Unlocking the Future: How Jeonbuk's Call for Special Legislation on Unofficial Roads Affects Your Daily Commute

[iNews24 reporter Park Jong-su] The Wanju County Council (Chair Yoo Ui-sik) called for enactment of a special law to formalize unauthorized roads and incorporate them into the public road network.

At the first plenary session of its 299th extraordinary meeting on the 10th, the council unanimously adopted a resolution introduced by Councilor Seong Jung-gi. The resolution urges enactment of a special law to regularize unauthorized roads and establish a consistent system for incorporating them into public roads and providing compensation.

In his remarks, Councilor Seong Jung-gi said that although unauthorized roads provide essential daily infrastructure for residents, the land beneath them often remains privately owned, repeatedly creating structural conflicts between property owners' rights and residents' right of passage.

He added that unclear management authority and responsibility limit local governments' ability to carry out road repairs or install necessary safety features.

Seong said disputes between owners and users — including claims for land‑use fees, demands to restore land to its original condition, and requests for purchase or land exchanges — have intensified, exhausting both officials and residents. He noted that existing statutes, such as the National Land Planning and Utilization Act, the Building Act, and the Road Act, are inadequate to comprehensively resolve the complicated ownership and compensation issues involved.

He emphasized that because municipalities currently rely entirely on local budgets to cover the substantial purchase and compensation costs required to convert unauthorized roads into public roads, cash‑strapped local governments often cannot undertake necessary maintenance. National legal authority and financial support are therefore essential to address regional equity and enable effective action.

The resolution calls for △ enacting a special law to regularize unauthorized roads and incorporate them into the public road system △ establishing a legal basis for national funding to cover incorporation and maintenance costs △ conducting a nationwide survey and developing a standardized management model using professional cadastral and spatial data △ supporting unauthorized road improvements by linking them to national competitive programs, such as urban regeneration.

Councilor Seong said, \"Improving unauthorized roads is more than a maintenance task; it is a critical policy agenda to protect public safety and secure basic mobility.\" He urged the National Assembly and the government to move promptly on institutional reforms, including drafting a special law that reflects voices from the field.

Meanwhile, the Wanju County Council plans to send the resolution to the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee and the Public Administration and Security Committee, the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Jeollabuk‑do Provincial Government, and the Jeollabuk‑do Provincial Council.