Shin Dong-hwa, Mayor of Guri City, Intensively Reviews 8 Core Projects at Major Issues Report Meeting

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Eom In-yong] Guri City held the 'Major Issues Project Progress Report Meeting' for the first time since Mayor Shin Dong-hwa took office over two days from the 13th to 14th in the city hall situation room, and discussed the progress of eight core projects.

Mayor Shin examined each project's actual benefits to citizens as a priority, and instructed relevant departments to specifically re-review ways for citizens to experience tangible changes.

■ Relocation of Gyeonggi Housing and Urban Development Corporation (GH) - Top campaign promise, "Move quickly even to temporary offices"

The relocation of Gyeonggi Housing and Urban Development Corporation (GH) is Mayor Shin's top campaign promise. This project, which had been delayed due to Gyeonggi Province's suspension of administrative procedures, is now gaining momentum as the city will send an official letter to Gyeonggi Province this week stating that it will "no longer pursue incorporation into Seoul." Mayor Shin instructed to promptly proceed with relocating to a temporary office even before the new building is constructed.

■ Inchang Stream Ecological Restoration - From children's safety to fish

In the restoration project of Inchang Stream with a total project cost of 47.5 billion won, it was noted that the lower section has a crosswalk but no sidewalk, causing shuttle vehicles to drop off children on the roadside.

In response, Mayor Shin instructed to install sidewalks and wooden decks.

He also ordered plans to expand on-street parking spaces by moving the upper railings inward by 50 centimeters while maintaining the stream width, and to arrange pools and riffles so fish can survive even in winter. Beyond restoration alone, he emphasized the need to develop it as Guri's signature landmark and coordinate with local merchant associations to invigorate commercial activity.

■ Topyeong 2nd District Regional Traffic Improvement Plan - "Don't just list, start with priorities"

Mayor Shin pointed out that rather than simply listing multiple route options, the city should determine priorities for the desired routes before negotiations. He instructed to examine realistic alternatives such as Line 8 station expansion or circular light rail transit (tram) within Topyeong 2nd District, rather than clinging only to the economically unfavorable Line 6 extension plan.

However, regarding routes passing through Seoul's jurisdiction, he stated that without Seoul's consent, it "cannot be considered Guri City's plan," and emphasized that multi-level improvements at Topyeong intersection and the Guri-Amsa Bridge expansion must be included.

■ GTX-B Galmaae Station Stop - "Not stopping at Galmaae Station but asking for construction cost sharing?"

With the Galmaae Station stop not confirmed, the city is being asked to share approximately 40 billion won in construction costs. In response, Mayor Shin instructed to seek legal consultation regarding the possibility of a constitutional complaint, stating that if GTX-B doesn't stop at Galmaae Station, Guri citizens would only endure dust and noise while the city bears construction costs, which is unfair.

He also ordered finding cases where other new towns received recognition as stop stations at similar district designation stages to use as negotiation leverage, and to promptly form a 'Galmaae Traffic Task Force (TF)'.

■ Galmaedong Multipurpose Community Center - "Flexible, creative spatial restructuring"

Regarding the Guri Cultural Center scheduled to relocate to the multipurpose community center, complaints were raised that Galmaedong actually lacks cultural spaces for youth to use. Mayor Shin instructed to devise creative measures to utilize youth-exclusive spaces without returning already-received national funds.

He also proposed redirecting the municipal daycare center, which hasn't reached capacity, toward specialized childcare facilities for children with special needs.

■ Also attended to social economy, RAS pilot city, and Mangwoo circular road

Beyond these, Mayor Shin proposed creating a 'Guri-type model' for the social economy support center that other local governments could reference. He ordered advance preparations for applying to Gyeonggi Province Office of Education's Reading, Arts and Sports (RAS) pilot city program that guides children toward books and exercise instead of smartphones.

Regarding the creation of safe pedestrian passages on Mangwoo circular road, he urged efforts to secure external funding by referencing cases in Seoul's Jungnang-gu.

Mayor Shin Dong-hwa stated: "All matters addressed today are closely related to the lives of our Guri citizens. Rather than being satisfied with having followed administrative procedures, with the mindset that citizens are the owners, let us think about what methods could actually be helpful." He added that this report meeting was organized with that purpose.

Meanwhile, the city plans to carefully manage the directives from this report meeting by department and continuously monitor their implementation status.