Proposal to Establish Festival Committee for Suwon Tourism Revitalization

Proposals were made to establish the 'Suwon City Tourism Festival Committee' and to regularly hold Suwon City tourism festivals monthly to enhance the tourism effects of Suwon.

On the afternoon of the 22nd, the '2008 Suwon City Policy Advisory Committee Regular Meeting and Workshop' was held in the main conference room of the Suwon City Hall Annex, attended by Suwon Mayor Kim Yong-seo, department heads and division chiefs, and members of the Suwon City Policy Advisory Committee.

At the regular meeting held on this day, themed presentations and discussions on Suwon municipal development were conducted by six subcommittees including General Administration, chaired by Committee Chair Lee Dal-soon.

Yoon Dae-soon, a member from the Cultural Tourism Division (professor of tourism management at Kyonggi University), proposed the establishment of the 'Suwon City Tourism Festival Committee' through a presentation on 'Ways to Enhance Tourism Effects in Suwon City.'

Member Yoon argued that cultural and sports events should be held regularly every month in Suwon to establish the city's image as a tourism and cultural city, while also developing events suited to each season to attract tourists to Suwon regularly.

To this end, he also proposed government-led improvements to the Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival, expansion of accommodations, and activation of tourism marketing.

Choi Sang-gyun, chair of the General Administration Division (professor of e-business at Kimpo University), presented on 'Status and Future Direction of Suwon City U-City Initiative' and outlined the future direction of the U(ubiquitous)-City project currently being pursued in the Kwanggyo and Homae-sil districts.

Chair Choi proposed securing funding sources for operational costs such as facility maintenance and operation expenses after the U-City project is completed, resolving service disparities between new and old downtown areas, and establishing a U-City 'Integrated Urban Operations Center,' among other measures.

Byun Myung-shik, a member of the Finance and Economics Division (professor at Jangan University), made a themed presentation on 'Development of Suwon Village in Siem Reap Province, Cambodia,' evaluating that the Suwon Village development project has transcended sister city friendly relations to practice sharing beyond borders, while raising the brand value of Suwon City and creating another Korean Wave atmosphere in the local area.

Kim Young-hee, a member of the Social Welfare Division (professor at Dongnam Health University), proposed a plan to link the 'Middle-aged and Older Women Childcare Helper (provisional name)' system with Suwon City's planned 'Childcare Center Happy Together Movement' (sister relations between childcare facilities and senior centers) to be pursued from next year.

Kim Dong-hun, a member of the Urban Construction Division (adjunct professor of architecture at Hongik University), presented a plan to combine public design and signage culture by incorporating Suwon's identity and vision through case analysis of outdoor advertising in Apgujeong, Seoul, and Dongtan, Hwaseong.

Additionally, Lee Si-jin, a member of the Environmental Greenery Division (professor of civil and environmental engineering at Kyonggi University), presented measures for 'Advancement of Suwon City Water Management Policy.'

Mayor Kim Yong-seo said, "I ask for your generous support and cooperation as advisory committee members," and added, "I will actively reflect the proposed matters to make them stepping stones for municipal development."