Suwon Accelerates Gwonseon District Development Project
[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] The long-delayed Gwonseon District development project in Suwon City is expected to accelerate.
Suwon City has recently unveiled a blueprint to encourage development of idle sites in Gwonseon District through changes to the district unit plan and, as a 'public contribution' from the development, to establish a 'school complex facility' and accelerate the creation of a 'future-oriented integrated school' for local kindergarten, elementary, and middle school students.
The city's plan aims to improve the educational environment for elementary and middle school students in the area while also meeting the demand for public cultural and sports facilities for local residents through the 'school complex facility.'
A 'school complex facility' is a cultural and sports facility installed on school grounds with added public value, and is an essential requirement for establishing a 'future-oriented integrated school' that helps form school-centered local communities. Facilities such as swimming pools, gymnasiums, and libraries within the complex can be freely used by local residents outside of school hours.
The city also plans to encourage development of idle sites within Gwonseon District through revisions to the district unit plan.
The city had previously requested the project operator to promptly undertake development on idle sites that were designated for 'commercial and retail facilities' in the Gwonseon District development project. In response, the project operator submitted a proposal to the city in April of last year that included changing the use of the site in part and establishing a school complex facility through a 'public contribution method' accordingly.
Based on this, Suwon City comprehensively considered residents' requests and the operator's proposals, including the establishment of indoor public sports facilities and new middle schools, and prepared a revised district unit plan that includes the 'school complex facility' public contribution plan. Subsequently, the city explained the revision to residents at resident briefings held in October last year and February of this year.
In fact, residents of Gwonseon District had persistently requested school establishment due to overcrowding at elementary schools in the area and the absence of middle schools.
In response to such resident demands, Suwon City gathered opinions and began earnestly promoting the establishment of a 'future-oriented integrated school' from 2019, and passed local fiscal investment reviews by both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety last year.
The 'Gwonseon District Future-Oriented Integrated School' being promoted by the city is not a new establishment due to increasing student numbers, but rather an integrated kindergarten, elementary and middle school (total 35 classes) that the local government will construct and operate, including a 'school complex facility.'
The 'Gwonseon District Future-Oriented Integrated School' is a special case that passed the Ministry of Education's Central Education Finance Investment Review by integrating three elements: ▲regional characteristics of Gwonseon District ▲operation of integrated kindergarten, elementary, and middle schools ▲conceptualization of future schools ▲linkage with local government complex facilities.
When Suwon City's blueprint is implemented, the 'Gwonseon District Future-Oriented Integrated School' based on the 'school complex facility' is expected to become a model case of an educational community linking schools and communities, and to create the nation's first 'urban-type future school' that connects future-oriented educational curricula.
Meanwhile, Suwon City is preparing to partially revise the establishment plan for outdoor sports facilities that were originally to be installed on idle sites owned by the Ministry of National Defense in the Gwonseon District area, reflecting resident opinions.
In response to resident opinions expressing concern about 'noise and light pollution from soccer fields and illegal parking,' the city plans to remove the soccer field that was included in the original plan and consult with the Ministry of National Defense, the landowner, to establish an 'X-game field' (extreme sports game field) and a lawn plaza that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and genders on a family basis.