[Anchor]

The government has announced that it will focus all its efforts on housing supply alongside the designation of regulated areas. The plan for 60,000 new homes in the Seoul metropolitan area, announced in January, includes building 10,000 units at the Yongsan International Business District in Seoul, 6,800 units on the site of the Taereung Golf Course in Nowon-gu, and 9,800 units by relocating the Gwacheon Horse Racing Park and the Defense Security Command in Gyeonggi-do. However, the plan for Gwacheon has faced strong opposition from local residents and the Korea Racing Authority labor union since its initial announcement. Our reporting team has obtained the relocation review proposal submitted by the Korea Racing Authority to the government, and the consultation process appears to be far from smooth.

Reporter Baegun has the exclusive report.

[Reporter]

Over 100 vehicles are lined up, displaying banners that read, "Defend the Horse Racing Park at All Costs."

This is a vehicle protest organized by Gwacheon citizens and the Korea Racing Authority labor union to oppose the government's unilateral push for relocation.

[Park Geun-moon / Chairman of the Korea Racing Authority Labor Union: The government is currently prioritizing speed over proper review, and is ordering us to relocate before making any promises regarding support.]

Amidst this, SBS has confirmed that the Korea Racing Authority submitted a 26-page review proposal regarding the relocation of the horse racing park to the government on June 27.

The proposal, created through labor-management consultations, states that the government must bear 2.38 trillion won in costs, including construction expenses, excluding the land cost.

It also stated that the basic plan for the relocation of the racecourse can only be approved if related regulations and tax policies are eased, such as abolishing the cap on betting ticket purchases and lowering the leisure tax.

The union also demanded that the relocation process be halted if the government fails to fulfill its promises and economic feasibility cannot be secured.

This means there are multiple hurdles to overcome even before the public call for a new relocation site begins.

The government stated, "We will review the Korea Racing Authority's demands and consult with relevant ministries."

The sites of the horse racing park and the Defense Security Command are key areas planned under the January 29 housing supply measures, intended to absorb demand in Seoul and the southern Gyeonggi region.

As the government has promised to supply housing in the metropolitan area without setbacks, a race against time is expected. Whether the government can swiftly resolve these differences in Gwacheon and stick to its plan to begin construction by 2030 appears to be a deciding factor for the success of the entire housing supply plan.

Reported by Baegun | Video by Lee Byeong-ju | Video Editing by Park Chun-bae | Graphics by Jeon Yu-geun