'Foundation-Building Plan Befitting a Metropolis of 1.1 Million'

<p align="justify">For 2008, Suwon City plans to construct various infrastructure for fostering an education, culture, and tourism city, as well as the restoration of Hwaseong Fortress, while establishing economic, environmental, and administrative foundations befitting a metropolis of 1.1 million residents.</p><p align="justify"><strong>● Education, Culture, and Tourism</strong></p><p align="justify">In the education sector, aiming to create an international educational environment, the city will establish the '2010 Education Development Plan' and promote 70 tasks across five fields, expand youth international exchange programs centered on sister cities worldwide, and provide native English teachers to 42 elementary schools.</p><p align="justify">Additionally, the city will implement a school specialization development support project providing 200 million won (10 million won each to 20 elementary and middle schools), and set the target for raising Suwon Love Scholarship funds in 2008 at 11 billion won.</p><p align="justify">In the culture and tourism sector, Suwon will continue Hwaseong restoration projects including the restoration of Seongshinsa Temple (investing 1.2 billion won total) and the creation of a plaza in front of Haenggung Palace.</p><p align="justify">The city will also undertake Hwaseong tourism infrastructure development including the Film Culture Tourism District, restoration of Seomun Old Street (1 billion won), landscape creation of Paldaldan Hoijudo Road (3 billion won), and construction of Hwaseong Experience Hall (2.8 billion won).</p><p align="justify">Together with fostering a stay-and-experience type tourism city through the construction of two new hotels, the Film Tourism District development, and cultural facility construction around Jangsan Gate (454 billion won total, 6 billion won to be invested next year) will also be pursued.</p><p align="justify">The city also plans to hold the 8th Suwon Hwaseong Drama Festival (August), the 2nd International Conducting Competition (October), as well as cultural and sports events including the Suwon Open Tennis Tournament (May) and the World League Men's Volleyball Tournament (June-July).</p><p align="justify"><strong>● Regional Economy and Advanced City Infrastructure Development</strong></p><p align="justify">Suwon will complete the Suwon Industrial Complex Phase 2 project and pursue Phase 3 next year, while establishing economic city infrastructure by promoting a Small and Venture Enterprises Startup Support Center (where some 30 companies in information and communications will be based) and constructing the Gwanggyo New City Suwon Convention Center.</p><p align="justify">To strengthen competitiveness of small and medium enterprises, the city will provide 44 billion won in emergency management funds and 12 billion won in special guarantees. The city will also enact an ordinance establishing a Labor-Management-Government Council in February 2008 and organize the council in August to ensure labor-management stability.</p><p align="justify">Suwon will attract Gyeonggi Province's traditional market specialty project and intensively pursue traditional market revitalization projects at Seryeu Market.</p><p align="justify">In particular, the city will implement the 'Paldalgun Market Fine Arts Model Street' project, where a 130-meter section of Paldalgun Street will feature themed exhibition spaces and amateur cultural and arts club performances weekly from March through December, revitalizing the traditional market.</p><p align="justify">In October 2008, Suwon will host an 'Overseas Buyer Invitation Export Consultation Meeting' with some 20 overseas buyers and 100 Suwon-area companies participating to support small and medium enterprises' international trade.</p><p align="justify">The city will also establish the 2015 Suwon Urban Management Plan (revision) and pursue developments in Gwanggyo New City and Homaesil District, as well as Gwonseon AB District and Sindong District, while also implementing residential environment improvement projects in Seryeu District and Godeung District, and undertaking urban renewal and reconstruction projects for aging housing to build advanced urban infrastructure.</p><p align="justify"><strong>● Creation of Ecological Environment and Healthy Welfare City</strong></p><p align="justify">To develop sustainable environmental policies, the city will establish a mid-term environmental policy basic plan, expand eco-friendly product outlets, and discover environmental practice activities for 24 projects across four sectors.</p><p align="justify">In cooperation with the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) and others, Suwon plans to announce the Ecological Footprint Index, an indicator showing how consumption patterns affect ecosystems.</p><p align="justify">Additionally, the city will promote the citizen campaign 'Reducing Garbage by 10%' to reduce annual garbage generation by 100,740 tons and cut disposal costs by 21 billion won.</p><p align="justify">Suwon will pursue Suwon Stream restoration projects including the daylighting of covered sections from Jidong Bridge to Maegyo Bridge, ecological restoration of the upper bank of Seohocheon Stream, creation of an ecological learning center at Ilwang Reservoir, and natural stream improvement of Hwangguji Stream.</p><p align="justify">Regarding noise damage from the Air Force airfield, the city will continue pushing for the emergency runway elimination in cooperation with regional National Assembly members, operate a Suwon Airfield Task Force, and complete projects regarding Suwon Airfield noise damage (learning, health, property rights, etc.).</p><p align="justify">In the welfare sector, the 2008 minimum cost of living standard for a four-person household will be raised from 1.206 million won to 1.266 million won monthly, the third pilot project of the Long-term Care Insurance for the Elderly will be implemented, and Basic Old-age Pension payments will begin in January.</p><p align="justify">The construction of the municipal Senior Welfare Support Center (a cultural facility for the elderly) will be completed by October 2008, and the Chungsol Senior Welfare Hall will also be pursued.</p><p align="justify"><strong>● Development of Multi-Level Transportation Network and Strengthening of Metropolis Administrative Functions</strong></p><p align="justify">To resolve traffic congestion caused by Gwanggyo New City construction, Suwon will begin projects including North Suwon~Sanghyeon IC (7.9㎞, 305 billion won total), underpass at Court Intersection (910m, 47.5 billion won), elevation at Changnyong Gate Intersection and expansion of Route 43 (51.5 billion won).</p><p align="justify">The city also plans to complete the Suwon Station Bypass Road Sections 1 and 2 (6.3㎞) and road development project from Suwon Station to Homaesil IC (3.5㎞) next year.</p><p align="justify">To improve traffic flow in congestion zones, Suwon will invest 4.1 billion won total and construct a 5.6㎞ bicycle path with 3m width connecting from Gyeonggi Bridge on Suwon Stream through Hwahongmun to Jidong Bridge and the Hyanggyo Theme Street.</p><p align="justify">The city will reorganize city bus route systems in the direction of establishing a transfer system linked with newly established subway lines, and promote functional classification of city buses into single routes (15 routes) and trunk-branch systems (107 routes).</p><p align="justify">Suwon plans to introduce 28 low-floor natural gas buses for transportation-disadvantaged groups such as disabled persons and the elderly.</p><p align="justify">In the administrative services sector, to build an administrative organization commensurate with the size of the nation's largest local government with a population of 1 million, the city will propose to the central government the establishment of a Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs System and a Vice District Office Head system for cities with over 1 million residents, as well as the revision of rank standards.</p><p align="justify">The city will also pursue the establishment of a Museum Bureau for the operation and management of the newly constructed Suwon Station Museum and Hwaseong Museum.</p><p align="justify">Suwon will regularly hold 'Policy Briefing Sessions' attended by National Assembly members, provincial assembly members, related public institution heads, and Suwon-origin political and business leaders to expand consensus on national treasury-funded projects and strengthen city administration planning and coordination functions.</p><p align="justify">Additionally, the city will promote Phase 3 of the 'U-Happy Project,' a ubiquitous environment creation project, and establish the 'Policy Management Jiphyeonjeon' citizen monitoring group for comprehensive management of excellent policies to build a 'feedback system' where citizens evaluate city administration policies and reflect them in city governance.</p>