Mayor Choi Dae-ho of Anyang: "Completing Anyang, Preparing for 100 Years of Future"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Yu Je-sung] Mayor Choi Dae-ho of Anyang held his inauguration ceremony as the 11th Mayor of Anyang for the ninth term on the morning of July 1st at the Anyang City Hall auditorium, announcing a strong start to municipal administration.

The inauguration ceremony, attended by approximately 900 citizens and officials from all walks of life, was conducted as a "ceremony of civic harmony" that reduced excessive protocol while fostering civic participation and a sense of presence.

The program began with a national ceremony, followed by an oath of office, inaugural address, special video screening, celebratory performance, and launching ceremony. In particular, the flower bouquet delivery was made more meaningful by the participation of children from the Anyang City Hall daycare center who will lead Anyang's bright future.

An unique celebratory performance with a forward-looking vision also drew attention.

Robot 'Rumi' from Hwain Robotics, a robot specialist company based in Anyang, took the stage to showcase the vision of "Anyang, a physical AI-leading city," followed by a dynamic stage performance by students from Yeonsung University's K-POP program and a congratulatory song by the Anyang Municipal Choir, celebrating the new beginning.

After the inauguration ceremony, Mayor Choi shared lunch at the City Hall cafeteria with 30 employees who quietly support municipal administration on the front lines, including environmental officials, building managers, and civilian police officers.

Mayor Choi expressed gratitude for the staff's dedication, listened to on-site difficulties, and requested that they work together to build administration trusted by citizens.

In his inaugural address, Mayor Choi stated, "If we have thus far sown seeds for the future such as confirming the GTX-C Line's Indeokwon Station, building a metropolitan railway network, designating an operator for the Bakdal Smart City project, and groundbreaking for Indeokwon Intenspace, now we will bring these seeds to full fruition and enrich citizens' lives," expressing strong determination to take action.

Mayor Choi identified eight major policies to lead Anyang's leap forward during the ninth term: △hyper-connected compact city △physical artificial intelligence (AI)-leading city △balanced development exemplary city △green garden city △business-friendly city △people's livelihood economy-centered city △inclusive city where everyone is happy △and premium culture city.

In particular, Mayor Choi presented a vision to realize Anyang as a hyper-connected compact city where residential, employment, culture, and commerce are organically connected through development of eight railway lines and 18 station-area projects, and to nurture physical artificial intelligence (AI) industry as Anyang's core growth engine for the future through establishing an AI convergence innovation cluster in cooperation with Seoul National University.

He also expressed determination to invigorate local commerce and lead economic recovery felt by citizens through supporting complex development via easing floor-area ratio restrictions on Anyang 1st Street and marketing support that combines cultural arts and night economy with traditional markets and alley commerce.

Finally, Mayor Choi stated, "Today's promises will become tomorrow's changes, and those changes will become Anyang's brilliant future. I will do my utmost to create 'a bigger Anyang, a stronger Anyang, a happier Anyang'" and added, "I will remain with citizens to the end in completing 100 years of Anyang's future."