Population Will Be Larger Than Pundang - Ilsan

▽ Predictions under the present conditions = Of the 8 towns in Yongin city, the three developing towns, Suji, Koosung, and Kiheung have respective populations of 143,000 – 38,000 – 73,000. Following Kyongki-do and Yongin city, 1, 2646 families moved into the eight towns since 1999. The number of families will increase to 38,191 by next year and to 64,497 by the year 2004. 57,200 new families will move in to the three towns– a number over 80 percent of the entire Yongin population.

If the size of an average family is 3.1 persons, the population in the three towns will increase to 177, 000 and raise the number over 430, 000 by 2004. This far exceeds the population in Pundang (390, 000) or Ilsan New City (270, 000) which have completed development.

▽ Actual conditions = Yongin city has the greatest shortage of schools among the 31 towns in Kyongki-do. To match the schools with the population, the city will need 43 elementary schools, 19 junior high, and 4 high schools, a total of 66 additional schools.

The six lane highway that passes through Suji village shrinks to half its size at Poongdukchon, the entry point to Seoul, and creates a mass traffic jam that spans hundreds of meters during rush hour.

▽ Difficult expansion of basic facilities = Yongin city is requesting that the Shin Pundang subway line, which runs from Pundang Paekkoo station ~ Yangjae ~ Kangnam, be extended from Suji district 1 and 2 to Sanghyunri ~ Kyongki-dae ~ Suwon Hwaseo station. Sungnam residents, however, are complaining that Yongin residents are burdening them by using Sungnam roads and transportation facilities, and oppose the request because of concerns about Yongin residents getting a free ride.

When the population suddenly rose in Suji, Yongin city decided to build a sewage disposal plant on a landsite of about 13, 7000m² that could dispose of 150,000t of sewage, but the projected completion date is 2005. Moreover, the area residents are complaining about environmental degradation and opposing construction.

▽ Plan = Kyongki-do department of education is planning to build schools on housing sites that have cancelled construction. Many private developers are looking to develop housing sites in Yongin and this will make it difficult to acquire land for schools and resolve the shortage problem.

According to the Wide Area Transportation Improvement Plan developed by the Sungnam Development Research Institute, commissioned by Sungnam city, the highways around Suji ~ Pan-gyo, Kyongbu highway Pan-gyo ~ Yangjae will not improve even if the Pundang ~ Uiwang highway is completed by 2006. However, if the Shin Pundang line opens by 2006, the highway situation in the increased population areas will greatly improve.

Lee Dong-Young argus@donga.com