New Year's Address County Governor Yu Cheon-ho of Ganghwa

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Choi Ki-ho] County Governor Yu Cheon-ho of Ganghwa announced that in 2023, he will "continue to move forward so that 'Ganghwa's Future' and 'Our Dreams' can become brighter."

Governor Yu stated this in his New Year's address on the 1st and emphasized, "I will surely create a 'Ganghwa County that all citizens of the Republic of Korea will envy,' where simply living in the Ganghwa region itself becomes a 'healing experience.'"

To this end, he said he will establish multi-purpose living and cultural centers, such as the Happiness Center, across different regions, create a new urban park in Onsu-ri, Gilsang-myeon, and develop the entire Ganghwa County into a tourist city where people flock.

He added, "I will establish a comprehensive fisheries and tourism market in the Waepo district of Nae-ga-myeon by 2024, and begin operating Ganghwa's Naval Ship Park using the warship currently positioned in the waters off Waepo-ri. We will proceed without delay on major tourism projects, including cultural heritage night tours, the Ganghwa South Coast Ecological Trail, and expanded tourism infrastructure in Seodo-myeon."

The following is the full text of Governor Yu Cheon-ho of Ganghwa's New Year's address.

I will continue to move forward so that 'Ganghwa's Future,' 'Our Dreams,' can become brighter.

Dear Citizens of Ganghwa County!

A new year in the Year of the Rabbit has dawned.

I sincerely hope that all citizens will have a healthy and more prosperous year.

Ganghwa County looks only to the development of its citizens and region, and we will share the hopes of the new year together with our citizens.

Together with our citizens, we will achieve the grand dreams we all aspire to.

Wishing you abundant blessings in the new year!

Last year, despite many trials and hardships, our county moved forward boldly and without hesitation for the happiness of our citizens and the future of the county.

With the strength and unity you citizens provided, we achieved great results, hosted the KBS Open Concert for the first time in county history, and had many occasions to smile together.

Ganghwa County's budget for citizens' happiness exceeded 700 billion won, and in 2022, Ganghwa County was selected as an excellent institution in the Republic of Korea Local Autonomy Development Awards.

The regional transportation networks we have long advocated for are now materializing one by one.

Construction of the first expressway reaching our county is scheduled to begin next year, and expectations continue to grow for the construction of the Ganghwa-Youngjong Bridge connecting to Incheon Airport within 30 minutes and the connection of urban railways to the capital region.

We will also resolve the congestion issues on the Ganghwa Bridge and Chojji Bridge that have caused significant inconvenience on weekends by promptly advancing the construction of a new bridge in our county.

The Seodo Yeonro Bridge project, which has already begun the design phase, will be constructed with speed, and I will do my best to ensure that our county's growth infrastructure projects, including the construction of the Gimpo Coastal Road connecting Incheon Seo-gu and the expansion of the Gilsang-Seonwon Provincial Road, are completed within a short time.

Improving the quality of life for our citizens and ensuring that everyone is happy and prosperous is my dream and aspiration.

As a border area and while preserving cultural heritage and rural communities, our citizens have faced many restrictions, and this quality of life is rightfully deserved. Therefore, during my previous term, I pushed forward with many initiatives to raise the standard of living for our citizens.

In the eighth popular election term, I will extend this 'innovation in quality of life' to every corner of the villages and have it take root deep in daily life.

I will surely create a 'Ganghwa County that all citizens of the Republic of Korea will envy,' where simply living in the region itself becomes a 'healing experience.'

I will establish multi-purpose living and cultural centers, such as the Happiness Center, across different regions and create a new urban park in Onsu-ri, Gilsang-myeon.

Additionally, I will hold large-scale concerts and cultural performances with citizens throughout the year and create more opportunities for people to temporarily forget their daily routines and feel excited about memories.

I will operate the emergency response team for civil matters more proactively, and through the Dangun Call Center, health care in senior centers, and support for families in crisis, I will eliminate all shadows cast upon the socially disadvantaged within Ganghwa County.

I will continue to lay the foundation so that our children can build their futures with dreams and hope.

I will support English education for our children who will live in this globalized era from an early age, and I will expand overseas cultural experience and language study programs so that more young people can participate.

I will establish third and fourth scholarship centers in Seoul and Incheon, increase the scholarship fund to 15 billion won by 2024, and support university tuition for our students to ease economic concerns as talented people from Ganghwa County grow.

Disasters and crises that threaten life and safety can arrive in an instant.

I will prioritize "safety" as the highest value of policy, carefully manage safety in daily life, and steadfastly protect the lives and livelihoods of our citizens.

Focusing on 'preemptive response,' 'preventive response,' and 'rapid response,' I will establish a systematic and reliable disaster response system prepared for all risk factors.

I will significantly expand intelligent CCTV that independently alerts to abnormalities such as safety accidents, enroll and operate civil safety insurance for all citizens, and invest 10.5 billion won to construct 9 sidewalks to reduce the risk of accidents for elderly people walking along roadsides.

Regarding newly emerging infectious diseases such as COVID-19 that may occur in the future, the recently established Infectious Disease Response Center will provide safer protection for our citizens.

We have expanded the budget in this field more than twofold to create a prosperous rural agricultural and fishing sector.

This year, I will focus on pioneering innovation and growth in agriculture, livestock, and fishing, as well as increasing farm income.

Last year, we signed an export agreement for Ganghwa Island Rice with Canada's largest Korean distribution company and achieved a significant result by exporting 20 tons of rice.

Going forward, our county will expand export items, including local specialties, starting with this agreement, and will do our best to expand sales channels through broadcast advertising and enhanced distribution networks in major cities.

Additionally, I will put considerable effort into smart agriculture and cultivation of new income crops to prepare for future agriculture resilient to climate and environmental crises. I will pursue the 'Project to Enhance Vitality in Fishing Villages' on a scale of 10 billion won as a new fishing village renewal project, and support eco-friendly breeding facilities to enhance livestock competitiveness.

Despite the ongoing COVID-19 situation, through facilities like the Hwagae Garden and monorail, we have far exceeded 15 million tourists, providing significant benefits to the local economy.

Going forward, I will develop the Hwagae Garden into the most renowned premium garden in the Republic of Korea, and through active investment in the tourism resources each area possesses, I will develop the entire Ganghwa County into a tourist city where people flock.

I will establish a comprehensive fisheries and tourism market in the Waepo district of Nae-ga-myeon by 2024 and begin operating Ganghwa's Naval Ship Park using the warship currently positioned in the waters off Waepo-ri.

In addition to this, I will proceed without delay on major tourism projects such as cultural heritage night tours, the Ganghwa South Coast Ecological Trail, and expanded tourism infrastructure in Seodo-myeon. Centered around the Sochang Experience Center that embodies our county's identity, I will create a vibrant Ganghwa-eup original downtown district where people and culture thrive, and will spare no effort in promoting local consumption expansion.

Dear Citizens of Ganghwa County!

I have an inspiring goal: 'Ganghwa's Development' and 'Citizens' Happiness.'

On the path toward this goal, no matter how many obstacles and difficulties arise, just as always, I will open blocked roads and create new ones to move forward.

In the newly beginning eighth popular election term, I promise you four years of growth for our county and togetherness with our citizens.

"A County Governor Who Keeps Promises"—this has already been proven.

I will continue to keep these promises with all my dedication.

As these promises come together, I will continue to move forward so that 'Ganghwa's Future' and 'Our Dreams' can become brighter.

"A hopeful future is not obtained on its own but is created."

I will create a hopeful future for our county together with our citizens.

A prosperous future for Ganghwa truly belongs to you, our citizens.

In 2023, I hope all of you achieve what you aspire to, that all citizens are happy, healthy, and receive abundant blessings. Thank you.