Two Years Into Fourth Elected Term: Mayor Reaffirms Commitment to 'Education-Centered City' for the Future

Suwon Mayor Kim Yong-seo, marking the second anniversary of his fourth elected term launched in July 2006, announced his commitment to fostering an education-centered city as the top priority, while also advancing cultural tourism and economic development.

Since the launch of the fourth elected term, the city has promoted 'education-centered city development' as a key policy initiative and will implement a 2010 Educational Development Support Plan investing 209.7 billion won over three years until 2010. To strengthen public education, the city will expand support for native English teachers in elementary schools and plans to build a Knowledge Information Library with a total budget of 12.2 billion won near Youngtong Jamwon Elementary School by 2010. Suwon Arts High School is being established with the goal of opening in 2010.

By the end of this year, the city will complete the development of a plaza in front of Hwaseong Haenggung and restore the bell pavilion. By 2009, it will complete the Film Culture Tourism District Project, and by 2011, it will establish cultural facilities around Jangan Gate.

To revitalize the local economy, the city is advancing the second and third phase projects of the Suwon Industrial Complex, along with construction of an international convention center including a mixed-use complex spanning 87,725 ㎡ and a convention center of 107,312 ㎡ in the Gwanggyo New City special planning zone. The city is also investing 82 billion won to establish a privately-led techno park (apartment-type factories).

In environmental and ecological areas, the city will invest 64 billion won in restoring the covered sections of Suwon Stream, conduct river maintenance along the 18.18 km Hwanggujicheon, and invest 2.3 billion won in ecological restoration of the upper Seoho Stream. The city plans to pursue the 'One Million Tree Planting' campaign and develop seven additional parks, including a second Meeting Square at Gwanggyo Mountain.

By the end of this year, the city will complete opening a road between Suwon Station and Seongdae IC. By 2011, it will expand road networks including the privately funded road from Suwon to Sanghyeon IC, expansion of Samseong-ro, and grade separation of the Changryong Gate intersection. The Suwon Light Rail Transit is scheduled to hold an intermediate reporting session for basic planning work around August this year and establish the overall framework of the route.

The city plans to smoothly advance various urban development projects including Gwanggyo New City development by 2011 and Homaesil housing development by 2012, as well as the Gwonseon District development project covering 987,000 ㎡ and Sindong District development project (296,000 ㎡). By 2010, the city will expand urban infrastructure in Pyeongdong District, and by 2011, it will conduct residential environment improvement projects in Godeung District (361,000 ㎡) and Seryou District (229,000 ㎡). The city is also advancing housing redevelopment projects covering a total area of 1,762,000 ㎡ for 27,846 households.

In addition, as the nation's largest municipal government with a population of 1.1 million, the city will continuously pursue the expansion of special provisions for large cities and strengthen the capacity for innovation by reinforcing the function of the Southern Gyeonggi Province Mayors Council.

Mayor Kim Yong-seo assessed the past two years of the fourth elected term, stating: "We have achieved balanced results across all sectors, including creating a first-class education city, hosting various international-scale sports events, establishing industrial complexes and advanced technology parks, constructing three-dimensional road networks, and undertaking volunteer activities in the Cambodian Suwon Village and Tae-an region."

He added: "Going forward, over the remaining two years of the fourth elected term, we will push forward without delay on key policies including education-centered city development, cultivation of a cultural tourism city, balanced urban development, expansion of transportation networks, and revitalization of the local economy."
Reporter Park Jang-hee jjang362@

Starting from the 14th through the 21st of last month, Suwon hosted the Peace Queen Cup. Through hosting various domestic and international sports events and programs, Suwon is rising as a 'sports mecca' from the 'city of soccer.'