'Dedicated to Building a 'Green Hope City' Where Citizens are Happy'

Meeting with Mayor Kim Yong-seo on the occasion of the new Gyeongin year, we discussed his new year plans and overall city administration. During this meeting, Mayor Kim clearly stated his position that the current controversial Suwon Light Rail Transit should be discussed in connection with the integration of Suwon, Hwaseong, and Osan. Regarding his candidacy for the local elections, while the mayor spoke carefully that it would require support from citizens and the ruling party's judgment, his true intention could be discerned from his remarks about returning to his original determination as when he first ran for mayor. In particular, he expressed his desire to complete the Suwon Hwaseong restoration project that he has long dreamed of.

Throughout 2009, the Year of the Ox, despite difficult circumstances, we were able to successfully conclude the year thanks to citizens' cooperation and participation. In 2010, the government is forecasting economic recovery by adjusting the economic growth rate upward from 4% to 5%. In the Gyeongin year, I hope the regional economy will revive and all Suwon citizens will experience a vibrant year full of joy, happiness, and hope.

● Please briefly discuss the accomplishments so far in creating Happy Suwon.

Thus far, to invigorate the regional economy, we have modernized stagnant traditional markets and reborn them as new-concept brand traditional markets. Motgol Market is a prime example. The Motgol Radio broadcast and choir operated directly by merchants are becoming famous nationwide.

Additionally, we successfully completed the opening of the Suwon Hwaseong Museum, the restoration of Sungsin Temple and other Suwon Hwaseong restoration projects, the city's 60th anniversary commemoration, and the 46th Hwaseong Cultural Festival. We successfully hosted 17 large-scale sports competitions including the 2009 Asian Badminton Championships, and the IEF 2009 Suwon Information Science Festival, greatly contributing to enhancing Suwon's status and activating the regional economy.

We hosted the third Green Purchasing World Conference in Suwon where world-renowned figures gathered, and adopted the "Suwon Declaration" to overcome climate change, urging participation and cooperation from countries worldwide. As a result, Suwon received commendations including the 2009 Financial Early Execution Excellence Award from the Prime Minister, and received excellent evaluations in 35 fields. This would have been impossible without the cooperation of civil servants and citizens.

● What do you consider the best administration project? Also, if there is something memorable while dedicating yourself to city administration this year, what would it be?

First, I would like to mention the time capsule burial on the occasion of Suwon's 60th anniversary of city status. It was a meaningful event reflecting on the past and preparing for the next 100 years.

Also, the third Green Purchasing World Conference held in Suwon was attended by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, and we shared the goal of preventing global warming.

We have invested 510 billion won so far in the Suwon Hwaseong restoration project, and this year we opened the Suwon Hwaseong Museum. The pride is great because only 18% came from national treasury funding—it was built entirely with citizens' budgets. If I have a personal dream, it is to complete the restoration of the world cultural heritage site "Hwaseong" to the end. I am dedicating my efforts to turning it into a tourism destination where approximately 4 million visitors annually can generate consumption. This year, with the restoration of the covered section of the Suwon Stream, the restoration of Namsumun Gate, and the creation of Paldotapmusicchon, the pace of Hwaseong restoration will accelerate.

Additionally, we concentrated all administrative efforts on revitalizing the regional economy through early financial execution, and announced comprehensive measures for citizens suffering from noise damage and property damage due to Suwon Airfield, and submitted recommendations to the Blue House.

Beyond these, I will remember the volunteer-driven "Love House Repair" project and the "Name Plaque for National Heroes' Homes" project, which built pride. Above all, I still vividly remember the joy when the Motgol Market Radio Star became known nationwide.

● I look forward to 2010 even more than this year. How are you preparing to design Suwon's city administration?

We will set the 2010 city administration goal as "A Green Hope City Where Citizens are Happy" and will carry out the Second Green Saemaul Movement, declaring it as the first year of green growth. Based on these growth plans, we will pursue eight major projects.

We will revitalize the most urgent local alley economy in downturn. We plan to continue promoting traditional facility modernization, one market-one specialization projects, expansion of hope labor and public labor programs, and activation of apartment-type factories. We must ensure that redevelopment projects centered on Suwon Station and development zones like Gohyeong proceed swiftly, bringing vitality not only to residents' living environments but also to alley commerce.

Second, we will create an advanced education city brimming with dreams, challenges, passion, and hope. Thus far, we have invested 320 billion won in educational facilities, and we plan to foster it as an education-centered city through the creation of the Suwon Foreign Language Village and the opening of Suwon Arts High School. Through the Suwon Love Scholarship Foundation, scholarships have been delivered to 1,200 students, and this year, we expect around 600 students to benefit.

To create a nature-friendly environmental city, we will implement a five-year comprehensive green growth plan including carbon emission reduction campaigns and the introduction of carbon emission diary systems. To create a happy city sharing love and hope, we allocated 273.6 billion won in welfare budget. This is a 21% increase from last year and represents 26% of the entire city budget. We will allocate significant budget for childcare and childbirth to address low birth rates and childcare issues.

We will create a cultural and sports city sharing with the world through Hwaseong restoration and hosting 16 major sports competitions including the 2010 World Masters International Judo Competition. Through the expansion of CCTV installation for crime prevention, hosting the International Safe Cities Conference, Gwanggyo New Town development, and other urban development projects, we will build a future-oriented safe city where citizens can live happily and comfortably.

Additionally, through establishing a safe public transportation system, operating a multicultural support center, and strengthening international networks, we will work to enhance Suwon's status and improve citizens' quality of life.

● The biggest issue at the start of the new year will undoubtedly be discussions on administrative district integration. Regarding the Suwon-Hwaseong-Osan integration, I would like to know your personal thoughts as the mayor, not an official external perspective.

I believe the Suwon-Hwaseong-Osan region has no choice but to integrate. In principle, I support the city council's resolution for integration, and considering living sphere, historical significance, and economic viability, integration is an inevitable choice. However, although Hwaseong and Osan are opposed, I view it as merely a matter of timing.

In fact, there is nothing regrettable for Suwon, but from the perspective of development as an international city and strengthening urban competitiveness, I think it is difficult with Suwon's size alone. I would like to propose that the three cities develop the future together. The concerns of residents in these regions about the relocation of nuisance facilities is nonsensical. We have already sufficiently established such facilities in Suwon, and there is no reason to relocate them elsewhere. If a unified city emerges, a one trillion won budget will be generated, and if this is invested in developing underdeveloped areas and building urban infrastructure, we can accelerate growth.

In particular, joint public transportation development with these regions is necessary. I believe the Suwon Light Rail Transit project should be a circulation-type metropolitan route connecting Hwaseong and Osan regions rather than just meeting demand within Suwon to have validity. The recent remarks about abandoning the light rail project stem from thinking that such long-term perspective should be the starting point.

The integration issue was already raised ten years ago when I was the city council chairman, hosting seminars with Osan City Council and Hwaseong County Council on metropolitan expansion of administrative districts. Considering everything, beyond discussions by the city council and public officials, I believe it is appropriate that citizens' will be heard through a referendum to make the decision.

● It is widely known that you are challenging for a third term. I am curious whether you intend to run in the next Suwon mayor election. Also, health issues are frequently mentioned—do you have any health problems?

Politics is not something that goes my way. It is not that I run for office just because I want to; I think the selection of candidates comes from the interplay of citizens' judgment and regional political decisions. That is why it feels cautious to answer whether I will challenge for a third term. I have an ideal vision of Suwon that I aspire to, and realizing it is only possible if I become a commander. The challenge for a third term is the same state of mind as when I first decided to run as a public executive. A politician's spirit of challenge is natural, and when making this decision, as I mentioned earlier, it is important how citizens evaluate me and whether the regional political community recognizes my past activities and vision.

As you can see, I am healthy. After one week of hospitalization and completing treatment, I immediately handled all duties. Health (life) is the top priority—how could someone who is not healthy travel to citizen service sites and dedicate themselves to duties? There are endless false rumors saying 'he can only live two to three more months, his time is up.' It is not even funny. There are no health problems whatsoever.

● Lastly, please send greetings to Suwon citizens and Suwon Ilbo readers.

I hope the Gyeongin year, the Year of the Tiger, will be a year of hope for all Suwon citizens and Suwon Ilbo readers. As the inaugural year of the Second Green Saemaul Movement, we must practice green living in our daily lives as Suwon citizens to prevent global warming. I urge your participation and cooperation in creating a "Green Hope City Where Citizens are Happy."

In particular, I hope that Suwon Ilbo, born from the love of Suwon citizens, will inform citizens of news from all corners of the region, and through a strong bond with the city, enhance the city's status and grow together. Please pay attention so that our local newspaper (Suwon Ilbo), which has been with the city for 20 years, will grow into the most advanced journalism model with the love of citizens. Lastly, I hope that health and happiness are always abundant in the homes of all 1.1 million Suwon citizens and readers of Suwon Ilbo. Happy New Year to all of you. Thank you. <Interview by Deputy Editor Kim Ki-won, Written by Reporter Lee Jung-ha, Photos by Reporter Choo Sang-chul>