Respected citizens of Osan!
And public officials!
As we leave behind the eventful year of 2023, the new year of 2024, the Year of the Dragon (甲辰年), has arrived.
As we welcome the new year of 2024, I pray that happiness and vitality overflow in every household of our citizens, and that all your hopes and wishes be fulfilled.
Furthermore, I extend my deepest gratitude once again to each and every citizen who has shown particular interest in and unwavering support for our city administration over the past year.
Reflecting on the past year, 2023 saw the declaration of the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, which put a period to the dark and long tunnel of the corona era. The people's economy faced considerable hardship due to high interest rates and high inflation, and the international situation was very unstable due to military conflicts occurring around the world.
Thus, 2023 was a year in which hope and trials intersected both domestically and internationally, and it was an important year in which we confirmed the great tide of the times—a yearning for change and harmony.
It has already been a year and a half since I took office.
During this time, I have worked with various public officials to make multifaceted efforts to lay the foundation for the future of Osan, and such efforts appear to be bearing fruit recently.
Not long ago, there was welcome news that Segyo District 3 was included as a new public housing district.
The designation of Segyo District 3 will prevent the deformed development of Segyo Districts 1 and 2, coordinate with the metropolitan transport network such as the KTX and GTX, and serve as a foundation for realizing an economically self-sufficient city of 500,000 population equipped with quality jobs and self-sufficient facilities by leveraging the advantage of its location at the center of the semiconductor cluster.
Furthermore, with the determination to "go anywhere—to government agencies, to the National Assembly, or elsewhere—to realize what citizens need," I have traveled extensively to government agencies to resolve our city's pending issues and to establish a well-connected transport network.
First, I revived the Gyeongbu Rail Crossing Road project, which had been stalled for the past eight years, through consultations with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), and additionally secured 30 billion won in contributions from LH.
In September, I completed the opening of the Osan section of the Western Bypass Road, resolving traffic congestion for Segyo District 2 residents and commuter vehicles from nearby industrial complexes. Additionally, I recently opened the underground road section at Osan City Hall for the East Avenue Continuity project, which had caused considerable inconvenience to citizens over several years due to sluggish construction work.
Furthermore, upon taking office, I examined our city's fiscal situation and found it to be in very poor condition.
In response, with the resolve of cutting my own flesh, I carried out organizational restructuring by downsizing two departments, and achieved considerable savings in expenditure through adjusting the number of subsidiary organizations and abolishing division chief positions.
Moreover, I made continuous recommendations to related agencies such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety regarding the standard personnel expenses, for which over 10 billion won in financial penalties were expected, and was able to adjust the total standard personnel expenses upward by approximately 5.5 billion won.
Additionally, I focused on securing budgets. In 2023, across 96 projects total, I secured 40.4 billion won in regionally customized budgets, including 14.2 billion won for school facility improvement projects, 2.4 billion won for five artificial turf sports fields at schools, and 1.5 billion won for the creation of a water play area in Araedeul Park.
Along with this, I made efforts to create an environment in which citizens can live comfortably and safely.
I installed Sprout Stations in apartment complexes and other areas to ensure safe boarding and alighting for infants and children, and opened the Osan I-Dream Center at the end of last year, which will serve as a hub for education, culture, and play for infants, children, and parents in our city.
I also designated two Moonlight Children's Hospitals and two cooperating pharmacies to ensure that sick children can receive prompt medical care during holidays or late hours.
Through a business agreement with the Korean Scholarship Foundation for Private Schools on happy dormitories, I secured 70 residential units for our city's children in four happy dormitories, including those in Seoul.
To respond proactively to citizens' administrative needs and provide quality public services, I am establishing temporary city offices in Daewon 2-dong and Sinjang 2-dong, which will begin operations this year.
Furthermore, there were efforts to revitalize the depressed old downtown and regional commercial districts.
The 10th Night Beer Festival held at Osan's historic Osan Ocolor Market, with its century-old tradition, provided many people with a variety of attractions and food offerings—craft beers from across the nation, flea markets, and city tours—establishing it as a festival that people from all over the country visit on purpose. Recently, we successfully concluded a Christmas market, bringing vibrancy to the old downtown.
I also installed landscape lighting in five multifamily residential complexes to improve the city's aesthetics.
The achievements we have been able to make in all areas of city administration are, above all, the fruit of our citizens consistently showing faith in the 8th civilian government and combining their hearts and minds with one accord.
I extend my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to our citizens.
And public officials, thank you for your hard work.
Respected citizens!
Public officials!
This year, I will look back on the one and a half years since the launch of the 8th civilian government, further strengthen the substance of our administration, and resolve to do my best in realizing "change together, future city Osan." I will now present the major policy directions of the Osan City government for 2024.
First, I will further develop Osan as an innovative economic city where citizens flourish.
Our city is located at the center of the K-Semiconductor Belt connecting Hwaseong, Pyeongtaek, and Yongin, and is at a key point of well-connected transportation, including the Gyeongbu Expressway, Subway Line 1, and the Western Bypass Road. We also have excellent accessibility to global companies such as Samsung and SK Hynix.
Moreover, our city already has world-class semiconductor equipment manufacturer Lam Research Manufacturing Korea and many leading domestic materials, parts, and components companies, and leading companies in this field are currently in discussions about their investment plans in our city.
Accordingly, I will leverage these geographic and situational advantages, establish a development direction toward becoming a semiconductor materials, parts, and components specialized city, and focus on creating jobs and laying the foundation for an economically self-sufficient city.
First, the Unam Tteul AI City urban development project is a project to create a complex of various facilities including residential, commercial, cultural, and AI advanced industrial spaces. We are planning to create an advanced industrial research complex centered on semiconductors, AI, and IT to create jobs and establish Osan as a hub city for advanced industries.
We are promoting the project with the goal of designating the area and approving the development plan in the first half of next year, and completing the site development by 2027.
I am conducting feasibility studies to activate the terminal site in Segyo District 1, and I will also prepare plans to develop this area as a complex facility that harmonizes not just a terminal, but also residential, office, commercial, and living social overhead capital.
We have completed a basic concept and feasibility review survey for the acquisition by our city of the reserve forces training ground site located in Oesam-mi-dong to create an administrative environment conducive to attracting quality businesses. We will further refine the plan and make it the central area for the northern living zone.
Additionally, I have had two meetings with the chairman of Buoyoung Group to explore ways to utilize the old Gyeseong Paper site near Osan Station, which has been left as an eyesore in the city for a long time. I will continue consultations with Buoyoung Group, the current site owner, and will gather all the city's capabilities and wisdom in establishing systematic and professional development plans to promote revitalization of the old downtown and development of the station-adjacent area.
Just as various development projects require preemptive preparation, an urban development corporation is essential.
Through the establishment of an urban development corporation, we will create a pleasant urban environment through urban development that suits local conditions and ensures greater public interest. We will generate revenue through various development projects and reinvest development gains within the region to enhance resident welfare.
In addition, I will continue efforts to establish a well-connected transport network.
To improve citizens' transportation convenience, I am making strong recommendations to relevant agencies for the establishment of a nationwide rail transport network—including KTX service at Osan Station, extension of the GTX-C line, and early commencement of the Osan-Dantan tram—while concentrating administrative resources on feasibility studies for KTX service at Osan Station and signature campaigns.
At the same time, I am promoting the opening of the Gyeongbu Rail Crossing Road, a major arterial road to handle traffic demand not only for Segyo District 2 but also for the future development of Segyo District 3, with a goal of completion by the end of 2026. Through various road openings including the second phase of the East Avenue underground project and connecting roads between Yangsan-dong and National Route 1, I aim to resolve habitually congested sections and improve citizens' transportation convenience.
Second, I will create a multiplex cultural city where citizens enjoy happiness.
At the end of last year, we held the Osan Christmas Market for the first time.
The streets, which had been quiet, finally overflowed with energy, and locals and merchants alike wore bright and joyful expressions.
Before that, we successfully held the Night Beer Festival at the Ocolor Market, where visitors enjoyed craft beer along with diverse food and events.
Through these various festivals, I will revitalize the old downtown commercial district and develop it into a cultural festival symbolizing our city.
By building a life culture center for residents of the eastern part of Osan, which has been culturally neglected in the past, I will provide residents of Busan-dong with opportunities to enjoy culture and promote balanced regional cultural and artistic development.
Last summer, the Osan Ocolor Trail was completed.
The Ocolor Trail, themed around five themes, connects to major tourist attractions in Osan such as Doksan Fortress, Mulhyanggi Arboretum, and Goindol Park, and spans approximately 17 kilometers in total length.
I will continuously maintain and manage the Ocolor Trail so that citizens can enjoy rest and leisure in a comfortable natural environment.
Additionally, I will create citizen-friendly waterfront spaces where citizens can enjoy ecological rivers along with rest and leisure at Osan Stream, and will gradually expand water play areas in city parks to help citizens beat the summer heat.
Furthermore, I will continue consultations with relevant agencies on the project to create a trail around Serang Reservoir to provide citizens with spaces for rest and diverse content.
Third, I will create a welfare and health city where citizens are happy.
Our city will also pay attention to educational policies for future generations.
For our students in remote commute zones, I plan to expand dormitory student accommodation to 100 students in the future, and I will promote the establishment of a youth training center so that young people can grow with sound bodies and virtuous character in a pleasant natural environment.
Additionally, our city has established a Hall of Honor to commemorate and respect the noble hearts of outstanding donors who care for the city's development and our neighbors. Currently, 20 companies and organizations are registered, and they have made donations totaling approximately 1.7 billion won.
With these funds, we delivered approximately 400 million won in scholarships to 412 of our students, including those with outstanding academic achievement and those with special talents in arts and athletics. Going forward, our city plans to further develop the Hall of Honor to become a substantive scholarship system different from existing scholarship programs.
Beyond this, I will support customized learning programs tailored to each school and individual, conduct 4th industrial revolution coding education, and nurture creative future talent suited to the AI era in connection with the new AI-specialized high school.
I will expand the installation of Sprout Stations for school bus drop-off and pick-up shelters to ensure children can safely board and alight from school buses.
To prevent illness among childcare teachers and create an environment for our children to grow up healthily, I will support health checkup fees for childcare teachers and cover initial admission expenses for childcare centers, thereby building an equitable welfare support system with no gaps.
Additionally, I will strengthen the functions of the Segyo Comprehensive Welfare Center by securing cultural and welfare spaces for veterans and their families to ensure proper treatment of national merit awardees and inheritance of their patriotic spirit.
Recognizing dementia not as an individual problem but as a social issue of an aging society, I will create a Dementia Reassurance Center, a dedicated facility to respond to the implementation of the national responsibility system for dementia, at the Jung-dong Administrative Welfare Center to improve the quality of life for dementia patients and their families.
To resolve inconvenience for residents of Segyo District 2 in using welfare centers, I will establish a satellite welfare center within Osan Segyo Happy Housing to provide professional and diverse welfare services.
Fourth, I will create an administrative exemplary city where citizens feel at ease.
Starting this year, I will open temporary city offices for Daewon 2-dong and Sinjang 2-dong to serve the overcrowded administrative districts of Daewon-dong and Sinjang-dong, providing residents with swift and high-quality administrative services. Additionally, I will gather diverse opinions from residents and promptly build new city offices that satisfy all users.
The Osan Smart City Integrated Operation Center has established an integrated platform linking the police station, fire department, and city disaster situation room, achieving clear results in swift disaster response and criminal arrests. Going forward, I will lead the establishment of a smart city with the installation of the nation's highest-level AI-enabled CCTV to prioritize citizen safety.
I will also establish an intelligent transportation system in Osan City to realize real-time responsive intelligent traffic management and resolve traffic congestion through optimized signal operation. I will continue to expand the installation of LED floor signal lights to strengthen traffic safety for pedestrians, including children.
I will comprehensively review ordinances and boldly adjust any that cause citizen inconvenience to improve administrative satisfaction. I will compose and operate policy advisory committees with experts from all sectors participating in city administration to activate citizen communication, strengthen the substance of residential autonomy, and implement citizen-participatory administrative services.
Respected citizens! And public officials!
In the new year of 2024, the sun of hope has risen.
And with its brilliant light, waves of change and challenge are rapidly rushing in.
No matter how strong the waves of change may be, if we face them with steadfast passion and a proactive mindset based on past experience, there will be nothing impossible for us.
There is a saying: "牛步千里" (usseo cheonri)—to travel a thousand li with the steps of an ox.
As everyone knows, it means traveling a thousand li at an ox's pace.
The Osan public officials, including myself, will move forward step by step toward Osan's future with the tenacity and stubbornness of an ox's pace, as we have been doing.
Furthermore, just as we have overcome difficulties and operated city administration over the past year and a half by combining our will with that of our citizens, I will continue the century-long journey of Osan City together with our citizens.
I ask for your continued unwavering interest and support throughout this year.
This year, the Year of the Dragon (甲辰年), is said to be the "Year of the Blue Dragon."
From ancient times, the dragon has symbolized hope and achievement, courage and wisdom, and among dragons, the blue dragon in particular symbolizes great fortune.
I hope that all of our citizens will soar high like the blue dragon throughout this year.
May you receive many blessings this new year.
Thank you.
January 1, 2024
Mayor of Osan Lee Gwon-jae
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