New Year's Address Mayor Kim Sung-je of Uiwang

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Mayor Kim Sung-je of Uiwang has adopted "the running horse never stops its hooves" (馬不停蹄), symbolizing "a horse does not stop its hooves," as the keynote for 2023, expressing his determination not to rest on past achievements but to deliver results that citizens can deeply feel.

In his New Year's address, Mayor Kim stated, "Last year, despite difficult circumstances including prolonged COVID-19, torrential rains, the Itaewon tragedy, and heavy snow, with the warm support of 160,000 citizens and the passion of civil servants, we wisely overcame challenges and received positive evaluations both domestically and internationally."

He also expressed his determination to make 2023 a substantive first year of the eighth elected term, accelerating the implementation of seven major visions and 80 pledge projects while pursuing administration with momentum.

First, new urban development projects including "Wanggok Complex Town" and "Omaegi District" will begin in earnest this year, following the commencement of development strategy projects last year.

The city plans to actively support public housing district projects currently underway—Gocheon Happy Town, Chopyeong District, Wolam District, Cheonggyae 2 District, and the third new city—to contribute to the stability of residents' housing.

Additionally, to secure quality jobs and enhance urban self-sufficiency, the city plans to establish an industrial complex in Poil-dong, attracting medical and biotech clusters, and developing it as a knowledge industry belt connecting Gwacheon and Pangyo.

The city will actively coordinate with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Strategy and Finance to expedite the "Indeokwon-Dongtan" and "Wolgot-Pangyo" double-track railway projects, long-cherished wishes of residents. The city also plans to make Uiwang Station on GTX-C a core transportation hub for the third new city.

Additionally, the city will work to reflect the Wirye-Gwacheon Line extension to Uiwang Station in this year's Gyeonggi Province Urban Railway Network Construction Plan and the Fifth National Railway Network Construction Plan in 2026.

To implement education policies tailored to Uiwang's regional characteristics, the city will pursue the establishment of a dedicated education support office for Uiwang, open two additional public and private childcare centers, develop the Uiwang-type childcare model, and create a quality education and childcare environment by supporting 500,000 won in postpartum care costs and postpartum management services.

Additionally, the city will open two Uiwang Career and Academic Counseling Centers in early this year to provide customized career and academic guidance from consulting experts, and from the second half will provide 100,000 won per elementary school student for school supplies.

To enable residents to enjoy high-level cultural and arts, the construction of a cultural arts hall within Gocheon Happy Town will proceed. Design is scheduled for completion by June this year, with completion targeted for September 2025.

Baekun Lake and Wangsong Lake, which symbolize Uiwang, will be reborn as premium lakeside parks. Baekun Lake Park will be developed as a premium neighborhood park with musical fountains, waterfront performance venues, and wildflower zones, while Wangsong Lake Park will transform into a distinctive park in connection with the third new city.

The city will also strengthen independence and protection for people with disabilities. From August, it will operate an "independent living experience home" providing residential space and living programs for people with severe disabilities, and is also preparing a "disability 365 shelter" where disabled individuals can be safely entrusted during emergencies, and a "disability healing shelter" for cultural and leisure activities.

In particular, the "free elderly bus ride support project" and the "senior healthy life plus project" supporting seniors' healthy meals, nutrition, and physical fitness are expected to significantly contribute to the health and quality of life of the elderly.

In the public safety sector, the city will add 800 CCTV cameras to crime-vulnerable areas and introduce smart security lights in 100 alleyways to create an environment where residents can return home with peace of mind.

Additionally, the city plans to support the installation of flood prevention facilities in flood-prone areas to prevent water damage.

Finally, Mayor Kim stated that he would operate open administration through regular communication with residents, ensuring policy appropriateness and increasing citizen satisfaction with city administration.

Mayor Kim Sung-je emphasized, "2023 is a very important time when we must advance forcefully based on currently established policy directions," and stressed, "We will bring about a dramatic redevelopment of Uiwang City, improve citizens' quality of life, and create a premium city of Uiwang that everyone wants to live in."

The following is the full text of Mayor Kim Sung-je's New Year's address.

Respected residents of Uiwang and colleagues in Uiwang City public service!

The hopeful new year of 2023, the Year of the Black Rabbit (癸卯年), has dawned.

On this year symbolizing wisdom and agility represented by the black rabbit, I wish health, good fortune, and the fulfillment of all your hopes for your families.

The eighth elected term, which launched with great vigor in July last year to make the dream of a premium city blossom, has already passed six months as we welcome the new year.

Last year was truly eventful, with COVID-19 continuing into its third year, summer flooding and water disasters, the Itaewon tragedy, and heavy snow.

Even amid such difficult circumstances, with the active support and cooperation of residents, we overcame many challenges wisely and enabled Uiwang to make a new leap forward.

Particularly, in October last year, through the vision declaration ceremony of the eighth elected term Uiwang, we confirmed and announced "seven major visions and 80 pledge projects" and are accelerating the fulfillment of these pledges together with citizens.

Respected residents!

This year, though circumstances both domestically and internationally are not favorable, will be the substantive first year of the eighth elected term toward the dramatic revitalization and completion of our city as a premium city. I intend to prioritize the following policy projects to this end.

First, I will create a pleasant and eco-friendly premium city.

To develop an eco-friendly city in Wanggok-dong and Omaegi areas, we will begin substantive projects this year following the commencement of development strategy projects at the end of last year.

The Wanggok-dong area will be developed as an eco-friendly complex town, creating approximately 5,000 residential units alongside an eco-friendly waterfront citizens' park, a premium education complex, and a biotech cluster.

The Omaegi area is planned to develop approximately 3,000 residential units along with a sports park and knowledge industry center, expected to bring balanced development benefits to the Gocheon and Ojeon residential zones.

By the end of this year, we will establish the "Uiwang Smart City Master Plan" to introduce cutting-edge IT technology to urban infrastructure including transportation, safety, and environment, and establish the foundation for Uiwang-type smart cities systematically applicable to urban development.

We will actively support public housing district projects.

Gocheon Happy Town is scheduled for completion in June 2024, Chopyeong and Cheonggyae 2 districts in September 2024, and Wolam District in June 2026, expected to significantly improve residents' housing conditions.

The third new city development project in the Wolam and Chopyeong areas will have district designation in early this year accompanied by announcement of basic urban development concepts. We will actively coordinate with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and LH Corporation to help realize self-sufficient cities and improve residents' quality of life.

We will also support the rapid implementation of 14 redevelopment and reconstruction projects spanning Gocheon, Bugok, Ojeon, and Naesoon-dong to enable them to be reborn as pleasant residential complexes.

The Dong-Anyang substation will undergo indoor encasing of materials and equipment to minimize resident inconvenience from noise and electromagnetic waves, and we will place the high-voltage transmission tower crossing residential areas in Naesoon-dong underground to create a safe residential environment and improve urban aesthetics.

The comprehensive hospital issue within Baekun Valley faces many difficulties due to recent sharp real estate market recession and rising interest rates, but we will work to attract it early to expand local healthcare infrastructure.

Second, I will create an advanced self-sufficient city full of jobs.

Through the development of the Poil-dong industrial complex connecting Gwacheon and Pangyo, we will attract knowledge-intensive industries including medical and biotech and research and development to create quality jobs.

The Uiwang Industrial Promotion Agency will be established by the first half of 2024, providing comprehensive and systematic support to small and medium enterprises.

Bugok Dokkaebi Market will be fostered as a specialized market connecting with nearby Wangsong Lake Park, rail bike, and other regional cultural and tourism resources, and through Gyeonggi Province's traditional market facility modernization public announcement project, we will comprehensively upgrade aging facilities to further enhance visitor convenience.

From this month, we will expand special guarantee support for small merchants and provide secondary interest rate benefits.

To revitalize local commerce suffering from consumer contraction, we will implement merchant-led customized support projects including joint marketing and promotion centered around merchants' associations registered within the city.

Additionally, through environmental improvement projects for Galmi Shopping Center, we will establish the foundation for growth as a representative commercial district of Uiwang.

We will promote video content creator training programs targeting small and venture businesses and youth within the city, and operate makerspace workforce training programs to support industry-related startups and job creation.

Third, I will create a transportation hub city convenient for citizens.

The Intelligent Transportation System Construction Project, selected for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's public announcement in September, will complete design projects in April, and we plan to establish regional emergency vehicle priority signals and integrated parking management systems by year-end.

We will also actively coordinate with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Strategy and Finance so the "Indeokwon-Dongtan" and "Wolgot-Pangyo" double-track railway projects, long-cherished wishes of Uiwang residents, can begin construction early in Uiwang's sections.

Additionally, we will conclude implementation agreements with private operators regarding GTX-C line stops at Uiwang Station and attract a complex transfer center to make Uiwang Station a core transportation hub for the third new city.

We will actively work to reflect the Wirye-Gwacheon Line extension to Uiwang Station in this year's "Gyeonggi Province Urban Railway Network Construction Plan" and 2026's "Fifth National Railway Network Construction Plan."

We will expand Uil-ro 2-section road along Baekun Lake and establish a new entrance ramp for the Gwacheon-Bundang Expressway toward Suwon at Cheonggyae IC.

By opening a road between Ojeon and Cheonggyae, we will effectively disperse increasing traffic by connecting Baekun Valley to Sky Rest.

We will complete a citizens' park and public parking lot at the Gocheon District culture park site by year-end, and develop a public parking lot in Ojeon-dong by 2024.

Fourth, I will create Korea's highest-level education excellence city.

We will establish a dedicated education support office for Uiwang to implement education policies suited to our region's characteristics, and actively support the Naesoon integrated middle and high school future school to open normally in March 2025 and establish the foundation for an excellent school.

Additionally, we will develop the Uiwang-type childcare model reflecting regional characteristics and childcare environment, and open two public and private childcare centers this year to strengthen public childcare and create a childcare environment where parents can confidently entrust their children.

In the first half, we will support 500,000 won in postpartum care costs per mother and postpartum management services to reduce the financial burden on childbirth families and strengthen healthy childcare environments.

From the second half, we will support 100,000 won per elementary school student for school supplies, and plan to establish four new community childcare centers for elementary students requiring care.

Through the Youth Smart Health Guardian Project, we will provide useful health management information to growing adolescents and customized solutions for growth imbalances including obesity.

Additionally, we will open two Uiwang Career and Academic Counseling Centers in the first half to support customized career and academic guidance from education consulting experts for students and parents.

The tentatively named Uiwang Education Happiness Center project that entered administrative procedures last year will be completed by 2025, providing comprehensive educational facilities needed by students and residents including libraries, mathematics experience centers, career and academic counseling centers, and lifelong learning centers.

Additionally, we plan to open one public small library and two each of private small libraries and book cafes.

Fifth, I will create a city of culture, welfare, and sports where all residents are happy.

The cultural arts hall, a long-cherished residents' project, will be built within Gocheon Happy Town, completing design by June and targeting completion by September 2025.

We will create premium lakeside parks at Baekun Lake and Wangsong Lake, symbols of Uiwang.

Baekun Lake Park will be developed as a premium neighborhood park reflecting the latest trends with musical fountains, waterfront performance venues, and wildflower zones, while Wangsong Lake Park, pursued in connection with the third new city project, will expand in scale and transform into a distinctive premium park combining leisure and tourism.

We will make greater efforts so people with disabilities can live without inconvenience.

From August, we will operate independent living experience homes providing residential space and living programs for people with severe disabilities who desire independent living, strengthening the independence capabilities of disabled individuals.

We will establish disability 365 shelters where guardians can confidently entrust temporary care of disabled children during emergencies, and develop disability healing shelters by October to expand opportunities for disabled individuals' cultural, leisure, and educational activities.

We will support seniors living more healthily and actively.

We will provide customized health services for seniors using smart devices. From the second half, we will actively pursue the senior healthy life plus project targeting seniors aged 80 and above for healthy meals, nutrition, and physical fitness improvement.

Additionally, we will newly implement free elderly bus ride support for seniors aged 65 and above to actively support seniors' healthy lives.

We will continue to expand recreational sports facilities. We will newly establish a baseball field in Wanggok-dong, a tennis court under Wonter Bridge in Cheonggyae-dong, and a soccer field at Baekun Lake Park.

Sixth, I will create a city environment where citizens feel safe.

By June this year, we will install firefighting facilities at the recycling center to establish a fire response system.

We will add 800 CCTV cameras to crime-vulnerable areas and introduce smart security lights in 100 alleyways to create a walking environment where women and children can safely return home at night.

We will support flood prevention facility installation in areas frequently experiencing flooding from typhoons and heavy rains, and will promptly pursue recovery projects for flood-damaged rivers this year, completing them by June once detailed design is finished.

We will accelerate the Geumcheon Stream small waterway improvement project begun last year, completing it by the second half.

Finally, I will realize open communication administration with citizen participation.

We will regularly operate visiting mayor's office and dialogues with social organization leaders to strengthen communication administration finding answers in the field.

We plan to further expand volunteer activity support public announcement projects so volunteer organizations can bring warmth throughout the community.

To create a pleasant residential center environment, we will complete design for the Cheonggyae-dong community center expansion project and complete construction by the first half of 2025.

Respected residents of Uiwang!

This year is a very important time when we must advance forcefully toward "a city of hope and a vibrant green Uiwang" as a substantive first year of the eighth elected term administration.

Together with eco-friendly urban development, to complete a premium city where education, welfare, culture, and arts come alive,

the civil servants of Uiwang will do their utmost to heed your wishes and efforts.

We will bring about a dramatic redevelopment of Uiwang City, improve your quality of life, and surely create a premium city of Uiwang that everyone wants to live in.

I ask for your continued support and cooperation as we take strides toward completing our premium city.

I hope health and happiness are always with you and your families on this new year.

Wishing you a happy new year.