Goyang City, "2021: The Year of Major Transformation into a Future Self-Sufficient City"... Launching Mega Projects

Designated as a Special City with a Population of 1.08 Million, Promoting Metropolitan Transportation and Urban Regeneration
Discovering Projects in Jobs, Environment, Public Safety, Welfare, Human Rights, and Culture Sectors

Designated as a Special City with a Population of 1.08 Million [Provided by Goyang City]

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] Goyang City, which has laid the foundation for the future of 1.08 million Goyang citizens, announced on the 14th its key business plans for 2021 aimed at becoming a self-sufficient city, including the commencement of mega projects, expansion of metropolitan transportation networks, and urban regeneration initiatives.

The city plans to discover projects in areas such as jobs, environment, public safety, welfare, human rights, and culture throughout the year, investing a budget of 400 billion KRW.

Mayor Lee Jae-jun of Goyang stated, "2021 will be a monumental year marking the shedding of the bedroom town label and the concrete realization of a 1 million-pyeong economic map, transforming into a self-sufficient city," expressing his aspirations for the year.

◆ Commencement of Mega Projects and Expansion of Metropolitan Transportation Networks

Core to Goyang's 1 million-pyeong economic map are projects such as Goyang Ilsan Technovalley, the 3rd KINTEX Exhibition Hall, CJ Live City, Gyeonggi Goyang Broadcasting and Video Valley, and Goyang Seongsa District, all scheduled to begin construction in the first or second half of this year.

The city is preparing for the second half construction by progressively implementing resident compensation for Goyang Ilsan Technovalley. It plans to establish an investment attraction fund of 75.5 billion KRW to accelerate the attraction of excellent new industry companies in augmented reality (VR), virtual reality (AR)-based content industries, and IT convergence medical technologies.

Large-scale projects such as the 3rd KINTEX Exhibition Hall, which is set to become the 5th largest exhibition hall in Asia and 20th in the world, CJ Live City with a 42,000-seat arena, the Goyang Seongsa District project, and Gyeonggi Goyang Broadcasting and Video Valley, a cluster of broadcasting and video content companies, will be expedited.

Aerial View of Goyang Ilsan Technovalley [Provided by Goyang City]

Additionally, to expand transportation networks connecting Seoul and the metropolitan area, metropolitan transportation measures have been announced including the addition of GTX-A Changneung Station, the establishment of the Goyang Line, and the introduction of new transportation modes between Daegok, Goyang City Hall, and Siksa. The resumption of the Gyoeoseon line, route changes passing through Goyang and Gwansan, and the extension and opening of the Ilsan-Sosa Line are also underway.

Last year, the city successfully completed remodeling of Neunggok Station, creation of the Todang Cultural Platform, and improvement projects for the Wondang village alley. This year, it will actively promote the construction of the Hwajeon Area Drone Anchor Center, targeted for completion in June 2022, and the Ilsan Complex Community Center project, aimed for completion in 2023.

Furthermore, the city is actively discovering special administrative tasks such as expanding welfare benefits following its designation as a special city, realizing school educational autonomy, and expanding urban infrastructure. It has secured the site and 100 billion KRW in construction funds for the promotion of the Goyang District Court's elevation and plans to conduct international design competitions this year.

◆ Discovering Good Jobs, Supporting Small Business Recovery, Enhancing Youth Competitiveness

Goyang City will focus its capabilities this year on resolving the economic recession and social instability caused by COVID-19.

First, to help small business owners hit hard by COVID-19 recover, the city will implement support for repairing old stores, support for closed stores, a 10 billion KRW special guarantee for small business owners, and property tax reductions for benevolent landlords.

For vulnerable groups, the city plans to invest the entire 10 billion KRW job fund to operate the Goyang Hope-Tomorrow Job Project and Goyang Customized Job School, providing new jobs to approximately 2,100 people.

Youth policies will also be strengthened, including operating digital new deal education spaces related to the 4th industrial revolution, financial support for youth startups, and operating maker space startup areas at Daehwa Library.

CJ LiveCity Arena Rendering [Provided by Goyang City]

◆ Renewable Energy, Green Mobility, Urban Forests, Janghang Wetlands, and Hosting COP28

First, to build a carbon-neutral city, a roadmap will be prepared in February, and a task force team and carbon-neutral city promotion committee will be operated. The city will also hold the Goyang Climate Crisis Response Metropolitan Forum (in May and October) and promote low-carbon lifestyle campaigns.

The city has set a reduction target of 32.8% compared to the 2030 greenhouse gas emission forecast of 6.89 million tons and plans to systematically manage and monitor 92 detailed projects and 42 action tasks to achieve this goal.

Alongside this, the city will make every effort to host the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28), promote Ramsar registration of the Janghang Wetlands, and increase solar power facilities in public and private facilities to spread green energy.

More than 1,500 electric vehicles, electric two-wheelers, and hydrogen electric vehicles will be distributed, and charging infrastructure will be expanded to 900 units by 2022. Additionally, 1,000 shared bicycles will be distributed across Goyang City in the first half of this year to expand green mobility.

In the first half of this year, an ecological park-style pedestrian path 60 meters wide and 152 meters long will be created connecting Ilsan Lake Park and Ilsan Cultural Plaza. The city also plans to create vast urban forests responding to climate change, including fine dust reduction street trees, Janghangcheon urban forest, Tanhyeon ecological forest, and Jeongbalsan trail development.

Aerial View of Goyang Seongsa District [Provided by Goyang City]

◆ Citizen Safety Insurance, Goyang Nuri Bus, Shared Parking System, and Activation of Proposal System

This year, all Goyang citizens will be automatically enrolled in citizen safety insurance. The single-family home safety management system, where safety managers patrol for illegal dumping, receive deliveries, and clean the environment, will be implemented along with support for old elevators in first-generation new towns and replacement of old water pipes to enhance citizens' daily safety.

Additionally, the city will improve convenience by implementing a shared parking system utilizing school, apartment, and private parking lots, creating public parking lots at Ilsan Dong-gu Office and Hallyu World, and operating six Goyang Nuri Bus routes serving transportation-disadvantaged areas.

Other initiatives include remodeling Ilsan Lake Park, specializing 19 municipal libraries with book curation and reading culture programs, preparing for the 2022 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships, and starting the relocation of the World Taekwondo Headquarters.

◆ Paid Sick Leave Support, Temporary Childcare Support, and Housing Welfare Center

This year, the city plans to build a social safety net for vulnerable groups in human rights blind spots.

To this end, it will promote paid sick leave support for labor-vulnerable groups, the nation's first temporary childcare support for divorced families, blanket washing for elderly living alone, and minimum wage support for disabled workshops.

Moreover, administrative efforts will focus on resolving difficulties faced by vulnerable groups through customized visiting services for multicultural families, safe smart bracelets for people with developmental disabilities, and the opening of a housing welfare center providing professional counseling and home repair support for housing-vulnerable groups.

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