Anyang Mayor Choi Dae-ho Presents Vision for AI-Based Smart Compact City

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Yu Je-sung] Anyang Mayor Choi Dae-ho presented the 2026 municipal administration direction during the policy speech at the 307th Anyang City Council 2nd regular session held on the 20th, stating “In the final year of the eighth civilian-elected administration, I will create tangible results that citizens can feel and build a larger and more dynamic Anyang.”

Mayor Choi mentioned achievements including the groundbreaking of 'IntensSquare' in Indeokwon and the designation of Anyang City as the business operator for Parkdal Smart City project following a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Defense.

He also highlighted as a major policy achievement the fact that Seoul National University's Gwanak Arboretum changed its name to 'Seoul National University Anyang Arboretum' after 58 years and is now open to citizens on a regular basis.

Anyang City's 2026 budget totals 1.864 trillion won, representing a 5.95% increase from the previous year.

The city focused on future key investment projects such as railways and urban development, advancement of smart cities in response to the era of artificial intelligence (AI), stabilization of people's livelihoods and support for socially vulnerable groups, with emphasis on sustainable future growth and continuity of core projects.

In his speech that day, Mayor Choi presented five key visions for 2026 municipal administration: ▲Creating an AI-based smart compact city ▲Recovery of people's economy ▲Establishment of a sound safety net ▲Support for youth's dreams and challenges ▲Creating a culture-rich and eco-friendly green city.

Leading the future as an AI-based smart compact city

The city aims to realize the 'K-AI City' by systematically introducing artificial intelligence across all public services and strengthening the foundation for discovering AI-specialized projects.

The city will expand daytime operation routes for the autonomous shuttle bus 'Juyaro' currently operating successfully, lead the future mobility era through operation of level 4 driverless vehicles and trial operation of robo-taxis.

The city will also begin 'alternative facility basic and detailed design consulting' to materialize the 'Parkdal Smart City' project, an AI-based smart convergence complex, and accelerate 'IntensSquare' in Indeokwon, which will emerge as a quadruple transit-oriented development.

The city will continue to pursue Seoul Metro Line 9 extension to Anyang, Wirye-Gwacheon Line extension to Anyang, underground conversion of Gyeongbu Line in Anyang, and additional stops of KTX-Eum at Anyang Station to strengthen urban competitiveness.

Revitalizing people's livelihoods and local economy... creating a city conducive to business

The city will operate the 'Job Center,' a one-stop employment support system, to provide practical employment opportunities to various populations.

The city will also support the issuance of local currency 'Anyang Love Pay' and operation of the public delivery app 'Delivery Express' to revitalize depressed alley commerce.

In addition to the 'Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund Loan Interest Differential Support Project' to alleviate financial burdens on SMEs, the city will also promote 'Startup Enterprise Equipment Investment Interest Rate Reduction' to support stable growth foundations for startups.

The city plans to discover digital content companies with excellent technology and growth potential and support commercialization costs including prototype production and technology advancement to strengthen AI industry cultivation.

Building a safety net with solid foundations

To enable elderly, disabled, and other citizens requiring care to continue comfortable lives in their residential areas, the city will establish an integrated medical, long-term care, and care support system based on Aging In Place (AIP).

Through 'living social infrastructure (SOC) facility construction and utilization review consulting,' the city will prepare a sustainable age-friendly city environment.

Along with educational welfare for youth, the city will continue to implement birth-friendly policies including family care allowances to address childcare gaps for dual-income families, support for infertile families, and healthy pregnancy and childbirth programs.

A city nurturing youth's dreams and challenges... continuing diverse youth policies

The city will operate various programs at 'Anyang Youth 1st Street,' a youth space opened this year, and discover private facilities as youth spaces to enable young people to develop their capabilities near their living areas.

The city will operate customized programs by situation for isolated and reclusive youth to help them regain vitality and motivation in life and return to society.

The city will also continue diverse policies for youth housing stability including expansion of youth monthly rent support targets, youth housing supply, and support for moving costs and jeonse/monthly rent security deposit loan interest.

Creating a culture-rich and eco-friendly green city for quality life

This year, the first cohort of citizen gardeners, who will play a key role in creating the Anyang Stream Local Garden, was launched.

Next year, the city will receive approval as a local garden from Gyeonggi Province and accelerate the designation as a national garden.

The city will also spread garden culture across the city to provide citizens with enriching and leisurely healing spaces.

In addition, 'Pangchon Library,' which will be reborn as a future-oriented complex cultural space, is set to open soon, and the 'Local Literature Museum,' which will become the central hub of regional culture, is being prepared without disruption.

The city plans to enrich citizens' daily lives with diverse cultural and sports content including the 8th Anyang Public Art Project (APAP8) and the greater leap of civic club FC Anyang.

The city will also continue to promote energy independence enhancement policies including renewable energy convergence support projects and solar facility installation support for single and multi-family homes.

Mayor Choi Dae-ho stated, “Despite difficult fiscal conditions, we carefully reviewed the necessity and effectiveness of projects and adjusted project scale and investment timing through selective focus and concentration to compile the budget” and “In 2026, we will accelerate the promotion of major projects so they can lead to tangible results and enhance citizen happiness index and urban competitiveness through change and innovation.”