Dear 120,000 residents of Yeouju City, whom I love and respect!
And to approximately 1,200 public officials!
The first year of 2025, Year of the Snake, has dawned.
I hope that in the new year, all your hopes and wishes will be realized, and that you will experience health and happiness throughout the year.
This year is expected to be a challenging period with many trials and difficulties, and it will be a more dynamic year than ever before.
When I think of the new projects that will unfold in Yeouju this year, I am filled with strength. While this overwhelming sentiment stems from the achievements we have made thus far, it is above all rooted in an unwavering belief that no matter how difficult challenges may be, if we citizens unite our will and combine our efforts together, the world will change in a better direction.
Please recall Yeouju from two and a half years ago. While we recognized the need to revitalize our struggling regional economy, we failed to devise concrete plans or clear alternatives. Industrial park development projects aimed at attracting companies were blocked by cumbersome regulations and procedures, losing sight of their original goals and making slow progress, while the issue of city hall relocation stalled at the planning stage, only to return to square one.
The livestock manure treatment facility was unable to finalize its site, resulting in the humiliation of having to return government subsidies that had already been received.
The water supply issue for the Yongin Semiconductor Industrial Complex was reduced to merely a promise between stakeholders amid administrative indifference, only accumulating local grievances. While we dreamed of attracting tourists, we did not know how to put it into practice, and the suspension bridge stood with only its piers erected, with no date set for completion.
Dear 120,000 residents of Yeouju City!
And to approximately 1,200 public officials!
Recently, the interests of Yeouju residents have changed. Wherever citizens gather, they inquire about the schedule and anticipated changes of upcoming projects and contribute new ideas.
Yeouju City has been transformed in two and a half years! The city hall construction, which had been contentious, went through a public discussion process with the launch of the eighth popularly elected administration and was designated as the Gaup-dong area as the new city hall site.
The new city hall construction project, which has passed preliminary feasibility review, has confirmed basic design plans through public recruitment. I express my gratitude once again to citizens who contributed their wisdom.
If the new city hall breaks ground as planned in the latter half of this year, by 2028 citizens will have the new city hall they have long desired. The livestock manure public treatment facility has selected the Yulgeuk-ri area as its final site and has newly secured 44 billion won in project funding through an environmental ministry competition. Beginning this year with basic planning and environmental impact assessment, the livestock manure public treatment facility—a long-cherished project of the livestock industry—will be completed by 2027.
The water supply issue for the Yongin Semiconductor Industrial Complex has been addressed through active civic interest and participation, leading to a win-win cooperation agreement with SK Hynix, which is facilitating regulatory improvements and industrial park development to attract companies. Yeouju City, which is promoting the creation of 16 industrial parks totaling 960,000 square meters, received approval for 16 industrial park designations covering 420,000 square meters, including the Ganam Semiconductor General Industrial Park last year.
Yeouju City is moving forward swiftly with procedures, anticipating the attraction of cutting-edge eco-friendly companies and the creation of new jobs.
Construction of the Namhan River suspension bridge is proceeding with landscape lighting installation and ancillary work on schedule for a May opening, following plan refinement and additional budget allocation.
Results in revitalizing the local economy are also notable. The Yeouju Premium Outlets attracts over 10 million visitors annually. The win-win voucher program returns a portion of the amount visitors spend to local gift certificates to revitalize local commerce. Shinsegae Simon has issued 500 million won in local gift certificates to date, which have shown a recovery rate exceeding 80 recently, contributing to the local economy beyond expectations.
Yeouju City has negotiated with Shinsegae Simon to significantly increase the project budget to 1 billion won this year. Furthermore, Yeouju City is expanding the voucher program to golf course and camping facility users to ensure tangible benefits for both visitors and local commerce.
Last summer, a water park as part of the Yeouju Citizens Park project temporarily opened and received great public support. Beginning this year when Yeouju Citizens Park fully opens, it will become a new attraction that residents and visitors alike will frequent and enjoy. Urban development projects including the Chobong District, Jeoncheon District, and Hyeonam District 1 for comfortable residential environments and systematic urban expansion, and station area development projects including the second Yeouju Station area, Ganam Station area, and Sejong Daewang Neung Station area
are steadily progressing, solidifying the foundation for regional development.
The Yeouju Urban Development Corporation, launched last year, has begun with the groundbreaking of the Ohak-dong Culture and Welfare Center and was approved as the overall project manager for the 'Jungangdong 1 Urban Regeneration New Deal Project' by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Beginning this year, it will also participate in Ganam industrial park development to efficiently carry out regional development projects. The development profits from these will be reinvested in Yeouju City, contributing to residents' welfare and the regional economy. Building a welfare city where no one is left behind or discriminated against has been the area Yeouju City has devoted the most effort to.
Yeouju City, which entered a super-aged society early, has received Age-Friendly City certification from the World Health Organization (WHO) and is actively responding to the era of healthy centenarians. This year marks the final year of the 'Three-Year Plan for Building an Age-Friendly City' with a budget exceeding 100 billion won. We will expand employment opportunities for seniors and various social activities to create a vibrant city for an active old age. We will continuously build transportation infrastructure to ensure seniors 70 and older can safely and conveniently use city buses with free transportation support, expanded senior protection zones, replaced and expanded security surveillance systems, traffic safety facility improvements, bus stop convenience facility enhancements, and expanded introduction of low-floor buses.
Hyeonam Park Golf Course has additionally expanded with 27 holes and now operates 63 holes, and the newly established 18-hole park golf course in Jeom-dong has been temporarily operating since November. When the Daeshin-myeon Park Golf Course expands to 36 holes, Yeouju City will have a total of 117 holes of park golf courses. Yeouju City will also improve operational efficiency in managing sports facilities. Since last year, we have been operating the demand-responsive 'Ddok Bus' for the transportation convenience of residents in areas with inadequate public transportation. Currently two zones are operating, and we will coordinate with higher-level agencies to expand to all areas of Yeouju City.
Additionally, we will enhance transportation welfare for residents by comprehensively restructuring city bus routes to increase public transportation usage.
Dear 120,000 residents of Yeouju City!
And to approximately 1,200 public officials!
There is much work to be done this year, and needed projects always demand more financial resources. However, finances are never abundant. The total size of the 2025 general budget, including general and other special accounts and public enterprise special accounts, has been compiled at 980.9 billion won, a decrease of 56.4 billion won compared to last year. Rather than simply reducing expenditures or removing regulations, we will execute our budget in a productive and efficient manner for people's livelihoods and Yeouju's future.
Dear 120,000 residents of Yeouju City!
And to approximately 1,200 public officials!
I will now describe the projects that Yeouju City will prioritize this year.
First, we will enhance the competitiveness of Yeouju agricultural products for sustainable agriculture.
Yeouju City is Korea's only 'Rice Industry Special Zone.' Support projects for agricultural materials to reduce rice production costs and soil improvement measures, as well as rice variety improvement projects, will continue this year. Last year, Yeouju City launched the Rice Industry Special Zone Committee. We will carefully review the direction Yeouju's rice industry should take and establish ways to further elevate the status of Yeouju rice.
We will actively address the shortage of labor due to the aging and decline of the agricultural population through the 'Rural Job Support Center.'
Yeouju City was selected in the 'Agricultural Product Distribution Support Center Construction Competition' and secured 1.7 billion won in national funding. With these project funds, we will establish a food center to create a circulation system where safely produced food grown in our region is prioritized for local consumption, and through integrated distribution, we will further strengthen efforts to secure sales channels for agricultural products. Through the 'Yeouju Agricultural Industry Joint Brand Activation Center,' established last year, we will promote the sales of Yeouju rice and major agricultural products and enhance the brand value of Yeouju agricultural products through active marketing.
Second, we will strengthen the competitiveness of the regional economy by revitalizing the original downtown.
Yeouju City has established a downtown revitalization plan with a strategy of attraction-influx-connection-diffusion to address concerns about downtown decline that will be accelerated by city hall relocation. We will create attractive spaces and content where people can gather, such as symbolic streets and Namhan River terraces, to build a city where people want to stay and live.
We have also held citizen briefings on the downtown revitalization plan. We will continue to collect diverse requests and opinions from citizens. The voucher projects Yeouju City is implementing and the tourism gift certificate program will create significant synergies with the downtown revitalization project.
We have signed a memorandum of understanding with 'The Born Korea,' operated by CEO Baek Jong-won, for urban regeneration of the Gyeonggi Silk site. Yeouju City is the only city in the Seoul metropolitan area to have such a memorandum with 'The Born Korea.'
We will broadly discuss specialized menu development utilizing local agricultural and special products, startup and workforce training, and region-specific projects linking the foodservice industry and cultural tourism resources with CEO Baek Jong-won of 'The Born Korea.'
Third, we will promote tourism as a key initiative to revitalize the regional economy.
Yeouju City will proclaim 2025 as the 'First Year of Yeouju Tourism' coinciding with the completion of the suspension bridge and will expand tourism infrastructure centered on the suspension bridge and Sinheungsa Tourist Site. The suspension bridge will undergo pre-opening safety inspections and test operations following the completion of nighttime landscape lighting installation and ancillary work, and is planned to have its opening ceremony on the opening day of the May Pottery Festival.
Centered on the suspension bridge, we will develop the north and south sections as distinctive tourist zones and establish them as Yeouju's tourism landmarks. The north section will feature diverse attractions and experiences such as day and night performances, small business flea markets, agricultural product sales booths, and dining establishments.
The south section, home to Geumsanmosae Park, will establish a condominium and is currently preparing a district unit plan to attract private investment. We will complete a traveler center serving as both an information center and lodging facility at the Sinheungsa tourist zone to reconfigure Yeouju as a 'stay-type tourism city.' We will create an eco-friendly theme park with themed forest trails, walking paths, and camping grounds in the Gangcheon Island area with its outstanding natural scenery to expand the scope of tourism.
The attraction of Gangcheon Station, desired by all Yeouju residents, will not only establish Gangcheon Island as a tourist destination but also accelerate regional development. We ask for your united support.
Dear 120,000 residents of Yeouju City!
And to approximately 1,200 public officials!
We have passed the midway point of a bold journey toward a better world, freed from frustrations caused by regulations and an uncertain future. And today we face a new year that will determine the success or failure of that journey. Since the launch of the eighth popularly elected administration, Yeouju City has quickly formed a unified 'one team' aligned with our goals and is transforming into an organization leading change and innovation. The force that gives meaning to all our lives is not a new declaration or slogan, but honesty and dedication that still live and stir within us, fairness and sense of responsibility, and the love we bear for Yeouju.
What we have planned and prepared will never falter or stop. Do not forget that when we all unite to execute what we intend to do, we have the strength to overcome any crisis.
In the new year of 2025, let us once again show the world the united strength of Yeouju residents who will readily overcome any hardship.
Thank you!
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