Rep. Lee Gwang-jae secures W24b in state funds for Hanam Gyosan community complex

Rep. Lee Gwang-jae of the Democratic Party of Korea announced Friday that he had secured about 24 billion won ($17.1 million) in state funding to build a combined community facility in the Hanam Gyosan district.

The funding was confirmed after the Hanam Gyosan district complex project was selected as a final recipient of the Ministry of Education's school-integrated facilities grant program. The designated site is Namhan Middle School, which is slated to relocate to the northern part of the Gyosan new town.

School-integrated facilities are a next-generation public infrastructure model that places cultural, sports and childcare amenities within unused school space, allowing schools to serve simultaneously as educational institutions and community hubs. The project will provide residents of Hanam's original urban core with a swimming pool, library, multipurpose gymnasium, lifestyle and cultural center, childcare facilities, a youth community space and below-ground parking — all open to both students and local residents.

Local political circles expect the development to go a long way toward addressing the longstanding shortage of cultural and sports facilities in older neighborhoods such as Singjang-dong and Deokpung-dong.

The selection also marks swift delivery on a campaign pledge Lee made during the election to build a complex where residents could "study, work, enjoy and rest." Since taking office, Lee has worked closely with the Ministry of Education, Hanam city government and the local education office to make the case for the facility and push for broader infrastructure investment in the original urban core.

"We will make Hanam's original urban core a more vibrant place, anchored by a world-class school," Lee said. "We will continue expanding school-integrated facilities and do everything we can to secure state funding for education and cultural infrastructure investment in Hanam."