New Year's Address Mayor Yeom Tae-young: "We will start anew for the next decade as 'Suwon Special City'"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young stated, "We will begin a new decade as 'Suwon Special City,' which will serve as a stepping stone for realizing local autonomy and decentralization," and added, "The top priority goal for 2021 is to protect citizens' safety and revitalize the local economy."

In his New Year's address, Mayor Yeom said, "This year's economic revitalization depends on whether we overcome COVID-19," and emphasized, "Until COVID-19 is conquered, we will not let our guard down and will prepare comprehensive measures based on the worst-case scenario."

He continued, "Citizens have practiced social distancing, complied with quarantine guidelines, and served as a breakwater protecting the Suwon community through action and practice," expressing gratitude and saying, "Citizens are the true heroes."

He also stated, "Over the past decade, citizens have demonstrated the wisdom to overcome difficulties, warm hearts, and courage to face fears head-on. Just as great citizens have built a great city, with you, we will be able to completely emerge from this dark tunnel this year."

Mayor Yeom Tae-young pledged, "In January 2022, we will become Korea's first 'Special City citizens,'" and continued, "I will make my best efforts to secure quasi-metropolitan administrative authority so that 'Suwon Special City' can be successfully launched."

Major policies to be pursued this year include ▲Creating a sustainable urban ecosystem ▲Building a comprehensive social safety net to create a people-centered inclusive city ▲Creating Suwon's unique cultural value ▲Building an innovative growth future city.

The following is the full text of the New Year's address.

Esteemed Citizens!
Although 2021 should begin with hope, we are still enduring a difficult time in the midst of an unprecedented crisis called 'COVID-19,' which began in January last year. We are told to wear masks. We are told to keep distance from each other. A simple meal out with family or a drink with colleagues has become a distant memory. Self-employed business owners worry about when to close their shops due to lack of sales.

In an era requiring social solidarity, cooperation, and coexistence for myself and my neighbors, citizens have endured suffering and participated in overcoming the crisis, just like the slogan 'bodies apart, hearts together.'

People say they wear masks because they don't want to harm others. When there was a shortage of masks, citizens made cloth masks themselves and shared them with neighbors through the 'good mask sharing movement.' For those in greater difficulty, they readily donated disaster basic income and organized volunteer groups in each neighborhood to support quarantine efforts.

Through practicing social distancing and complying with everyday quarantine measures, enduring tremendous pain in daily life, and through action and practice, you have served as a breakwater protecting the Suwon community.

Our city has also been busy running and running to be together.

We secured the authority to hire 'infectious disease epidemiologists' to improve rapid identification of infection routes and on-site response capabilities. We operated 'temporary living facilities' so that close contacts could live safely and 'peace-of-mind return home services' for overseas arrivals. After considering where families of overseas arrivals could stay, we operated 'peace-of-mind accommodations' through mutual prosperity agreements with in-city hotels and pursued innovative and proactive crisis management based on the principles of rapid response and excessive response, leading K-quarantine efforts. The New Year's bell ringing at Yeomingak that wishes to send off the old and welcome the new, and the sunrise viewing ceremony at Seojangdae were also 'temporarily halted' for citizens' safety. Citizens are the 'true heroes' in this land where grassroots democracy is alive.

We will have the scale and authority befitting the 'first special city.'

When I began my fifth term of directly elected office in 2010, I made one promise.

"I will definitely achieve recognition of special treatment for large cities through consultation with the National Assembly and central ministries."

Ten years have passed since then. To keep the solemn promise I made with citizens, I have called for 'local autonomy' and 'decentralization' at every venue I visited, and devoted myself wholeheartedly to the passage of the 'Local Autonomy Act Comprehensive Amendment' and the designation of 'Suwon Special City.' However, the National Assembly turned a deaf ear to our legitimate demands. Each time, I emphasized 'local autonomy' and 'decentralization' with even greater conviction. I visited central ministries so often the threshold wore down, and appealed to the National Assembly. On December 9, 2020, the National Assembly finally raised its hand to the stern voices of citizens. The 'Local Autonomy Act Comprehensive Amendment' including the designation of 'Suwon Special City' passed the National Assembly. My hands trembled, my throat tightened, and my eyes became moist.

'Completion of a greater Suwon centered on people' and 'Suwon Special City,' which will serve as a stepping stone for realizing local autonomy and decentralization, has begun to take its first steps like the light of dawn. The road was always lonely, yet never solitary. Citizens have always walked alongside me. When I was about to fall, you lifted me up, and when my shoulders drooped, you comforted them warmly. None of this would have been possible without the efforts of regional members of the National Assembly, city council members, civic organizations, the media, and over 3,500 public officials.

One year later, in January 2022, we will become Korea's first 'Special City citizens.' I will make my best efforts to secure quasi-metropolitan administrative authority so that Suwon Special City can be successfully launched. I ask for your continued participation and support as we navigate this challenging path to bring central and provincial government authority and fiscal incentives to Suwon.

Starting anew from Suwon Special City, we will 'begin again.'

Last year, our city conducted a 'refresh,' painstakingly reviewing all administrative matters from the ground up to navigate the major wave of fiscal crisis. We viewed all problems from a new angle, and this became the foundation for 'innovation' and returned as 'results.'

▶ 'Emergency Vehicle Priority Signal System' blossoming with proactive administration (2020 second half proactive administration excellence case 'Presidential Award')
▶ 'Shared Refrigerators' creating a sustainable future together (22nd Sustainable Development Award 'Presidential Award')
▶ 'Design-centered Administration' disseminating standardized guidelines (22nd Korean Design Award 'Presidential Award')
▶ 'Restroom Next to Art Museum' preserving pride as a leader in restroom culture (22nd Beautiful Restroom Award 'Grand Prize')
▶ 'Safety Culture Movement' raising correct safety awareness (2020 Safety Culture Award 'Presidential Award')
▶ 'Suwon Station' selected as 'excellence station' in metropolitan express railway (GTX) transfer center pilot project
▶ Korea's first integrated budget and accounting management service among collaborative agencies (2020 local finance excellence case 'Presidential Award')
▶ 1st place nationwide in 2020 local government innovation evaluation by Ministry of Interior and Safety
▶ 'Suwon FC' K League 1 promotion after 5 years, 'KT wiz' advancing to postseason
▶ Ministry of Environment selected Suwon as first 'Environmental Education City'
▶ National Ombudsman, 'Suwon City excellent grade in public agency integrity evaluation'

Unfortunately, this year we will begin with even more difficult financial conditions than last year due to economic downturn and sluggish consumption caused by the pandemic.

We will not 'overcome' change but establish a new benchmark and make it a springboard for 'leaping forward.' The era before and after COVID-19 will show clear differences. We living in the COVID era have directly witnessed and experienced the value of a 'community living together, united, in cooperation.' Remembering deeply that bundled branches do not break easily, we will respond to crisis.

As we greet the new year, the greatest concerns citizens have are: Can we win against the COVID-19 crisis? Can we revitalize the deteriorated local economy toward inclusive growth? And can we secure substantial authority befitting special city status?

To realize this, reflecting our commitment to city administration, this year's theme for Suwon is set as 'Anning Jisheng' (安民濟生, helping citizens and stabilizing livelihoods), prioritizing citizens' safety and hoping all economic difficulties are resolved. "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts," as the ancient philosopher Aristotle said. Through the synergy of community far stronger than individual effort, let us overcome today's crisis together!

Based on the bitter lessons of the COVID era and ten years of experience, we will begin our 'restart' together with citizens. We will make citizens' safety and revitalization of the local economy our top priority.

This year's economic policy fundamentally depends on overcoming the COVID-19 crisis. If we cannot contain the spread of COVID-19 early, it is difficult to implement any economic policy. COVID-19 will surely end. However, excessive optimism is not appropriate. We will not let our guard down and will prepare comprehensive measures based on the worst-case scenario.

We will continue operating the 'Suwon City Disaster and Safety Headquarters' 24 hours, and establish 'Health Management Division' and 'Infectious Disease Response Team' at health centers to provide prevention-focused health management services. We will also pursue construction of a new Paldal Police Station to prevent crime and improve the environment in old downtown areas. To secure 'golden time' to guarantee citizens' lives and safety, we will link intelligent transportation systems to the emergency vehicle priority signal system and support flame-resistant masks to vulnerable facilities, implementing more comprehensive citizen safety policies. Due to last year's unprecedented global pandemic and economic crisis, we are experiencing severe economic downturn. This will be even more painful for the socially vulnerable. We will implement inclusive policies for local economic recovery and the post-COVID era.

We will expand customized job support programs for youth, middle-aged workers, career-interrupted women, and the elderly facing employment difficulties. We will create 'Suwon Social Valley' in Paldal and Youngtong districts, establishing startup incubation infrastructure and installing shared sales facilities to realize common interests and social value based on solidarity and cooperation.

We will introduce donation functions and mobile payment systems to 'Suwon Pay' and protect traditional markets and street commerce through online marketing support for small business owners and smart traditional market projects.

We will create a sustainable urban ecosystem.

To build a 'carbon-neutral, Net-Zero environmental city,' we will reset our city's 2050 greenhouse gas reduction target and take proactive action on climate. We will promote biogas projects through cooperation with neighboring local governments, supply 1,130 green mobility vehicles, and expand charging infrastructure. Through region-centered green new deal, we will lay the foundation for a century of settlement cities where the future can be dreamed. Around Suwon Delta Plex, we will build green infrastructure and create urban forests through city parks, pocket parks, and green curtains throughout the city to actively address urban environmental issues for reducing fine dust. We will develop Suwon Arboretum into a differentiated, high-quality urban arboretum and utilize it as a space for healing and education for 1.25 million Suwon citizens, working to ensure pleasant environmental rights.

We will build a people-centered inclusive city through a comprehensive social safety net.

We will supply 'Multi-child Family Suwon Human Housing,' free rental housing for multi-child families without homes, with 30 to 35 units annually from this year until 2025. We will establish 'community health and welfare teams' in each dong administrative welfare center to provide health and medical services centered on the community that citizens can feel. We will create a walking roadmap guaranteeing mobility rights for the transportation disadvantaged and establish Suwon Social Welfare Town to proactively address diverse welfare needs. We will expand six 'Together Care Centers' for after-school childcare and nine public and national childcare facilities, creating a happy childcare environment for children and parents.

We will create cultural value unique to Suwon.

For the authentic restoration of Suwon Hwaseong, we will consult with the Cultural Heritage Administration so that 299 lots in Namsudong and Jidong areas can be designated as cultural heritage protection zones. We will accelerate the transition to stay-type tourism by building smart platforms in Haenggung-dong and developing world heritage utilization content. Additionally, we will establish the National Agricultural Museum in the former Rural Development Administration building to promote the value of agriculture and continue its tradition as a center for agricultural science.

We will ensure substance through integrated operation of lifelong learning centers and foreign language villages and establish Paldal Cultural Center and Suwon cultural facilities to create living culture spaces for local community revitalization. Thanks to citizens' support, Suwon FC, which achieved K League 1 promotion after five years, will stage even more exciting 'Suwon Derbies' and once again heighten the pride of 'Suwon City,' a sports mecca.

We will accelerate innovation-driven growth and future city building.

Suwon Station will be reborn as a veritable landmark of the southern Gyeonggi region with its position as a railway hub. At Suwon Station, where metropolitan railway networks including Gyeongbu Line, National Railroad Line 1, Suwon-Bundang Line, Suin Line, KTX originating station, and GTX-C Line intersect with 102 bus routes, we will complete a transfer center by 2025 and reorganize bus stops for fast transfer within three minutes and a pedestrian-focused healing space. We will redesign the urban space structure responding to urban paradigm changes and establish the '2040 Suwon Urban Master Plan' reflecting urban future vision. We will create a 'Green Energy Ecological Village' in Dangsu and Seoho districts and implement a smart city-type urban regeneration project in Yeonmu-dong to ensure there is no digital divide in the old downtown. Additionally, we will establish a Smart City Division to oversee smart city projects and accelerate our city's digital new deal.

Beloved Citizens!

'Somewhere over the rainbow, dreams become reality' — a line from 'Over the Rainbow' in the 1939 musical film 'The Wizard of Oz.' Upon reflection, perhaps dreams and hope depend on what mindset one adopts.

Over the past decade, citizens have demonstrated through personal example the wisdom to overcome difficulties, warm hearts, and courage to face fears head-on. With dreams and hope, we will surely win against the COVID-19 crisis. We will drill through the tunnel of economic crisis and achieve inclusive growth. We will secure authority befitting the status of a 1-million-person special city. We can do this. We have done so, we are doing so, and we will continue to do so. Just as great citizens have built a great city, together with you, my beloved citizens, in 2021, we will completely emerge from this dark tunnel. And at the end of that tunnel, a year of shining hope, a year of citizen victory awaits us with open arms in 2021.

2021 is a hopeful year of the 'White Ox.'

Respected Suwon Citizens! Beloved Suwon City Public Officials!
I thank you for your precious hearts shown toward city administration over the past year. This year, I hope the energy of the 'White Ox,' symbolizing good fortune and protection, touches each home of Suwon citizens, and wish that all your desires come true this year.

Abracadabra! Thank you! I am grateful! I love you!

January 1, 2021
Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young