"Calling on the Government to Fulfill the President’s Promise to Preserve Dongducheon’s Old STD Management Center! Urging State Responsibility and Withdrawal of Dongducheon City’s Demolition Plan!"
The Korean Council is participating in the Joint Committee to Stop the Demolition of Dongducheon’s Old STD Management Center.
On February 3, the Joint Committee held a press conference calling on the Lee Jae-myung administration to fulfill its responsibility to preserve Dongducheon’s Old STD Management Center, and urging the Dongducheon City government to withdraw its plan to demolish the site.
On November 14, 2025, President Lee Jae-myung clearly stated during a Gyeonggi Northern Region town hall meeting that “it is desirable to preserve Dongducheon’s Old STD Management Center, and the government will look for ways to make this possible.” However, despite this public commitment, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has taken no concrete action toward responsible preservation. It has also been confirmed that the planned demolition has not yet been reported to the President. The Presidential Office and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family must immediately translate the President’s remarks into actionable policies.
Meanwhile, Dongducheon City continues to maintain its stance. City officials have stated that “even if the central government provides national funding, demolition will proceed,” and that they would “consider preservation only if the entire national budget for the Soyosan expansion development project were fully funded.” Furthermore, it has been reported that the mayor of Dongducheon has been publicly stating in various settings that the Old STD Management Center “will be demolished next year,” using the issue as a campaign promotion.
The demolition of Dongducheon’s Old STD Management Center is not merely a local issue. It concerns the preservation and remembrance of a site where state violence occurred, and therefore requires consideration and resolution at the national level. The Lee Jae-myung administration must take proactive steps to ensure the preservation of this historic site.
"Calling on the Government to Fulfill the President’s Promise to Preserve Dongducheon’s Old STD Management Center! Urging State Responsibility and Withdrawal of Dongducheon City’s Demolition Plan!"
The Korean Council is participating in the Joint Committee to Stop the Demolition of Dongducheon’s Old STD Management Center.
On February 3, the Joint Committee held a press conference calling on the Lee Jae-myung administration to fulfill its responsibility to preserve Dongducheon’s Old STD Management Center, and urging the Dongducheon City government to withdraw its plan to demolish the site.
On November 14, 2025, President Lee Jae-myung clearly stated during a Gyeonggi Northern Region town hall meeting that “it is desirable to preserve Dongducheon’s Old STD Management Center, and the government will look for ways to make this possible.” However, despite this public commitment, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has taken no concrete action toward responsible preservation. It has also been confirmed that the planned demolition has not yet been reported to the President. The Presidential Office and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family must immediately translate the President’s remarks into actionable policies.
Meanwhile, Dongducheon City continues to maintain its stance. City officials have stated that “even if the central government provides national funding, demolition will proceed,” and that they would “consider preservation only if the entire national budget for the Soyosan expansion development project were fully funded.” Furthermore, it has been reported that the mayor of Dongducheon has been publicly stating in various settings that the Old STD Management Center “will be demolished next year,” using the issue as a campaign promotion.
The demolition of Dongducheon’s Old STD Management Center is not merely a local issue. It concerns the preservation and remembrance of a site where state violence occurred, and therefore requires consideration and resolution at the national level. The Lee Jae-myung administration must take proactive steps to ensure the preservation of this historic site.