Goyang, Gyeonggi Province – A significant cultural amenity project for Goyang City, the establishment of a book cafe at Ilsan Lake Park, has been effectively halted due to budget cuts by the city council, igniting a fierce dispute between the Goyang City government and its legislative body.

Investigations by the Incheon Ilbo reveal that Goyang City has been pursuing the book cafe project since 2023, aiming to transform the underutilized space beneath the southern end of the Hosu Bridge (located at 1522 Janghang-dong, Ilsandong-gu) into a vibrant cultural hub.

Following the allocation of design funds in late 2023, the city proceeded with architectural planning and a design competition. The project advanced to the detailed design phase, nearing 90% completion with a targeted opening date of October this year. However, the Goyang City Council’s decision to completely slash the 1.8 billion KRW construction budget in both the original budget and the first supplementary budget for this year has brought the entire initiative to a standstill.

The envisioned book cafe beneath the Hosu Bridge was planned as a single-story structure spanning approximately 240 square meters. It was designed to be a multi-functional space, seamlessly blending a cafe environment with a library area to facilitate reading and small-scale cultural activities.

Furthermore, the project included environmental improvements to the surrounding 2,200 square meter area, such as repainting the bridge’s underside and paving the ground. The exterior walls, intended to be constructed from glass, were designed to subtly blend with the natural surroundings during the day through their semi-transparent nature, while transforming into illuminating beacons within the park at night.

A Goyang City official expressed dismay over the council’s decision, stating, “The book cafe, combining library and cultural functions, is a facility that could simultaneously enhance citizen convenience and the nighttime aesthetics of the park. It is difficult to comprehend the city council’s decision to approve the design costs and then subsequently eliminate the entire construction budget.”

Conversely, Choi Seong-won, a Goyang City Council member from the Democratic Party representing Juyeop 1 and 2 Dong, firmly placed the responsibility for the project’s suspension on the Goyang City administration. “The blame for the cessation of the book cafe project lies not with the council but with Goyang City,” asserted Choi. “Mayor Lee Dong-hwan must first address the administrative confusion arising from the closure of small public libraries while simultaneously pushing forward with the book cafe.”

Council member Choi specifically raised concerns regarding the ‘book lending’ function of the proposed book cafe. “In the task specification document commissioned by Goyang City in May of last year, a lending function was clearly stipulated. However, during the budget review, the executive branch stated that the book cafe would not offer book lending services,” Choi pointed out. “Before any further discussion about the project, the administrative inconsistencies need to be clearly resolved.”

He further added, “This situation serves as yet another confirmation of Mayor Lee Dong-hwan’s narrow-minded approach in his attempt to close down public small libraries.”

Amidst the escalating conflict, Goyang City has announced its intention to reallocate the previously cut budget during the second supplementary budget formulation in September. This indicates a continued commitment from the city administration to revive the stalled book cafe project, setting the stage for a potential renewed clash with the city council in the coming months. The outcome of this budgetary maneuvering will likely determine the fate of this anticipated cultural space for the residents and visitors of Ilsan Lake Park. 

The upcoming deliberations on the second supplementary budget in September will be crucial in determining the future of the Ilsan Lake Park book cafe. The city government will need to effectively address the concerns raised by the city council, particularly regarding the rationale for the project in light of small library closures and the inconsistencies in project specifications. Conversely, the city council will need to articulate a clear rationale for their budget cut and potentially propose alternative solutions for enhancing cultural amenities within Goyang City. The residents of Goyang will be keenly watching this unfolding debate, as it directly impacts the availability of cultural and recreational spaces within their community.

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