The fancy, bourgeois District of Gangnam has revealed its intent for self-governance and independence from the greater Seoul metro area.
This past October 5, Gangnam District's chief Shin Yeon Hee requested Seoul's mayor Park Won Soon to make a proposition to the central government that will establish Gangnam as a 'Gangnam Special Autonomous District.'
The Gangnam District has been snagged in a prolonged conflict with Seoul over the 80,000 square meter development site for KEPCO's construction site purchased by Hyundai Motor Group for around 10.6 trillion KRW (~$9 billion USD). Hyundai stated they would contribute 1.7 trillion KRW (~$1.47 billion USD) to Seoul in exchange for looser regulations on land usage.
The Gangnam district believes that this fee rightfully belongs to them since the residents in the area will be burdened by all the construction in the area. However, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to use this money for other projects in other districts. The Gangnam District relayed, "The contributions by Hyundai Motor Company has to be expended for the district inhabitants who are inconvenienced by the urban development process," whereas the Seoul Metropolitan Government declared, "It should be used for the benefit of all citizens."
Shin Yeon Hee suggested, "If Korea's representative city of Gangnam is to be completely excluded [from the Seoul Metro area], how about proposing the establishment of a provisional 'Gangnam Special Autonomous District?" expressing a possible desire for the incorporation of Gangnam.
At Gangnam's declaration of independence, the Seoul Metropolitan Government responded, "It's [a suggestion] that loses sight of the basic foundations," and added, "It'll achieve nothing but criticism."
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