eFM News

[Anchor]

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon is defending the city's recently-announced plan to redevelop Gwanghwamun Square into a cultural and historical hub by the year 2021.

Amid brewing controversy over what some are calling an ambitious project, the mayor appeared on our sister station tbs FM to clarify some of hot issues.

Julie Sohn has this story.

[Reporter]

In an interview this morning with tbs FM, Mayor Park refuted claims that the Gwanghwamun Square redevelopment project was pursued without a consensus with the central government.

[Park's clip]

He said the redesign project was something both the city and government have long been collaborating on.

He was responding to reports that Seoul city did not notify the interior ministry of its plan ahead of Monday's announcement on the blueprint of the envisioned transformation for the popular downtown area.

Mayor Park stressed that he will continue negotiations with the central government in order to solve any further differences.

In regards to public concern over the possible relocation of the King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-sin statues at the square, Park said that part of the plan has been scrapped.

He had previously pledged to move the prominent statues as part of his mayoral campaign.

The mayor asked for public support for his latest project, pointing to the Seoullo project as an example that was first criticized but later loved by citizens.

Julie Sohn, eFM News.■