Legal disputes are brewing over the cancelled development project of the Yerae Resort Complex.

A previous land owner of the development site recently won his suit against the provincial government and reclaimed his expropriated land. Now the plaintiff has filed another lawsuit against Governor Won Hee-ryong for dereliction of duty.

He claims that his property rights and rights to access information have been violated due the governor’s failure to notify the landowners about the annulment of the project.

Meanwhile, another round of legal battles is coming between the province and the Berjaya Jeju Resort, the developer of the Yerae Resort Complex.

Joseph Kim reports.

More than 200 previous landowners of the canceled development project in (예래) Yerae have filed lawsuits against the Jeju Free International City Development Center to reclaim the land that was expropriated for the project

[slug] 203 previous landowners file lawsuit to reclaim 480,000 ㎡

The targeted land encompasses an area of 480,000 square meters, which accounts for 65 percent of the project site area.

The defendant may be the JDC, but Mr. (진경표) Jin Gyeong-pyo, one of the plaintiffs, argues that the first responsibility lies on the province.

[slug] Governor, 5 officials accused of dereliction of duty

Jin was one of the first plaintiffs who received his land back from the JDC following his winning of the lawsuit asking for the return of his land.

He now accuses five provincial officials including the governor of dereliction of duty and interference with the exercise of ownership to the prosecution.

At a press conference, Jin said that landowners have been damaged as the governor hasn't notified the annulment of the project even though the Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that the project was invalid.

He added that the governor’s dereliction of duty has caused unnecessary lawsuits.

Recording
Jin Gyeong-pyo / Landowner
The unprofessional conduct of government officials failing to notify the landowners of the annulment violated our property rights. The lawsuit against Governor Won is inevitable.
<씽크:진경표/예래단지 토지주>
"무효 고시도 안하고 있고 그러는 사이 토지주들은 재산권 침해 당하고 있습니다. 이런 상황을 가만히 본다는 것은 말도 안된다고 판단해서 고소하게 됐습니다."

[slug] Jeju Green Party: articles approving Yerae project should be removed

The Jeju Green Party also joined the press conference with Mr. Jin.

The political party emphasized that the improvised articles over recreational areas in the Jeju Special Act for approval of the development project in (예래) Yerae should be removed.

Recording
Ko Eun-yeong / Representative, Jeju Green Party
The province should should have made a notification regarding the annulment of the project as soon as possible and remove Article 406.2 of the Jeju Special Act to prevent wrong development projects from happening again.

<씽크:고은영/제주녹색당 운영위원>
"지금이라도 예래휴양형주거단지를 무효 고시하고 예래단지의 무리한 추진을 위해 개정된 제주특별법 406조 2항의 유원지 특례조항을 폐지해 잘못된 개발사업이 반복되지 않도록 해야할 것이다."


Meanwhile, the province responded that all of the administrative procedures have been annulled by the Supreme Court’s ruling, therefore notification of the annulment is not necessary.

But it adds that the category of the land which had been classified as recreational areas or tourism complex will be changed through consultation with Seogwipo City.




[slug] Jin holds protest, urging the governor to make a notification

Mr. Jin is urging the governor to notify the annulment by holding a solo protest in front of the provincial office.

The Council of Landowners in Yerae-dong comprised of 130 previous landowners is also asking for the governor’s notification and reversion of the expropriated land by the JDC.

[Reporter] Joseph Kim
[Camera] Park Byeong-june
[CG] So Ki-hoon

Meanwhile, another round of legal battles are coming between the province and Berjaya, as the Singapore-based developer lodged an appeal to the Seoul Central District Court against the decision of a court following Berjaya’s losing suit against the province for damages demanding about 200 million won.

Joseph Kim, KCTV