[Interview] Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu: "Faithfully Implementing Resident Life Stabilization Projects to Meet the Post-Corona Era"

Actively Promoting Bodeumnuri Project, a Dongdaemun-type Welfare Community... Urban Regeneration in Cheongnyangni General Market Area, Jegidong Gamcho Village, Godaeap Village, Hongneung Area, Janghanpyeong, and Resuming Huigyeong Village Alley Regeneration Project... Proceeding Redevelopment and Reconstruction Projects Smoothly... Operating Seoul Youth Center ‘Dongdaemun Orang’ as a Hub Space for Youth, Accelerating Discovery of Innovative Policies Reflecting Diverse Needs and Opinions of Dongdaemun Youth through Youth-led Policy Network

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] “This year, we will focus on discovering and promoting Dongdaemun-style New Deal policies that respond to the upcoming post-COVID-19 era and fit the existing conditions. We aim to faithfully implement projects for regional development and residents' livelihood stabilization, such as supporting small business owners and self-employed individuals to recover from COVID-19 damage, stabilizing the local economy through employment enhancement, and addressing low birth rates and aging population issues while strengthening customized welfare services.”

Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun District, said in an interview with Asia Economy, “We will focus on stabilizing residents' lives in the post-COVID-19 era.”

First, to realize a “welfare city shared and enjoyed together,” he announced plans to provide a one-stop welfare resource inquiry service and non-face-to-face care services, and to actively promote the Bodeumnuri project, a Dongdaemun-style welfare community.

Additionally, efforts will be made to enhance women's rights and expand opportunities for social participation, and to firmly establish a child-friendly city foundation where children are respected as autonomous individuals.

Plans include installing and operating one Kiwoom Center per neighborhood to provide a childcare environment that parents can trust, while improving the childcare environment of private and home daycare centers to the level of district-run facilities, along with thorough management and supervision. Mayor Yoo said, “The district was honored to be selected as a child-friendly city and a women-friendly city at the end of last year,” adding, “Over the next five years, we will actively promote strengthening women's community activity capabilities and creating a family-friendly environment.”

Furthermore, to create a first-class educational city leading future society, education support projects that were difficult to conduct face-to-face due to COVID-19 will be converted into non-face-to-face customized programs. Online smart infrastructure will be established for the “Education Vision Center,” “Career and Job Experience Center,” and “College Admission Counseling Center.”

Along with this, to foster a growth city driving regional development, redevelopment and reconstruction projects will be steadily carried out in areas such as Cheongnyangni General Market, Jegi-dong Gamcho Village, Godeaeap Village, Hongneung area, and Janghanpyeong, as well as urban regeneration projects like Huigyeong Village alleyway restoration, to redraw the urban environment of Dongdaemun District. Mayor Yoo said, “To improve the environment of 20 traditional markets in the region, we will actively promote facility modernization such as installing fire alarms, repairing old wiring, and canopy projects, as well as merchant capacity development and business revitalization events like holiday events.”

To leap into an economic city securing youth entrepreneurship and jobs, the Seoul Youth Center “Dongdaemun Orang,” established at the end of last year, will be operated as a hub space for youth. Through a youth-led policy network, fresh policies reflecting the diverse needs and opinions of Dongdaemun youth will be vigorously developed.

For small business owners in the struggling garment industry, the Fashion Garment Support Center will provide solid education and support to create jobs and revitalize the industry. The Integrated Startup Support Center will operate to enhance the startup capabilities of resident companies through various consulting, education, marketing, and market development.

Additionally, projects will focus on developing cultural policies and content unique to Dongdaemun District where tradition and future coexist. Traditional cultural events such as Seonnongdaeje and the Korean Medicine Culture Festival, as well as regional cultural events like the Spring Flower Festival and the World Street Dance Festival, will be richly prepared. If COVID-19 continues, these events will be effectively conducted in a non-face-to-face format.

The area around Dapsimni Filming Studio, the cradle of Korean cinema, has been completed with the creation of a Movie Street and themed spaces, making it a local attraction people want to visit. The district will also continue to expand accessible, community-based libraries for residents.

Moreover, active tree species renewal will be promoted at Baebongsan Mountain to create a green city that evokes memories, along with the development of healing forest trails.

As part of the Korean Green New Deal policy, the district will establish a low-carbon lifestyle foundation through the expansion and distribution of solar power plants, installation of electric vehicle chargers, and eco-mileage projects.

Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol concluded, “To ensure safe and pleasant pedestrian rights for residents, we plan to completely organize street vendors and illegal waste around Cheongnyangni Station and Jegi Station by 2021,” adding, “Based on the integrated control center managing 2,315 CCTV cameras, we will link and integrate crime prevention, environment, and fire information systems to build a future-oriented smart city safety network.”

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