(Jeonnam Gwangju = Yonhap News) Reporter Jeong Hoe-seong = In Gwangju, Jeonnam, which is seeking to host a local branch of the National Assembly Library, competition is heating up with fierce competition not only between autonomous districts in the Gwangju region but also within the autonomous districts.
According to Nam-gu and Buk-gu in Gwangju, Jeollanam-do on the 5th, the National Assembly Secretariat's research service to find a candidate site for the National Assembly Library branch is scheduled to last for about 10 months after completing the selection of an executing agency in late last month.
When the optimal candidate site is identified based on evaluation criteria such as balanced regional development, historicity, symbolism, land compensation, and infrastructure costs, the National Assembly Secretariat makes the final selection of the construction site.
The location of the National Assembly Library branch is expected to be confirmed in the second half of next year, and construction is expected to begin in early 2028 at the earliest.
The review and analysis of candidate sites is conducted nationwide, and Nam-gu, which has expressed confidence in hosting the site and raised its voice, has expressed internal differences of opinion over site selection.
While Nam-gu's bid to host the library developed into a conflict within the autonomous districts, Buk-gu also entered the competition, expanding the library bid to a competition between autonomous districts.
Buk-gu is emphasizing the former Gwangju Prison, a historical site of the May 18 Democratization Movement, as a candidate site, focusing on historicity and symbolism among various evaluation items.
The idea is to combine the symbolism of May 18, such as democracy, human rights, and peace, with the function of the National Assembly Library.
In addition, 415-6 Ilwondo Buk-gu, Maegok-dong, adjacent to the Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall, Gwangju Museum of Art, and Gwangju National Museum began to promote the attraction by presenting their own analysis that it was the best candidate site for the library as a 'knowledge culture belt'.
Buk-gu plans to monitor the step-by-step progress of the research project, which is scheduled to end at the end of July next year, and take action, including suggesting opinions.
The situation is complicated in Nam-gu, which worked hard to attract a branch of the National Assembly Library. Differences in opinion among local members within the autonomous district regarding potential sites are leading to emotional battles.
The bid promotion committee, in which Rep. Jeong Jin-wook of the Democratic Party of Korea, a local member of the National Assembly, argues that the site of the former Veterans Affairs Hospital, which is public land owned by Nam-gu, should be selected as a candidate site.
However, Nam-gu Office, the owner of the former Veterans Hospital, is reluctant to purchase additional land around the site of the former Veterans Hospital, and is reviewing Songam Neighborhood Park in Songha-dong and the vicinity of Nodae-dong, which are areas of the private park special project, as candidate sites.
In a press release on the 1st, Rep. Jeong cited data received from the Jeonnam Gwangju Unified Special City, asserting that "it is difficult for a branch of the National Assembly Library to be established in Songam Park," and Nam-gu analyzed the same data and delivered a rebuttal to reporters that Rep. Jeong misinterpreted the content.
Some in the local community are reviewing the candidate sites that have been mentioned so far and expressing concern about the lack of a focal point to mediate internal conflicts, and some are of the opinion that the integrated city, city council, and political circles should provide a public forum.
An official from Nam-gu said, โWe plan to hold a public hearing to find a suitable candidate site by listening to the opinions of residents and experts,โ and added, โWe will gather the opinions of the community and raise our voices so that they are reflected in the research service.โ
