government is set to establish a development-limited area management division with the support of human pools of state governments.

Seung-Heon Lee ddr@donga.com