New Year's Address Namyangju Mayor Ju Gwang-deok

Esteemed 740,000 residents of Namyangju and 2,500 public servants!

The year of hope and excitement comes to a close. Namyangju, which has steadily laid the groundwork for growth, continues its powerful leap forward this year toward an era of "super growth" and a "mega city of one million."

Looking back, at every moment in 2025, citizen participation in "Namyangju beyond imagination" and the quiet dedication of public servants protecting each of those sites have been present together.

I express deep gratitude to citizen mayors who created Namyangju's present from their respective positions, and sincere encouragement and applause to each of our public servants who worked tirelessly for citizen happiness day and night.

1. Industrial Ecosystem Transformation – Creating the Heart of Future Industry

Earlier this year, marking the 30th anniversary of Namyangju City's establishment, I declared 2025 as "the first year of Namyangju's industrial ecosystem transformation."

I concentrated administrative capacity on city governance advancing toward a future self-sufficient city, city governance elevating brand value, city governance where daily life is happy, and city governance responding proactively and actively to change.

The core of "Namyangju's industrial ecosystem transformation" is to make the 1.2 million square meter Wangsuk City Advanced Industrial Complex under construction beat as the "heart of advanced industry" responsible for Namyangju's future 100 years, transcending a mere industrial complex.

Under this direction, we secured last year Woori Financial Group's "Digital Universe," Kakao's "Digital Hub" in June this year, and this month on the 5th, Shinhan Financial Group's "AI Infinity Center" valued at 850 billion won, attracting a total of 2 trillion won in private investment from leading companies in just one year.

Once all these anchor companies are in place, a representative AI and digital industry hub of Korea with concentrated AI data centers, research and development facilities, and office spaces will be created, with an expected added value of 1.5 trillion won and job creation of 11,000 positions.

Additionally, through partnerships with the Korea Medical Device Industry Association and Seoul National University of Science and Technology, we are rapidly building an academia-industry-research collaboration ecosystem across AI, bio, robotics, and energy sectors.

Namyangju, long called an "industrial wasteland" bound by overlapping regulations, is now confidently walking the path of transformation and development into an innovation city where AI, advanced manufacturing, fintech, and startups gather.

2. The Second Transportation Revolution – Opening the Arteries of a Mega City of One Million

Second, Namyangju's transportation revolution accelerated even further this year.

On May 1st, the Masok-Sangbong shuttle train officially opened, lightening residents' commute, and GTX-B construction began in earnest.

In addition, with the underground transformation of the Gyeonggi Provincial Circular Expressway Route 1 in the Toegyewon IC to Pangyo section and private investment projects connecting Donghopyeong IC to Secondary Gyeongchun Provincial Road becoming visible, we continue steadily completing the foundation for "a city where rail and road, wide-area and living transportation are densely connected."

Currently, Namyangju, with 5 subway lines and 5 GTX lines, is proactively responding to transportation demand from new cities like Wangsuk and advancing powerfully toward becoming "Korea's premier transportation hub city."

3. Learning, Youth, and Welfare – A City That Develops People

However, another competitiveness of a city lies in what is not easily visible – "how much the citizens' lives have grown and become happy."

This year too, our city has carefully observed the lives of all generations from children to youth, elders, and those with disabilities and vulnerable populations.

In education, we expanded the Jeong Yak-yong childcare curriculum to some 280 daycare centers, and further strengthened Namyangju's unique education brand through the Jeong Yak-yong talent development camp and the "Dreaming Jeong Yak-yong School."

Particularly, in August, the Wangsuk 2 District "WE Dream Park" was selected in the Ministry of Education's school complex facility contest, securing 33.5 billion won in national funding from a total project budget of 66.9 billion won.

We will make this space combining education, culture, and sports another landmark of Namyangju.

For youth, we expanded "opportunities to draw the future and dream of the world" through career education exhibitions, unlimited imagination campus tours, and domestic and international exchange programs.

"Funground" has established itself as a core space where youths' creativity, imagination, and talents flourish, becoming a nationwide benchmarking model.

For young adults, we support work, challenge, and rest in balance through 63 Namyangju-style policies.

In the welfare sector, along with the Prime Minister's Award for childcare business development and the national award for senior employment, we have steadily laid the foundation for a "warm city without isolation."

4. Culture and Jeong Yak-yong Brand – Elevating Namyangju's Dignity

2025 was also a year that more clearly completed the identity of "Namyangju, the City of Jeong Yak-yong."

The Jeong Yak-yong brand project, through the publication of a white paper and the unveiling of a new portrait and statue, allowed the spirit of practical learning and integrity to deeply permeate administration, education, welfare, and urban design overall.

The newly opened "Namyangju Gungjip" this year, urban park development, expansion of barefoot walking paths, and hosting of a garden culture expo elevated Namyangju one level to "a healing city where you can rest and walk anywhere in the urban center."

Additionally, the launch of the Namyangju Cultural Foundation was an important first step toward a city where culture becomes daily life.

As a result, Namyangju won both the Grand Prize in the Urban Brand category at the 3rd "Korea Public Brand Awards" hosted by the Korea Public Brand Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy in November, and the local government head award given to only one of 226 basic municipal leaders nationwide, being recognized as a representative brand city of Korea.

5. Environment and Safety – A Healing City Protecting Citizens' Lives

Environment and safety are also important pillars supporting Namyangju's future.

Based on carbon neutrality strategy, we are creating a hydrogen city and green hydrogen production system to build a city structure where citizens are happy and resilient to climate crisis.

Particularly in autumn this year, we demolished 55 illegal structures around Bulam Mountain that had been abandoned for 40 years and transported and processed about 300 tons of waste, fundamentally resolving wildfire risks and returning Bulam Mountain's nature to citizens' arms.

Children's safety is also the top priority of city governance.

Through "special measures for children's school commute safety" and 144 "child safety special guidance campaigns," we have put into practice the principle that "the safety of one child is the safety of the entire city."

6. Sincere Communication – Opening the Age of Citizen Mayors

Finally, under the communication principles of "speed, positivity, and sincerity," Namyangju is realizing "zero-conflict city Namyangju" and steadily opening the age of citizen mayors.

Six consecutive years in the top 10% of the Ministry of Interior and Safety's comprehensive civil service evaluation and two consecutive years of the highest rating in the Korea Manifesto Implementation Headquarters' pledge implementation evaluation are the results of these efforts.

The launch of the Namyangju City Policy Research Institute and professional-civic-government collaboration and visiting consulting have increased the depth and speed of administration from policy planning to civil service resolution, while honorary one-day mayors and policy proposal contests are making real the governance where citizens' voices translate into policy.

7. Conclusion – Commitment to the New Year of 2026

Esteemed residents and beloved public servants!

2025 for Namyangju was a year in which we steadily solidified the city's framework in industry and transportation, people and culture, safety and communication.

We are now advancing powerfully in a clear direction toward "a city where living in Namyangju becomes a source of pride."

On that path, 740,000 citizen mayors and 2,500 public servants are always together.

In the coming 2026, year of the Horse, I will pursue governance that reaches deeper into citizens' lives.

With the belief that "when citizens are happy, Namyangju is happy," I will always remain steadfastly by your side.

Thank you for your hard work throughout the year. I hope that a brighter tomorrow than today unfolds for all of you in the new year.

Wishing you a new year full of health and laughter, and a happy new year. Thank you.