Suwon City Concludes '2023 Eco-Mobility Suwon Forum'

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Suwon Special Municipality held the '2023 Eco-Mobility Suwon Forum' on the 23rd at Suwon Convention Center.

The forum, held under the theme 'Future Development of Eco-Mobility with Citizens' to promote eco-mobility culture, was attended by over 120 participants including Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun, former ICLEI Executive Director Conrad Otto Zimmermann, ICLEI Deputy Executive Director Imani Kumal, Director Park Yong-nam of the Sustainable Cities Research Center, domestic and international eco-mobility experts, and citizens.

Key figures who played leading roles in the eco-mobility event ten years ago took the stage as speakers at this forum.

Mayor Lee, recalling his experience and memory as Deputy Mayor of Suwon City at the time who led the planning of the event, delivered a special keynote on the theme 'Changes in Haenggung-dong, Haengridan-gil and Eco-Mobility Suwon'.

The Mayor highlighted three key elements based on the creation of Haengridan-gil: 'citizen participation', 'Suwon-style urban regeneration linked with eco-mobility', and 'cultural and tourism content centered on World Heritage sites'.

As a solution to urban problems arising from increased foot traffic in Haenggung-dong, he proposed 'car-free villages'. As administrative support measures for 'car-free villages', he announced △prioritized support for housing-related projects △promotion of commercial revitalization projects △relaxation of landscaping and parking installation standards in construction. He also stated plans to review solutions including relaxed building restrictions, provision of resident-oriented parking facilities, and mutual benefit measures between landlords and tenants.

The Mayor highlighted the advantages of the eco-mobility system as △realization of carbon neutrality △improved quality of life through enhanced citizen health and safety △local economic activation, strengthened social connections, and sustainable society.

Mayor Lee stated, "I will pursue eco-mobility policies with enhanced accessibility and solidarity," adding "I will create citizen daily spaces within close distances and expand social connection spaces among neighbors, such as palm-sized gardens."

ICLEI Executive Director Conrad Otto Zimmermann, who contributed to 'Eco-Mobility Suwon 2013', continued the presentations. Conrad Otto Zimmermann explained urban innovation trends and cases under the theme 'Global Eco-Mobility Policy Trends and Prospects'. Director Park Yong-nam of the Sustainable Cities Research Center introduced methods for introducing ciclovías under the theme 'Car-Free Streets, Ciclovías'.

In the following second session, citizen participation discussions were held on the theme 'Future Vision and Development Plans for Eco-Mobility Suwon'. Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun served as moderator, with four experts—Conrad Otto Zimmermann, Park Yong-nam, Park Yeon-hee, and Suwon City Research Institute—participating as main panelists for lively discussions. In particular, over 100 residents from 9 districts participating in the 'Car-Free Day' project presented diverse opinions on activating 'eco-mobility practice' and the 'car-free village Haenggung-dong'.