Why did Gwangju Mayor-elect Park Gwan-yeol start an indefinite solo protest in front of Samsung Electronics?

Park Gwan-yeol, the mayor-elect of Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, launched an indefinite solo protest in front of Samsung Electronics headquarters on June 17, just two weeks before his July 1 inauguration. He is protesting the current plan for the integrated water supply project, which is essential for the "Yongin Advanced System Semiconductor Complex," a massive industrial development. Park argues that the proposed method unfairly burdens Gwangju while offering insufficient support for the city's development.

The Yongin complex requires a substantial amount of industrial water, necessitating a large-scale integrated water supply project drawing from sources like Paldang Dam. The planned pipeline route for this project passes directly through Gwangju. Park contends that the measures proposed by relevant authorities primarily focus on minimizing inconvenience during construction and do not constitute substantial support for Gwangju's future regional development.

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The relevant authorities' proposed measures remain at a technical level to minimize resident inconvenience during construction. They are difficult to view as substantial support linked to Gwangju's future regional development.

Park's protest at the headquarters of a company located in a different city highlights the deep-seated frustration and sense of neglect among Gwangju residents. For decades, the city has accepted significant development restrictions, including being designated as a water source protection area, to safeguard the Seoul metropolitan area's water supply. The proposal to disrupt Gwangju's land again for a pipeline to serve an industrial complex in another city has ignited local anger.

"Gwangju has endured various overlapping regulations for decades to protect the water source for the Seoul metropolitan area," Park stated, emphasizing the city's continuous sacrifice. "Now, in the process of supplying water for the Yongin semiconductor industrial complex, we are being forced to bear unilateral sacrifices again by allowing the pipeline route through our front yard." Park plans to continue advocating for Gwangju's position and urging for mutually beneficial measures.

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Gwangju has endured various overlapping regulations for decades to protect the water source for the Seoul metropolitan area. Now, in the process of supplying water for the Yongin semiconductor industrial complex, we are being forced to bear unilateral sacrifices again by allowing the pipeline route through our front yard.