After losing two major employers the city of Gunsan is facing a population flight as workers look for jobs elsewhere in the country:
A shopping district in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province is deserted on Tuesday
The closure of GM Korea’s plant in Gunsan on Thursday is emptying the southwestern industrial town of its population in a process familiar from GM headquarters’ home of Detroit.
The Gunsan plant employed around 2,000 workers, but only 15 to 20 remain to look after the sprawling 1.2 million sq.m complex.
Song Yong-sun (55) came to work on Wednesday. “I’ve worked here for the last 23 years since the plant was built back in 1995,” he said. “I thought I’d retire at this factory, but now I’m at a loss.”
It is not the only closure turning the city in North Jeolla Province into a ghost town. Last July, a Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard shut its doors after failing to win new orders. [Chosun Ilbo]
You can read more at the link, but could you imagine what would happen to Gunsan if the US airbase outside the city ever closed as well?
When US industry and USFK leave, parts of Korea will be just like Moon wants.. on their knees begging a handful of rice from the government with nowhere else to turn.
Tell us again how helpful all those guestworkers are now…
I’m sure there’s a multicultural bumper sticker that covers this…
J6Junkie
6 years ago
When American thing leaves them Commie Moon and his millions of Commies can enjoy the true Korean dream. Rice gruel and kimchi stems.
ChickenHead
6 years ago
I don’t know what a kimchee stem is…
…but it sounds like North Korean comfort food.
Nonetheless… the headline is rediculous hyperbole.
Gunsan can never be the Detroit of South Korea…
…unless they bring in a bunch of African refugees and pass out aid packages with drugs and guns.
This is exactly what Moon wants. Koreans on their knees begging for more gov’t. He’s just the guy to give it to them also at the expense of people who still have a decent job left. Well done GM in leaving this god forsaken place.
When US industry and USFK leave, parts of Korea will be just like Moon wants.. on their knees begging a handful of rice from the government with nowhere else to turn.
Tell us again how helpful all those guestworkers are now…
I’m sure there’s a multicultural bumper sticker that covers this…
When American thing leaves them Commie Moon and his millions of Commies can enjoy the true Korean dream. Rice gruel and kimchi stems.
I don’t know what a kimchee stem is…
…but it sounds like North Korean comfort food.
Nonetheless… the headline is rediculous hyperbole.
Gunsan can never be the Detroit of South Korea…
…unless they bring in a bunch of African refugees and pass out aid packages with drugs and guns.
Hmmm.
Is there an NGO for this?
Yes, CH, it’s called UNRRA.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Relief_and_Rehabilitation_Administration
This is exactly what Moon wants. Koreans on their knees begging for more gov’t. He’s just the guy to give it to them also at the expense of people who still have a decent job left. Well done GM in leaving this god forsaken place.