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The '''Gyeyang Mountain Campaign''' was a five-year long ([[Timeline of | The '''Gyeyang Mountain Campaign''' was a five-year long ([[Timeline of Anarchism in Eastern Asia|2006 - 2011]]) [[Environmentalism|environmentalist]] action to protect Gyeyangsan, [[South Korea]] from damage from [[Golf|golf course]] development. | ||
== Background == | == Background == | ||
Latest revision as of 17:50, 3 April 2024
The Gyeyang Mountain Campaign was a five-year long (2006 - 2011) environmentalist action to protect Gyeyangsan, South Korea from damage from golf course development.
Background
Gyeyangsan is a mountain near the city of Incheon, South Korea that attracts around 10,000 tourists a day. Gyeyangsan is largely undeveloped and is home to over 600 endangered species. Since 1989, there have been four attempts by corporations to develop the slopes of the mountain, but all plans have been rejected by the regional government. But in June 2006, a proposed golf course on the mountain was made by another corporation, requiring to removal of many pine trees and leveling a significant portion of the mountainside.[1]
Events
The local Incheon Green Union was outraged by the proposal, and built a coalition with local churches, non-profit groups and city residents called the “Citizens’ Committee Against the Planning of Gyeyang Mountain Golf Course”. Despite the fact that the land for the golf course was privately owned and the Ministry of Environment didn't want to label the land as an endangered habitat, despite the many endangered species living there. The local government refused to inform the citizens committee of the process, in a manner openly violating democratic principles.
In response to this, Shin Jeong Eun, a 28-year old woman in the union began to take direct action. She broke into the site and scaled a 10 meter tall tree and installed a plastic platform for standing and sleeping (inspired by Julia Butterfly Hill). She lived in the tree for the next 56 days as supporters brought her food and supplies. She ended her occupation in December and Pastor Yun In Jung replaced her, occupying the tree for 154 days, ending the occupation when he had sudden health problems. Despite 80% of the city's residents opposing the construction of the golf course, the government attempted to build it anyway.
The Citizens' Committee began to take new actions, sending a new person to occupy the tree everyday and hold a hunger strike. To have as candlelight vigil in front of the city hall every wednesday and to submit requests with the Ministry of Environment to assess the land (which they refused). During the 2010 election season, they attempt to play off political parties with eachother to get them to oppose the golf course, and the political parties saw an opportunity to gain prestige by exploiting this social movement.[1]
Results
The government of Incheon conceded after elections to the protests, and legally blocked the construction of the golf course, leading to a three-year long legal battle with the company pushing for its construction.[1][2]