[Editorial] Cacophony over construction of satellite cities

The cacophony from the consultations between the ruling Democratic Millennium Party (MDP) and the administration over the construction of residential satellite cities near Seoul is creating confusion. It is making us hard to judge which of the two views is correct.

It was initially known that the consultations concluded the construction plan will be reviewed at a zero base. Reportedly, the MDP members thought that the construction plan is virtually cancelled or being kept back indefinitely. Against such reports, the Ministry of Construction and Transportation distributed its press release to retort that the reservation of construction plan is contrary to the facts of the case.

The final decision on the construction of new city in Pangyo near Seoul has so far been delayed due to the disagreements of the two regional administrations in charge of Pangyo region`s developments: Kyonggi province is opposed to Sungnam city which favors the new city construction.

The residents in the Pangyo region have suffered greatly from the government`s construction restrictions. They held hopes on the central administration`s mediation to resolve the conflicts of the two regional administrations, but the decision against the construction plan made the residents greatly disappointed as to stage vigorous protests.

The Ministry of Construction and Transportation (MTC)`s stand on the new city plan has appeared neither forthright nor confident, but gave us a hasty impression from the start as if the ministry is in a hurry-scurry for some reasons. The construction plan became known in a rather mischievous way by having the release of its umbrella National Land Development Institute (NLDI)`s policy discussions to dispense with the Ministry`s official announcement of the plan. Only three or four days after the NLDI`s release, the MTC stated that it will decide on specific construction sites in the region.

The problem does not stop there. The MTC or NLDI has held no public hearings on the plan although a hearing seems mandatory on deciding such important issues as this plan involving development policies of the capital city`s wider metropolitan regions. What complicates the situation is the MTC`s incomprehensible clarification that the consensus over the plan is in the process of making.

This is contrary to the fact that President Kim Dae-Jung instructed the plan`s review, and there is also strenuous opposition from the both ruling and opposition parties against the construction. Naturally, this is enough to make the general public confused about whether or not the new city will be constructed. The administration must make loud and clear its exact stand on the matter.

The suitable region for the construction of 7 new satellite cities should unmistakably be Pangyo instead of Bundang. Pangyo is situated near Seoul. The apartments for new cities, if constructed in other regions, will hardly be sold. This being the case, the discussions must have been focused only on construction plans in Pangyo instead of mentioning other six regions as well. This can have the effects of diluting the plan`s focus.

Any new city constructions, be they in near the metropolitan Seoul areas or in the provincial regions, must have long-range plans that would require 10 to 20-year long-term developments to be undertaken step by step. It is not something to be pushed by hasty preparations. The relevant considerations here should involve effects on the policy to curb population density in Seoul`s wider metropolitan regions, shortage of residential houses, traffic congestions as well as water supplies. Specialists` adequate studies and forming of the public`s consensus must precede before making such important decisions as this one.

Quite apart from the new city plans, any public policies must have the process of public debate and forming of consensus. Dispensation of such due procedures or hasty and flurried undertaking of policy projects can incur many unjust sufferers as well as loss in the administration.