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Bucheon Library Remodeling Scheduled to Begin
Busan City has decided to reopen the Bucheon Library, the first public library opened in 1963, through repair work without demolishing it. This means continuing to maintain a building that received a 'stop use immediately (E grade)' rating in a detailed safety inspection conducted in 2022, raising concerns about citizen safety and urban competitiveness.
Busan City plans to start repair and reinforcement work on the Bucheon Library at the end of November, aiming to enhance safety through structural reinforcements including seismic design. Approximately 6.7 billion won is planned to be invested in this construction. It remains to be seen whether this decision will have a positive impact on citizens.
The construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, after which public development in the form of Larchiveum, combining a library and complex cultural facilities, will be promoted until 2030.
The Bucheon Library was closed for three years after receiving an E-grade in a safety inspection conducted in July 2022. Although there are plans to reopen through this construction, the approach of simply reinforcing a building that has been 'stopped for immediate use' is raising concerns about inefficiency. This could lead to a decline in citizens' trust in their safety.
Playmaru Related Development Aborted
During the discussions on public development for the Bucheon Library, the ultimate abortion of the related development of the nearby Playmaru site has sparked significant controversy.
Busan City proposed joint development with Playmaru multiple times to create a complex cultural hub in the city center, but negotiations broke down due to opposition from the Busan Education Office.
As a result, integrated development around the Bucheon Library has become impossible, and this case remains a typical example of how insufficient cooperation between public institutions has harmed citizens’ interests.
Budget of 100 Billion Won, Efficiency Controversy
The total project cost for the public development project announced by Busan City is estimated to be between 70 billion and 100 billion won. However, there are concerns that the preservation policy for the existing building may lead to higher construction and maintenance costs compared to building anew after demolition.
Nevertheless, Busan City insists, "Access to the city center is excellent, and the effect of public development will be significant." However, simply emphasizing accessibility raises questions about resolving the problems of aging buildings and the efficiency of tax use.
Ultimately, the inability to boldly demolish meaningless old buildings remains a disappointing aspect. This situation suggests the need for more effective solutions.
Personal Opinion: Decision Prioritizing 'Preservation Justification' Over Citizen Safety
Personally, I feel very disappointed by this decision. The area where the Bucheon Library is located is not suitable for quietly reading or studying.
Moreover, buildings rated E should generally be considered for usage cessation and demolition, but Busan City is evading the core issue by citing 'historic preservation' as a reason.
The historical value of the library should not merely lie in the structure of the building, but should be sustained by creating a space that citizens can safely use and the cultural values generated within it.
The Busan Education Office's lack of cooperation is hard to comprehend.
If it is an institution operated with taxpayer money, collaboration to utilize urban spaces efficiently and enhance public service should have been essential. Nevertheless, by excluding the Playmaru site, it effectively blocked any synergy effects related to development.
In this situation, the question arises, "Is repairing an old building in the heart of the city for hundreds of millions of won truly the best choice?"
I propose to sell the Bucheon Library site for commercial use and use the revenue generated from this to partially utilize the wide playground of Playmaru as the library site, thereby constructing a new library that would become a landmark in the city center and adding a public parking lot underground.
The most important issue now is not unnecessary preservation but creating new spaces for the safety of citizens and future generations.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Why did you choose to repair and not demolish the Bucheon Library?
Busan City decided not to demolish the Bucheon Library citing its historical value.
Busan City has decided to reopen the Bucheon Library, the first public library opened in 1963, through repair and seismic reinforcement work without demolishing it. Despite receiving an E rank in the 2022 detailed safety inspection, they prioritized the justification for preserving the building over citizen safety. Approximately 6.7 billion won is planned to be invested in this repair work, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2026 and developed into a public complex cultural facility.
Q. What does the E grade assessment of Bucheon Library mean?
The E grade assessment signifies a very dangerous state that necessitates immediate cessation of use.
In the safety assessment conducted in July 2022, Bucheon Library received an E grade due to structural safety issues. This grade indicates a need for immediate cessation of use of the building, leading to the library being closed for three years. However, concerns about citizen safety have been raised as Busan City opted for reinforcement instead of demolition. The debate about the efficiency of simply reinforcing an E-grade building continues.
Q. Why was the joint development with Playmaru and Bucheon Library aborted?
The negotiations for joint development were terminated due to opposition from the Busan Education Office.
Busan City made several proposals for joint development with Playmaru to create a cultural hub around the Bucheon Library. However, the Busan Education Office expressed opposition, leading to the breakdown of negotiations and ultimately resulting in the abortion of the development. This made integrated development around Bucheon Library impossible, marking a case of how inadequate collaboration between public institutions harmed citizens' interests.
Q. What is the budget allocated for the repair of Bucheon Library and the ensuing controversy?
About 6.7 billion won will be invested in the repair work, raising concerns of budget waste.
Busan City plans to invest approximately 6.7 billion won in the repair and reinforcement work for Bucheon Library. While the total project cost of the public development project is estimated to be between 70 billion and 100 billion won, concerns have been raised that the preservation policy for the building may lead to higher construction and maintenance costs compared to demolition. Some critics argue that the excessive preservation of aged buildings undermines the efficiency of tax use.
Q. What are your personal opinions about the decision to preserve Bucheon Library?
I am very disappointed by the decision that prioritized preservation over citizen safety.
The area where Bucheon Library is located is not suitable for a quiet reading space, and buildings that received an E grade should fundamentally consider demolition. However, the evasion of the issue under the guise of preservation is seen as lacking serious consideration regarding the library's value. The historical value of the library does not lie in its architectural form but rather in ensuring safety for citizens and sustaining cultural values.