Suwon Celebrates 70th Anniversary of City Status...Embracing 1.25 Million Citizens

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon City, marking its 70th anniversary of being elevated to city status, has prepared a variety of commemorative events.

Suwon City was elevated from a township to city status on August 15, 1949, and has grown from a rural area of 50,000 people to a metropolis of 1.25 million.

The 70th anniversary celebrations begin with the opening ceremony of the 'Path of History' on the 12th at the Old Pine Tree Lane in Manseok Park. The 167-meter pathway has been created in the Old Pine Tree section within Manseok Park. Stone plaques documenting Suwon's history from the Joseon Dynasty's King Jeongjo era to the present have been installed.

On the 13th, the 70th anniversary commemoration ceremony and civic forum will be held. The commemoration ceremony, themed 'Suwon for All,' will feature a situational drama titled '2049: The Future of Suwon.' Members of the Suwon Municipal Performing Arts Company will perform, depicting what Suwon citizens will look like in 2049, the city's 100th anniversary year.

Following this, Mayor Yeom Tae-young will present meritorious service medals to previous Suwon mayors and representatives of two businesses selected as 'Suwon City 100-Year Businesses.' A video showcasing 70 years of growth into a major city of 1.25 million people will be screened.

The civic forum, held in the City Hall conference room, will feature presentations of Suwon's governance excellence cases, special citizen performances, and discussions with experts. Citizens who participated in governance will lead the forum and present five excellent cases including ▲the Suwon Youth Policy Committee ▲the Suwon Citizen Participatory Budget Committee ▲the Suwon Community Welfare Coordination Council ▲the recruitment of Suwon High Court ▲the Suwon Citizens Council Military Airport Relocation Project.

Expert discussions will feature panels including Mayor Yeom Tae-young, Suwon City Council Speaker Jo Myung-ja, Central Daily News Regional Correspondent O Young-hwan, and Hope Institute Director Kim Je-sun, who will discuss the vision for governance.

On the 14th, an academic symposium titled 'Suwon: 200 Years of Planning, 70 Years of Growth, and the Future' will be held at the Suwon Convention Center Convention Hall. It will proceed with a keynote presentation by Honorary Professor Cho Yong-hyo of the University of Akron in the United States on policy tasks for enhancing global city competitiveness, followed by expert presentations and designated and comprehensive discussions.

On the 20th, the KBS Open Concert commemorating the 70th anniversary of city status will be held at the Suwon Convention Center. Domestic top-tier singers and vocalists will perform. The Suwon Museum will open a special 70th anniversary exhibition titled 'People-Centered Greater Suwon' in the planning exhibition hall from the 14th to October 20th. Visitors can view the city's footprints and future.