"Focus on Policies to Improve Citizens' Quality of Life in Economy and Environment"
▲ This year, we will make the welfare of citizens facing economic hardship our top priority and promote legislative activities so that all citizens can enjoy a prosperous life through revitalizing the local economy.
First, we will review unfinished tasks from last year, identify shortcomings and problems, conduct thorough analysis and improvements to solidify the foundation of a robust local economy, and do our best to create a pleasant urban environment.
Additionally, we will focus on discovering economic policies such as revitalization of traditional markets and job creation, creating a business-friendly city, as well as supporting global marketing initiatives for the world market to promote grassroots economy activation that provides practical help to ordinary citizens.
Furthermore, we will prioritize establishing an eco-friendly policy foundation so that Suwon can be reborn as a beautiful green city by expanding green spaces in urban areas and creating recreational spaces and clean air quality that citizens love, such as clean rivers.
Along with citizen-oriented legislative activities, we will strive to become a standing committee that works jointly with the executive branch to improve irrational systems hindering the development of local legislatures, thereby contributing to Suwon's rapid advancement.
- The economy is facing difficulties. What measures does the city council have to revitalize the local economy, particularly for traditional markets and grassroots economy?
▲ Following last year, both businesses and citizens are experiencing hardship due to the global economic downturn. At the city and city council level, we are focusing on overcoming this difficult situation by combining short-term and long-term policies.
Currently, Suwon City is contributing 300 million won to Gyeonggi Credit Guarantee for small business owners. Along with this, we will develop measures to revitalize traditional markets, including registration and facility modernization support, to inject vitality into traditional markets.
The city council will do its best to overcome economic crises and pursue sustainable development by implementing economic support measures and developing long-term economic infrastructure projects.
- The Rural Development Administration and SK Chemical are planning to relocate. What measures can be taken to minimize the impact on the local economy?
▲ Recently, SK Chemical has established plans to relocate to Ulsan, and it is known that six research institutions, including the Rural Development Administration, plan to relocate to Iksan, North Jeolla Province.
When we worry about the economy of Suwon citizens ten years from now, the loss of these institutions and factories is a matter of great concern.
Tracing back the Rural Development Administration, it had been established as Korea's agricultural hub in the center of the Korean Peninsula since the time of King Jeongjo, so an abrupt relocation would create many problems.
If relocation were to occur, we would need to consider how to revitalize the relocated site and how to develop it in a way that benefits Suwon citizens' lives. From that perspective, rather than the nation unilaterally designating the site, local government opinions should be reflected, and projects or plans needed by the municipality should proceed.
If we establish plans to revitalize (the Rural Development Administration site) in connection with residential development in the Seodun-dong area, it may not be as pessimistic.
- Both the government and local governments are setting low-carbon green growth as a major pillar of environmental policy. What direction and measures for environmental policies suit Suwon's regional circumstances and reality?
▲ In December last year, we launched the Suwon Environmental Organization Research Forum, composed of six members of Suwon City Council. This forum plans to discover new environmental policies suited to our city's characteristics and conditions, establish an energy basic ordinance to address climate change, and prepare citizen action guidelines for greenhouse gas reduction.
We will research advanced cases from various municipalities and foreign countries, invite discussions with relevant experts, conduct citizen surveys and hold forums to develop diverse approaches.
Furthermore, together with the executive branch, we plan to expand energy conservation practices that citizens can easily participate in during daily life, such as heating and cooling energy savings for homes and workplaces, water conservation, refraining from vehicle idling, using public transportation, utilizing carpooling, and participating in vehicle odd-even schemes, though these are not well observed.
- Suwon City is pursuing the establishment of an Environmental Management Corporation. What is your opinion on this?
▲ Metropolitan governments operate environment-related corporations, but basic municipal governments do not. If established in Suwon City, it would be the first among local governments.
Currently, a new recycling center is under construction, and there is the Yeongtong Incinerator and the Saekdok-dong Food Resource Recycling Facility. During the construction of the recycling center, various opinions emerged about whether to outsource or operate it directly.
In the process of reviewing this, the question of whether to establish an Environmental Management Corporation arose out of necessity, but nothing has been confirmed yet, and a feasibility study for the corporation establishment is in progress. The study results are expected to come out this month, and once they are available, a decision will be made.
Currently, there is a Facilities Management Corporation that handles parking management and garbage bag production, and some point out that establishing an Environmental Management Corporation is outside the committee's purview or that it is simply creating more positions.
However, the Facilities Management Corporation has its own unique operations. The Environmental Management Corporation, which manages the recycling center, incinerator, and future garbage treatment facilities for Gwanggyo New Town that the Facilities Management Corporation does not handle, can be operated separately from the Facilities Management Corporation.
The feasibility study results have not yet been released. I tend to support the necessity of having a specialized corporation to manage environmental issues in a megacity of 1.1 million people like Suwon. However, the problems that accompany this should be sufficiently reviewed.
- For the various development projects across Suwon, including Gwanggyo, Homae-sil, Gwonseon-gu, and Sindong districts, as well as redevelopment and reconstruction, how can these become eco-friendly development?
▲ Some of the housing development and redevelopment projects being promoted in Suwon are not within our committee's jurisdiction, but there are certainly aspects to consider from economic and environmental perspectives. Currently, we are strengthening and applying standards for air quality, noise issues, noise from large construction sites, and airborne dust problems.
From this environmental perspective, we will do our best to establish more standards at the city council level so as not to interfere with residents' lives.
- There are forecasts that most environment-related budgets for sewage treatment and water quality management will be postponed to supplementary budgets due to economic recession.
▲ We will continue to make efforts at the council level to ensure that ongoing projects such as improvements to advanced treatment facilities at existing wastewater treatment plants are completed without delay. Additionally, the Seoho Wastewater Treatment Plant construction is proceeding with a target completion date of the end of 2010, and we will pay special attention to ensure this project proceeds without disruption.
I believe sewage-related budgets must be reflected as they are directly linked to quality of life. We will also ensure that the recycling center under construction is completed as scheduled, and environmental projects proceed without interruption even if there are difficulties in securing budgets.
- Finally, a word to Suwon citizens.
▲ With citizens' support, as we embark on a new start in this new year of the Dog Year, we aim to become a Suwon City Council that gives hope and trust, pooling the wisdom and capabilities of each standing committee member to establish a new legislative paradigm with our utmost effort.
Building on the achievements of last year's legislative activities, we will focus on demonstrating accumulated capabilities this year with a policy approach to improve the quality of life of ordinary citizens.
In particular, this new year of the Dog Year, we will strive to become a council that earns respect and love from citizens and pursue legislative activities that attempt change and reform by improving misguided practices and irrational systems.
We ask for active participation and advice from all citizens so that our council can take a leap forward, and we will do our utmost to make this new year of the Dog Year one where we create new vision and hope for the future of Suwon City Council.
※ Profile of Shim Sang-ho, Chair of Economic and Environmental Committee
▲Standing Committee Member, Korean BBS Gyeonggi Federation
▲Advisor, North Suwon New Cooperative Mountain Climbing Club
▲Central Committee Member, Grand National Party
▲Advisory Member, Jangan Branch, Korean Senior Citizens Association, Suwon City
▲Secretary, Economic and Environmental Committee, Suwon City Council (8th Session, First Half)
▲Chair, Economic and Environmental Committee, Suwon City Council (8th Session, Second Half)
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