'3 Years of the 7th Elected Term' Goyang City Announces Itself as a 'Self-Sufficient City' with 11 Railway Networks

Population of 1.09 Million, Only Four Municipalities Including Goyang-si Among 228 Basic Local Governments Nationwide

Lee Jae-jun, Mayor of Goyang

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Marking the third year of the 7th local government term, Goyang City, with a population of 1.09 million and a comprehensive railway network, has announced itself as a 'self-sufficient city' as a special city.

Mayor Lee Jae-jun of Goyang said on the 1st, "Since taking office as mayor of Goyang three years ago, I have always prioritized 'people' at the center of city administration," adding, "I have tried to base all actions on justice and principles."

As achievements of the third year of the 7th local government term, Goyang City cited ▲domestic and international recognition of the Goyang Safety Series ▲transformation into a future economic map ▲construction of a new city hall with a 100-year vision ▲expansion of a comprehensive railway transportation network ▲registration of Janghang Wetland as a Ramsar Wetland ▲restoration of lost rights ▲designation as a special city ▲urban regeneration New Deal projects ▲enactment of life-related ordinances ▲and accumulation of a future budget of 400 billion KRW.

■ Shedding the label of a bedroom community and emerging as a 'self-sufficient city'

Broadcast Video Valley Groundbreaking Ceremony [Provided by Goyang City]

In Goyang, which previously lacked jobs, four large-scale job projects?Goyang Broadcasting and Video Valley, Ilsan Techno Valley, KINTEX Exhibition Center 3, and CJ Live City?are scheduled to begin construction this year on 620,000 pyeong (approximately 2.03 million square meters) of self-sufficient land.

The groundbreaking ceremony for Goyang Broadcasting and Video Valley was held last May. With major broadcasters and related production support facilities moving in, it is expected to induce production worth 234.2 billion KRW and create 1,423 jobs.

Additionally, a total of 1 million pyeong (approximately 3.33 million square meters) of self-sufficient facility land has been secured, including 400,000 pyeong (approximately 1.3 million square meters) in the Changneung 3rd New Town.

Ilsan Techno Valley is also meaningful as it is scheduled to start construction this year. The KINTEX Exhibition Center 3, which faced the risk of cancellation, passed the preliminary feasibility study by the Ministry of Economy and Finance last year after four years of discussions and will begin construction within the year.

CJ Live City, the largest project in northern Gyeonggi Province with a budget of 1.8 trillion KRW, received building permits for its arena concert hall in June. It is analyzed to create 24,000 jobs and induce production effects worth 17 trillion KRW.

■ 'Comprehensive' 11 railway lines make Goyang a 'railway-rich' city

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's 4th National Railroad Network Construction Plan

On the 29th of last month, the government announced the '4th National Railway Network Construction Plan,' which finalized the inclusion of all seven lines requested by Goyang City.

These include ▲Goyang Eunpyeong Line ▲Incheon Line 2 extension to Ilsan West District ▲Ilsan Line extension ▲Shinbundang Line northwest extension to Samsong ▲Daejang Hongdae Line. The Jori Geumchon Line (Tongillo Line) and the suburban line were listed as additional review projects.

With the inclusion of the new Changneung Station last year, Goyang became the only basic local government with three GTX stations. The GTX-A line is targeted for completion in December 2023. It runs from Unjeong through KINTEX, Daegok, and Changneung to Gangnam in about 20 minutes.

The Seohae Line, which crosses the western metropolitan area north to south, was originally from Daegok to Sosa but was extended to Ilsan last year. A new transportation system, the tram, is planned to be installed in the Siksa district.

Including the existing Gyeongui-Jungang Line, a total of 11 railway lines have been secured. With a dense and fast grid-like comprehensive railway network, Goyang has now become a '30-minute living zone' in the metropolitan area.

■ Restoration of lost 'rights' and Ramsar registration of 'Janghang Wetland'

Janghang Wetland

The issue of returning school land in Baekseok-dong Y-CITY was resolved with the completion of ownership transfer registration for the school land in February this year after five years of litigation.

Since 2018, administrative consignment within the military facility protection zone has been completed over 23.4 square kilometers. This returned about 20% of the total military protection zone land to the citizens.

In May, Janghang Wetland was registered as a Ramsar Wetland. This came 11 years after the registration proposal. It is evaluated as international recognition of the ecological value and importance of Janghang Wetland as a habitat for wildlife.

■ One year remaining in the term

to city Overall Aerial View

In January next year, Goyang City will officially become a special city, but specific details have not yet been determined. To secure substantial authority as a special city, efforts will be made to urge related law amendments and thoroughly prepare for a practical special city.

Efforts will be made to ensure the successful establishment of large-scale job projects starting construction this year, such as Ilsan Techno Valley, during the remaining period.

In particular, regarding the establishment of Deok-eun Station, LH will be urged to take responsibility and share costs.

Mayor Lee Jae-jun said, "I sincerely thank the 1.09 million citizens of Goyang and the 3,000 public officials who have warmly watched the past three years of the 7th local government term, which has been a breathless journey, and I will do my best during the remaining one year of my term."

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