New Year's Address Jeon Jin-seon, Yangpyeong County Governor

Dear 129,000 residents of Yangpyeong County and 1,800 staff members, whom I love and respect!

The new year of 2025, the Year of the Snake (乙巳年), has dawned.

In the new year, I wish that you will receive the wisdom and energy of the auspicious blue snake and wisely overcome all difficulties, filling your lives with abundance and happiness.

Over the past year, despite difficult circumstances, I express my deep respect and gratitude for your unwavering encouragement and support in creating an "Attractive Yangpyeong filled with happiness and hope."

In the new year, I will actively work to realize "Attractive Yangpyeong where residents' happiness is fulfilled," which is the primary goal and value of county administration, by gathering the wisdom and capabilities of all residents.

2025 is a significant year marking the 80th anniversary of national liberation and the 30th anniversary of local elections.

Based on the spirit of Yangpyeong's independence movement, the region of righteousness (義鄕) in Korea, I will wisely overcome any crisis without yielding, and, reflecting on the significance and value of local autonomy as the foundation of liberal democracy, I will listen more to residents' advice and pay closer attention to the field while opening a new era of local government together.

Furthermore, 2025 is a crucial period when the vision and strategic projects of the 8th civil government administration will show tangible results. Therefore, I will commit all efforts to county administration by gathering the wisdom and capabilities of residents.

Dear 129,000 residents of Yangpyeong County, whom I love and respect!

Amidst high interest rates, high inflation, market uncertainty, economic downturn, and the reduction of local tax revenue and subsidies from the central and provincial governments, the financial situation this year remains challenging.

However, despite difficult financial conditions, I have incorporated the voices from the field through various communication initiatives conducted with residents, including town communication events, communication salons, Yangpyeong living briefing sessions, and all-hands meetings. I have compiled a substantial budget focused on activating the local economy and implementing living SOC projects and welfare for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups to ensure stable living conditions.

In 2025, I have selected "Safety, Environment, Tourism, and Health" as the four key pillars of county administration to create "Attractive Yangpyeong where residents' happiness is fulfilled."

First, I will create a "Safe City" Yangpyeong where everyone can live safely.

First, I will establish an Economic Safety Bureau to build a management system for various disasters and emergency situations, operate the Disaster Safety Response Headquarters thoroughly, and respond proactively and efficiently to increasingly frequent natural disasters and public health crises. I will form a Yangpyeong Regional Safety Management Task Force to conduct comprehensive inspections and diagnoses of safety-vulnerable areas and facilities, continue operating the Yangpyeong Residents Safety Insurance, and do my utmost to support residents' safety in daily life against various disasters.

Furthermore, I will create safe residential environments through CCTV installation, street lighting, and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), and establish a foundation for safe smart cities by expanding road safety facilities, smart bus stops, and transportation facilities. I will concentrate administrative efforts on advancing highway, national road, and metropolitan road networks and rail systems, improving pedestrian and road environments, and addressing traffic safety issues. I will strengthen safety cooperation among private organizations, government, and military, and prepare for international safe city certification by establishing a comprehensive 5-year safety city plan for Yangpyeong County.

Second, I will create an "Environmental City" Yangpyeong where everyone can live well.

First, I will establish an Environmental Education Bureau to strengthen environmental education suited to changing times, establish basic plans for carbon neutrality and green growth, and lay the foundation for adapting to climate crisis and achieving carbon neutrality. I will promote Korea's highest-level environmental education, including hands-on resource circulation education and age-tailored ecological sensitivity education linked to local environmental resources. I will also implement bicycle education for 4th-grade students at local elementary schools to cultivate environmental awareness from an early age.

Furthermore, I will create a Yangpyeong without single-use products by operating the Yongdam-ri specialized district and distributing reusable containers at events and festivals. I will promote sustainable resource circulation and carbon neutrality through the carbon neutrality support center project, construction of reusable product cleaning facilities, expansion of residential resource recovery centers, distribution of emission-free vehicles, and expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. I will also create "Future Agricultural City Yangpyeong," a center for environment-friendly agriculture, by improving facilities and the environment that are sustainable amid climate and environmental changes and strengthening production support. I will enhance the status of an environmental city where environmental policy and food are in harmony through promotion of eco-friendly rural solar power projects and hosting the "2025 National Environment-Friendly Agriculture Congress."

Third, I will create a "Tourism City" Yangpyeong where every region is a tourist destination.

Through better utilizing Yangpyeong's well-preserved natural, cultural, and artistic resources, I have newly developed the "Yangpyeong County Tourism and Culture Belt Project" to create a Yangpyeong that anyone can easily visit. For the western region, I will accelerate improvements to Semiwon facilities, expansion of access roads, and promotion of the National Garden, Korea's first climate garden in the metropolitan area, alongside the Dumul-meori Ecological Learning Center and Gajung Stream. I will prepare an eco-cultural exploration trail around the Han River by connecting Turtle Island with Daesimni Supul-reul, creating a new section of Mulsorikki.

For the central region, I will create Yangpyeong's beautiful day and night by forming a walkable Yanggeun Stream for extended stays, creating specialized streets connecting Galsan Park and Yanggeun Riverside Road, installing suspension bridges connecting Mulangi Park, Yanggang Island, and Tteudreung Island with night lighting. For the eastern region, I will promote the expansion of access to Yongmun Mountain tourist sites and entrance roads, the touristification project of Gudun Station, and the sequential promotion of Jipyeong-myeon International Peace Park and Yangpyeong History Museum. I will also create diverse attractions and recreational activities through long-term initiatives such as bringing a Yongmun Mountain cable car and touristification of Chuup Mountain.

By activating such tourism, I will revitalize the struggling local economy of traditional markets such as Yangpyeong Unmul Clean Market and small business owners through the "Yangpyeong Love Gift Certificates" to be implemented from January 1st of next year.

Fourth, I will create a "Healthy City" Yangpyeong where everyone is happy.

First, I will do my best in operating sports facilities, including maintenance and repair of well-equipped sports facilities in each town and township, and construction of new park golf courses and soccer fields being promoted in the comprehensive sports center and each town and township, and creation of walking trails, barefoot walking paths, red clay paths, and deck paths to develop residents' healthy physical fitness. I will actively support local restaurants including eco-friendly agricultural products production expansion, healthy restaurants, longevity restaurants, exemplary restaurants, and fair-price establishments. I will lead residents' health through creating healthy food by discovering new menus through expanded wheat production in Yangpyeong.

Furthermore, I will prevent and mitigate emerging infectious diseases, secure health promotion projects, and lead public health and medical care by protecting residents' health at the front line through health centers and clinics. I will create a caring environment where children can grow up healthy and happy, develop customized programs to enhance youth's future competencies, support healthy and vibrant aging for the elderly, and create a close-knit welfare environment including enhancement of rights and interests of vulnerable elderly and people with disabilities, thereby achieving a healthy city through residents' welfare.

In addition, I will continue to promote comprehensive funeral facilities and provide continued respect and support for veterans' families.

Dear 129,000 residents of Yangpyeong County, whom I love and respect,

I will always keep the heart of the "doctrine of the mean" (中庸의 道) and think only of residents while fulfilling my responsibilities. I will also dedicate my full heart and strength to county administration with the spirit of "doing my utmost with sincerity" (盡心盡力).

In the new year of the Year of the Snake, I wish that health and happiness fill all your endeavors.

Wishing you a happy new year.

Thank you.