[Interview] Roh Hyun-song, Mayor of Gangseo-gu, Seoul: "Gangseo-gu Has Grown as the Representative City of the Southwest Area Over the Past 12 Years"

In the early days of his 2010 inauguration, Gangseo-gu was perceived as a neglected and slow-developing outskirts of Seoul, but with the completion of major projects including the Magok District development, it is now recognized as a leading city representing the southwest area. He stated, "During the remaining term, I will do my best with a 'Yusiyujong (有始有終)' mindset to keep the promises made to residents from the beginning, so that they can enjoy a happier and more comfortable life."

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] “Through 12 years of effort, we have proven ‘the most innovative growth in Seoul’ and ‘the highest level of local government competitiveness nationwide.”

No Hyun-song, who served four terms as the mayor of Gangseo-gu, Seoul during the 2nd, 5th, 6th, and 7th elected administrations, stated in an interview with this publication, “Based on the solid foundation and achievements steadily built in district administration, I will devote myself to the successful completion of a premium city.”

In 2010, Gangseo-gu, once regarded as a neglected ‘periphery (邊方)’ on the outskirts of Seoul, has grown into a first-class city representing the southwestern region and the most livable city in the capital.

Mayor No said, “At the beginning of my term, Gangseo-gu was recognized as a neglected and slowly developing outskirts of Seoul. However, as major projects such as the development of the Magok district began to bear fruit one by one, it is now evaluated as a first-class city representing the southwestern region.”

The district’s rapid growth is proven through various evaluations. Last year, in the Korean Local Autonomy Competitiveness Index (KLCI) evaluation conducted by the Korea Public Autonomy Research Institute targeting 226 cities, counties, and districts nationwide, Gangseo-gu achieved the remarkable result of ‘1st in Seoul, 4th nationwide,’ being recognized as a local government with the highest level of competitiveness not only in Seoul but across the country.

Additionally, the district has been recognized as an excellent district for seven consecutive years in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s government joint evaluation, received the National Representative Brand Award in the medical tourism city category, and was selected for ten consecutive years as the highest grade in the nationwide basic local government pledge fulfillment evaluation conducted by the Korea Manifesto Practice Headquarters, all of which demonstrate the district’s development.

In particular, the Magok district development project, scheduled for completion at the end of this year, has created a new chapter in the region’s history and served as the foundation for the district’s innovative growth. Magok, a new growth engine responsible for Seoul’s future, currently consists of about 12,000 apartment households along with a forest of buildings. With over 160 companies such as LG, Kolon, Lotte, and E-Land moving in one after another, it has taken on the appearance of an advanced future city. The Seoul Botanic Park, Korea’s first botanical park, has also been established, marking growth that has transformed the landscape.

Within the R&D complex created for research and development purposes, the completion of R&D centers for companies based on advanced industries such as IT (Information Technology), BT (Biotechnology), GT (Green Technology), and NT (Nanotechnology), as well as the MICE complex, will further highlight Magok as a future-oriented industrial and research complex leading innovative growth in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Mayor No expects this growth trend to continue. Major ongoing projects include the metropolitan western railway project connecting Daejang and Hongdae, the creation of a southwestern future industrial district around Gimpo Airport, and the development of office, commercial, and knowledge industry centers on the CJ factory site.

Additionally, the LG Art Center, equipped with a large performance hall with 1,300 seats, will be built within the Seoul Botanic Park’s Open Forest Park, and the long-awaited Gangseo Cultural Center in Hwagok-dong will be completed, positioning Gangseo-gu not only as the economic center of southwestern Seoul but also as a cultural hub.

In the final year of the 7th elected administration, Mayor No is focusing his capabilities on stabilizing existing projects and ensuring smooth administrative continuity into the 8th elected administration without any gaps.

He also plans to make every effort to achieve the core value of the 7th administration, ‘harmonious growth,’ by addressing imbalances between the old and new downtown areas that have arisen alongside Magok’s growth.

Mayor No Hyun-song said, “During my 12 years as mayor of Gangseo-gu, we have led not only quantitative changes such as the successful development of Magok district and designation as a medical tourism special zone but also qualitative changes, achieving ‘1st in Seoul, 4th nationwide’ in the Korean Local Autonomy Competitiveness Index (KLCI).” He added, “During the remainder of my term, with the mindset of ‘Yusiyujong (有始有終)’?to finish what we started?I will do my best to ensure that residents can enjoy a happier and more comfortable life.”

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