YONGIN — The city of Yongin has secured full ownership of a school access path in front of Eondong Elementary and Middle Schools in Eonnam-dong, Giheung-gu, that had remained in private hands for 24 years.
The city said on the 20th that it had completed the transfer of ownership for seven plots totaling 935 square meters, spanning 132-21 to 132-27 Eonnam-dong, which were laid out when the schools opened in 2002.
The path was built for students walking to and from Eondong Elementary and Middle Schools. Procedures to hand the land over to the city were initially planned after construction, but the land stayed in private hands for years because some owners never completed the donation.
As a result, the city faced limits on installing and maintaining facilities such as canopies and safety fences along a path used by students and residents. Parents and residents had called for the site to be transferred to city ownership and for more pedestrian safety facilities to create a safer route to school.
The path was held in divided shares by three private owners. The city continued negotiating with each owner to secure full ownership while also pursuing legal action where necessary.
The city first reached an agreement with one company and completed the registration of ownership transfer through donation in March this year. It then negotiated with a second company, signed an agreement in June and completed the transfer of that company's share in July.
For the remaining share held by a third party, an association, the city concluded that the statutory period for acquisitive prescription by possession under the Civil Act had been met, on the grounds that it had maintained and managed the path for more than 20 years. The city filed suit seeking registration of ownership transfer and secured the final share through a court ruling.
Acquisitive prescription by possession allows a party to obtain ownership of real estate belonging to someone else, subject to certain conditions, if the party has held it peacefully and openly for 20 years with the intent to own it.
The Suwon District Court ruled on the 17th of last month that the association must carry out the procedures to transfer ownership of the land to the city of Yongin. The ruling became final on the 7th of this month, and the city completed the transfer of the remaining share on the 16th.
The move resolves an ownership dispute over the path in front of the schools that had gone unsettled for 24 years. It also clears the way for installing facilities for students' safe commute and for systematic management of the route.
The city plans to review ways to reinforce safety facilities along the path and improve the walking environment in connection with the Yongin Eonnam publicly supported private rental housing supply promotion district project now under way nearby.
Mayor Lee Sang-il said the acquisition "is the result of public officials persistently negotiating with landowners and actively pursuing legal procedures to resolve an inconvenience for residents."
"We will continue to actively resolve the inconveniences residents face and long-standing issues," the mayor added. "We will do our utmost to create a safe commuting environment where students can go to school with peace of mind."