Gyeonggi Province Completes Institutional Framework for Renewal of All 5 First-Generation New Towns

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gap-dong] Gyeonggi Province announced that it has completed final approval on the 27th of the maintenance basic plans for the aging planned cities of Bundang in Seongnam and Ilsan in Goyang, following deliberation by the Gyeonggi Province Urban Planning Committee. As a result, following Bucheon Jung-dong, Gunpo Sanbon, and Anyang Pyeongchon, the province has completed the establishment of maintenance basic plans for all five first-generation new towns.

Based on the 'Special Act on Maintenance and Support of Aging Planned Cities,' this maintenance basic plan is a mid- to long-term blueprint for resolving urban functional decline, deteriorated infrastructure, and deteriorating residential environments, and for remodeling cities into sustainable future-oriented urban centers.

Through this approval, the province presented renewal directions tailored to conditions in each city and established an institutional foundation for full-scale establishment of special maintenance plans, including 15 pilot districts within first-generation new towns (selected in November 2024).

During the process of establishing the maintenance basic plan, the province worked with relevant municipal governments through operational consultations, preliminary consultations, and research group operations to establish urban planning committee deliberation guidelines, thereby enhancing the completeness of the plan while significantly shortening the approval period. These consultation procedures will be expanded to aging planned cities including Suwon, Yongin, Goyang (areas outside Ilsan), and Ansan, which are in the process of establishing basic plans.

Through this maintenance basic plan approval, the province expects to restructure the functions and spatial structures of the aging first-generation new towns and enhance comprehensive urban competitiveness in terms of residential areas, transportation, and employment opportunities.

Son Im-seong, director of the Province's Urban Housing Division, stated, "From the early stages of the implementation of the special act, we have maintained close communication with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and each local government to ensure the maintenance basic plans were approved in a timely manner," and added, "Going forward, Gyeonggi Province will actively support subsequent aging planned cities that are establishing maintenance basic plans to ensure projects proceed without any disruption."