[Interview] Jung Won-oh, Seongdong District Mayor, "Continuing Innovative Policies Befitting the Nation's Top City"

In 2020, focusing on the keywords 'Innovation' and 'Inclusion,' accelerating job creation and smart transportation city development... Mayor Jeong expresses New Year's aspirations, stating, "Selected as the top institution in the government innovation evaluation for two consecutive years, we will strive to implement innovative policies befitting the nation's number one city."

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] “While upholding the core values of a smart inclusive city, ‘innovation’ and ‘inclusion,’ we will strive to ensure that no one is excluded from the benefits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies and that everyone can enjoy happiness.”

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said this in an interview with Asia Economy, expressing his commitment to rapidly building a ‘smart inclusive city where happiness is shared together.’

Seongdong-gu welcomed the new year with great momentum after being selected as the best institution (Presidential Award) for two consecutive years in the ‘Government Innovation Evaluation’ hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety at the end of last year, the only basic local government to receive this honor, earning the title of ‘No. 1 nationwide.’ Mayor Jung explained the key projects for 2020, stating, “Based on innovative policies to solve local issues led by residents, we will continue to implement trusted governance that all residents can feel.”

First, the district plans to implement concrete projects based on detailed strategies firmly established last year to realize a ‘smart inclusive city.’ One representative project is the ‘Seongdong-type Smart Transportation City.’ Mayor Jung said, “Wangsimni, the center of the northeastern part of Seoul, will be reborn as a mecca of smart transportation city where information, technology, and culture coexist in the urban area, featuring future-oriented IoT bus stops, accident detection systems, and integrated transportation information systems.” Since last year, the district has formed a resident-participation living lab to reflect residents’ opinions from the planning stage, and in November, signed an agreement with LG Electronics to promote the project.

As part of the smart transportation brand project, smart crosswalks, the first of their kind nationwide, were installed at 12 locations including Seongdong-gu Office and in front of Muhak Girls’ High School, and will be expanded to more than 30 locations by 2021. Additionally, four smart bus stops equipped with fine dust purification facilities and solar power generation devices are scheduled to be completed by February. In particular, smart crosswalks not only smartly protect pedestrian safety but are also linked with the smart city integrated operation center for remote control, big data analysis, and automatic collection of traffic-related data.

The district is also focusing on job creation so that all residents who want to work can confidently enjoy opportunities for self-reliance. Mayor Jung said, “In connection with the roadmap to create 30,000 jobs during the 7th elected administration, we plan to create 7,500 customized jobs in 2020.” He added, “Seongdong-gu’s customized job policies for women, the elderly, and the disabled have resulted in winning the government job award for five consecutive years. This year, we will focus on youth customized employment support and expanding the operation of the Future Job Corporation for vulnerable groups such as seniors.”

Furthermore, centered around Seongsu-dong, the number of knowledge industry centers and resident companies is expected to increase from 50 centers and about 3,800 companies to 66 centers and about 5,700 companies by 2022. Accordingly, the district plans to solidify its foundation as a business-friendly city by implementing differentiated corporate support policies such as tax reduction benefits and floor area ratio relaxation, and actively attracting leading mid-sized companies.

In particular, to strengthen the self-sustainability of about 320 social venture companies active in Seongsu-dong, which forms the nation’s largest social venture valley, the district will actively promote the ‘4th Social Venture Expo,’ support social venture companies’ market access, and foster excellent social ventures through the Social Venture Hub Center in Seongdong Safe Shopping District.

The district also emphasizes that there should be no exceptions where care is needed, and building the Seongdong-type smart care welfare system that provides smart welfare services without leaving anyone behind is an important pillar of this year’s projects. Mayor Jung said, “The ‘Happy Community Project,’ which cares for socially vulnerable groups such as the elderly and disabled through AI speakers, and the ‘Smart Gym Expansion Project’ installed in 40 district-run daycare centers are realizing smart welfare using advanced technology.” He added, “We also plan to expand the ‘Ikkumnuri Center’ to create an elementary care ecosystem, operate the Care SOS Center, and strengthen the public care system throughout the life cycle with projects such as the Hyo Sarang Primary Care Physician Project.”

Especially, the district continues its reputation as a ‘special childcare district’ boasting the highest utilization rate of public daycare centers (58.6%) in Seoul and the highest total fertility rate. First, in June, the Seongdong-gu Childcare Comprehensive Support Center, a facility with one basement and three above-ground floors, will open on the railway idle land near Wangsimni Station. The newly operated 24-hour communal childcare room on the first floor is expected to become a community childcare hub by supporting play spaces, cooperative childcare, and parent self-help groups. In the Geumho and Oksu areas, the Seongdong Mom & Kids Complex Cultural Center is scheduled to begin construction around April. The center will include 10 facilities such as a living culture center, communal childcare sharing space, children’s art experience room, kids caf?, and planetarium dome, aiming for facility use starting in 2021.

Mayor Jung Won-oh said, “In 2020, Seongdong-gu will do its best to take another step forward worthy of the title ‘best’ without losing the dynamic flow of growth and change.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.