New Year's Address Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young

Dear 1.25 million citizens of Suwon! The new year has dawned.

'Hello'—a greeting we exchange so casually—yet I wonder if I have ever felt the meaning of 'hello' and the precious sentiment within that greeting as deeply as today. While I have always wished for your peace and safety, knowing full well that 'hello' is far from simple, my heart feels quite heavy as I offer my New Year's greeting. The unprecedented disaster of COVID-19 shook the very foundation of our lives again over the past year. In the midst of the repeated struggle against this infectious disease, children spent their days unable to play freely with friends. Hard-won jobs were lost, and the modest dream of homeownership seemed to slip further away.

The sighs of small business owners and self-employed workers grew deeper without end. The socially vulnerable are barely holding on day by day at the edge of blind spots. Yet amid all this, we endeavored earnestly to find an appropriate balance between quarantine and economic recovery.

We took the first step under the name 'phased return to normal life,' but taking the next step has proven difficult. Nature's warning to humanity, unfortunately, remains an ongoing process. However, paradoxically, crisis becomes an opportunity for change. When everyone feels crisis, 'positive mindset' becomes the key that unlocks the 'door of opportunity.'

Remote work has begun. As we spend more time with family, we rediscover precious values in daily life that we had overlooked in our rush, and we spend more time caring for one another. The spread of non-face-to-face contact has, in turn, driven the fourth industrial revolution and the advancement of digital technology. Through our collective fight against the pandemic, our community has grown stronger, reminding us once again of the importance of 'we' and 'together.' Even amid crisis, we have achieved growth. It was thanks to you who practiced quarantine measures faithfully, enduring repeated hardship and inconvenience.

In particular, I extend my deepest gratitude to self-employed and small business owners who faithfully followed quarantine guidelines despite significant sacrifice; medical personnel who endured extreme heat and severe cold with their bodies; assembly members who stepped up each time crisis struck with targeted disaster relief; volunteers who turned on sewing machines during the mask shortage and produced over 50,000 cloth masks, then rushed to vaccination centers as soon as they opened; our civil servants who led the way in thorough on-site quarantine operations and vaccination center management; and all citizens of Suwon who consistently united your strength to overcome crisis. You have worked hard. Thank you.

Respected citizens and beloved civil servants,
Thanks to you, over the past year, despite the difficult struggle against infectious disease, our city has reaped brilliant results. This is the fruit of efforts that did not succumb to despair at each critical moment, overcoming limitations and transforming crisis into opportunity.

We led the nation's first 'voluntary closure of red-light districts' without conflict, and after 60 years, the sex trade district in front of Suwon Station has disappeared. We united our efforts to transform that dark and inconvenient space into a dignified area where citizens' daily life and culture come alive.

We successfully hosted the 'Fourth Asia-Pacific Environmental Ministers Forum.' At this forum with participation from 32 member countries and 14 international organizations, we discussed climate change response and sustainable growth, widely publicized 'Environmental Capital Suwon,' and established a framework for international solidarity.

We have re-emerged as 'South Korea's Sports-Centered City.' Featuring 'KT Wiz,' which achieved the Korean Series championship in record time after its establishment, we have become the first basic local government to possess four major sports teams in baseball, soccer, basketball, and volleyball, further elevating Suwon's status as a sports city. We were selected as a 'Cultural City' by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Receiving a total of 10 billion won in national funding over five years, we have built a sustainable cultural ecosystem with citizens and acquired the capabilities to become South Korea's premier cultural city in substance and name. We were recognized as the most transparent city in the nation. In the 'Public Institution Integrity Evaluation for 2021' conducted by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, we received the highest grade among basic local governments for the second consecutive year, following 2020.

Beyond these achievements, we also secured 'excellence' in the nationwide evaluation of local government leaders' manifesto promises; received the 'Presidential Commendation' in the 2021 Korea Volunteer Awards for local government category; secured '2 billion won in provincial funds' through selection in the Hwanggujicheon Stream Restoration Project competition; and secured '15 billion won in national funds' through selection in the information technology project competition.

On January 13, the amended Local Autonomy Act finally takes effect. Change comes to Korea's local government history, which has been fixed in place for 32 years. We have been running affairs that did not match our city's scale. As citizens of a metropolis, we have endured in silence the irrationality of fitting people to the clothes instead of clothes to the people, without receiving services we rightfully deserve.

However, in January 2022! 'Suwon citizens' will now become 'Suwon Special City citizens.' The foundation for realizing genuine local autonomy has finally been laid. A special city transcends uniform administrative systems and represents a true realization of local government befitting our city's status, with respect for regional autonomy and diversity.

Through improvements in welfare benefit calculation standards that had been unfair, if our city receives the same asset criteria as metropolitan cities, approximately 22,000 residents in welfare blind spots will receive additional support. Additionally, the 'Second General Transfer of Functions Act' includes the transfer of 21 special tasks such as 'designation of tourism special zones' and 'support for non-profit private organization registration.' We are currently in consultation regarding 383 special tasks.

Through concrete implementation, we will secure not only the special city in name but also the administrative and task authority to bring about substantive change that citizens can feel, while making every effort to expand finances. Of course, we cannot be satisfied with the first sip.
Though the name special city may still feel unfamiliar, we will soon design a more livable and beautiful city befitting the status and dignity of Suwon Special City citizens. We will also strengthen the cultural foundation to match.

We will prepare for a great transformation of a new era, sharpening it through the lens of a special city. We will achieve balanced recovery with the light of hope. We will support the self-reliance of stagnant small business owners through loss compensation and business environment improvement. We will provide Suwon-style third-round disaster relief funds to vulnerable employment groups including those excluded from loss compensation, special form workers not covered by employment insurance, and freelancers, to help stabilize livelihoods. We will support jeonse loan interest for youth and newlyweds to provide a long-term and substantive housing safety net. We will steadfastly uphold the principle of people-centered respect for all.

We will realize 'collaborative governance's renewed leap' through genuine participation and communication with citizens. We will strengthen collaborative governance capacity through basic planning and public deliberation forums, giving the final push to completing government by citizens. We will conduct reality surveys and support projects for essential workers who must handle face-to-face work despite exposure to various risks, creating a local community where all are respected without marginalization and discrimination.

Through funeral support that preserves the dignity of those who die without family ties, we will also cherish the very last human rights of one's life.

Climate crisis response can no longer be delayed. We will implement immediate and pioneering action-oriented policies.
Climate change is affecting diverse sectors through the linkages of socio-economic systems. Environment has now transformed into a 'necessary environment' paradigm—not optional but essential for communal living. We will construct hydrogen charging stations in the eastern, western, southern, and northern regions of Suwon, expand green mobility distribution, and begin concrete action to establish a carbon-neutral foundation. We will build a virtual solar power plant platform through citizen participation to distribute renewable energy and create an energy self-sufficient city.

Through urban forest ecological programs including the development of Suwon Arboretum and Yeonghung Arboretum and green infrastructure construction in industrial complexes, we will expand the foundation of sustainable eco-culture in daily life. In the Hwanggujicheon Stream, home to otters designated as critically endangered wildlife, we will build a new eco-friendly wastewater treatment facility to ensure ecosystem stability, and install sports facilities and resident convenience facilities in the upper space to create a vibrant area.

We will prepare Suwon's 100-year economic foundation through tourism leveraging Suwon's proud history and culture and future growth drivers. Based on Suwon-style cultural city development, we will operate diverse cultural, artistic, and tourism content utilizing Suwon's specialized cultural resources. Through projects such as the construction of the Paldalgun Cultural Center and Jeongjo-themed Performance Hall, we will build cultural infrastructure where culture and arts become part of daily life.

We will actively attract high-tech companies such as IT and BT as well as specialized renewable energy and upcycling enterprises to idle sites resulting from the relocation of Gyeonggi Province public institutions, fostering high-value-added businesses. We will steadily advance the Tapdong District urban development project to realize balanced regional development through the creation of an 'advanced knowledge industry self-sufficient district' in western Suwon.

We will make the 'Future Smart Belt City Alliance,' a collaborative platform of eight cities in southern Gyeonggi including Suwon, a model of multilateral cooperation system to strengthen future industries and realize economies of scale. Furthermore, we will actively push for designation of the Suwon Convention Center, a future new-growth industry platform, as an international conference complex district to foster high-quality MICE industry.

This year's New Year's motto is 'Sinjonongsi (慎終謨始),' which means 'respect the conclusion and plan new beginnings.' It embodies the determination all of us must hold as we conclude the seventh popular election term and welcome the eighth popular election term and the launch of Suwon Special City. From July 2010, in all endeavors for Suwon, I have never taken the easy or quick path. Even if it takes longer, I have always sought to find the right way.

In 2022! I will now properly conclude the completion of 'Greater Suwon.' As endings and beginnings always meet, the mindset at the time of commencement will remain unchanged through the final day. I will faithfully tie up each promise made to citizens, making them the stepping stone for a new leap and the seventh popular election term.

2010 was the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese zodiac—the year of the white tiger. In my beautiful hometown, I began boldly, saying, "I will generously unfold my love for Suwon." That first departure of mine has now traversed the full cycle of the twelve zodiac animals with you, and I now offer my final New Year's greeting in the year of the tiger once more. Through the fifth, sixth, and seventh popular election terms, sharing both hardship and joy with you, we have created 'great history' together with 'great citizens.' In 2022, the Year of the Black Tiger, we have become special city citizens.

Respected citizens and beloved civil servants,
All preparations for the departure of the 'Suwon Special City ship' are complete. I have carefully examined whether there are holes in the deck, whether we have enough water to drink, and whether the rudder turns in the desired direction. Because we must travel a path no one has taken, I cannot guarantee that the voyage will always be smooth. However, since this is a special voyage embarking with prepared citizens, I am not afraid. I am now brimming with excitement, firmly believing this will be a voyage realizing 'Greater Suwon,' where local autonomy flourishes.

I have no doubt that the records we leave as we advance will become milestones and meaningful history of local autonomy.

In 2022, the 'Suwon Special City ship' now departs. I hope to take this pleasant journey with you!

January 3, 2022
Mayor of Suwon, Yeom Tae-young