President Lee Jae Myung Urges Sarang First Church to End Forceful Resistance

President Lee Jae Myung visited the site of the Jangwi 10 redevelopment zone (a project to demolish and rebuild aging housing) in Jangwi-dong, Seongbuk District, Seoul, on the 4th, where Sarang First Church has used physical resistance to block forced eviction, urging strict enforcement by asking, "In a country governed by the rule of law, what sense does it make to hold out through force?" President Lee pointed out, "It's as if you changed the plan and cut them out because you couldn't carry out the forced eviction. That makes no sense." He emphasized, "There is no such thing in this world as breaking the law and getting away with it by holding out." He then instructed Seongbuk District Mayor Lee Seung-ro to "carry out enforcement thoroughly from now on."

The project was designated a redevelopment zone in 2008 and approved in 2017, but Sarang First Church delayed the project by demanding compensation above the appraised value (the fair price assessed by experts). Even after the residents' association (the organization of participating residents) won an eviction lawsuit (a suit demanding the occupant vacate the property), the church resisted the Supreme Court's forced demolition order. Last June, Seongbuk District revised the implementation plan to proceed with the redevelopment excluding Sarang First Church.

After President Lee's remarks, Sarang First Church issued a statement saying, "If so, then he should stand trial himself first."

With the visit, attention turns to whether enforcement of the long-delayed Jangwi 10 project will proceed in earnest under the president's push for public-led redevelopment. Along with the church's opposition, how the conflict resolution process unfolds remains to be seen.