The building of a navy base in the Seogwipo community of Gangjeong was extremely controversial. As part of efforts to win over local residents, the national government agreed to a number of community development projects, and the first is now complete. As Mike Balfour now reports, though, there remains a long way to go to ease tensions.

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Gangjeong, Seogwipo

After years of conflicts and disagreements about the Jeju Civilian-Military Complex Port in (강정) Gangjeong Village, there is a festive mood today.

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Gangjeong Community Center complete

The construction of the (강정) Gangjeong Community Center has been completed.

6.7 billion won was allotted for the project. The community center includes rooms for senior citizens, offices, rental houses and a concert hall.

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Multi-use facility is first of 20 projects to be finished

The community center is one part of 2012 development plans for the village that go along with the construction of the Jeju Civilian-Military Complex Port.

The construction of the community center is the first of 20 projects to be completed.

At the opening ceremony, governor (원희룡) Won Hee-ryong promised full support to help the community to recover.

Recording
Won Hee-ryong / Governor
As governor, I will do everything I can to ensure nothing impedes the successful completion of the projects planned in Gangjeong.
< 원희룡 / 제주특별자치도지사 >
강정마을에서 계획하고 있는 여러가지 사업들이 정확한 의사 결정을 거쳐서 차질 없이 추진될 수 있도록 도지사로서 최선을 다하겠습니다.

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Some area residents remain dissatisfied

The community center has been completed, but it's not enough to some Gangjeong residents.

They claim that Seoul and the province have failed to keep their word as many planned projects have made little progress.

INTERVIEW
Gang Hui-bong / Gangjeong village council leader
Seoul and the province should keep the original promises they made when construction of the navy base began. They promised to grant scholarships to local students, but now they're claiming that there is no legal ground for doing so.
< 강희봉 / 강정마을회장 >
해군기지를 처음 지을 때의 약속을 반드시 지켜줘야 합니다. 마을 후손들의 훌륭한 인재 양성을 위한 장학사업 등을 약속했는데 지금은 법을 따지며 근거가 없어서 못 준다고 합니다.

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‘Establish the facts about the navy base construction first’

They insist that priority should be given to present the facts of the community conflict before material aid efforts to unite the divided community.

INTERVIEW
Gang Dong-gyun / Representative, Navy base opposition group
To really help the community recover, the province should revise the Jeju Special Law to establish a legal ground for Seoul to launch a fact-finding investigation into the construction of the base.
< 강동균 / 강정마을 해군기지반대주민회 대표 >
진짜 공동체 회복을 원한다면 진상조사를 위한 특별법을 이번에는 반드시 제정하고 그것을 기틀로 해서 정부에까지 요구해야 합니다.

Authorities have made a first step toward community recovery but there is a long way to go to settle the conflict that has lingered for more than 10 years.

[Reporter] Mike Balfour
[Camera] Kim Seung-cheol

The Gangjeong village conflict has become a test for the leadership of the governor who emphasizes communication and reconciliation.

Mike Balfour, KCTV