[New Year's Address] Lee Gijae, Yangcheon District Mayor, "Laying the Foundation for a New Future City, Starting a Strong Leap Forward"

Reconstruction, Redevelopment, and Expansion of Airport Noise Damage Support Reflecting Long-Standing Wishes of Residents: Full Effort to Resolve Pending Issues

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yangcheon-gu (District Mayor Lee Ki-jae) conveyed a message in the 2023 New Year's address to pioneer a new era for Yangcheon together with residents and move toward a better future.

He also explained that since the launch of the 8th elected administration under Mayor Lee Ki-jae, the Mokdong Apartment district unit plan was approved, and reconstruction has returned to a normal track due to the easing of safety inspection regulations. Additionally, policies to expand airport noise countermeasure areas and reduce property taxes have been promoted.

Furthermore, based on the achievements of the past six months, he expressed a strong determination to lay the foundation for the birth of a new future city in 2023 and begin a greater leap forward.

The following is the full text of the New Year's address.

Dear respected residents of Yangcheon-gu! The new year of 2023, the Year of the Black Rabbit (Gyemyo-nyeon, 癸卯年), has dawned. In this new year, I wish all residents health and happiness, receiving the energy of the black rabbit, a symbol of wisdom and good fortune.

Last July, the 8th elected administration under Mayor Lee Ki-jae was launched with the vision of “A city where you want to live, a city that is good to live in.” Above all, we have been tirelessly working to resolve complex and difficult pending issues such as reconstruction and redevelopment reflecting the long-standing wishes of Yangcheon residents, and the expansion of support for airport noise damage. I am pleased to share that some of these issues are now reaching resolution.

With the approval of the Mokdong Apartment district unit plan and the easing of safety inspection regulations, reconstruction, which had long been unresolved, has returned to a normal track. We responded swiftly to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s noise impact assessment, preventing a reduction of about 3,000 households in the airport noise countermeasure area and instead achieving an increase of approximately 450 households. Moreover, starting next year, Yangcheon-gu will be the first local government nationwide to promote property tax reductions in airport noise countermeasure areas.

Additionally, the landscaping design plan for the National Assembly Boulevard ground park project has been completed, and a residents’ briefing session has been held. Especially nowadays, as daily safety becomes increasingly important, our district takes great pride in providing a safe barrier against disasters and accidents based on facilities such as the Sinwol rainwater retention drainage system.

Dear respected residents of Yangcheon-gu, if the past six months were a time to prepare for the plans ahead, in 2023 we will lay the foundation for the birth of a new city and begin a greater leap forward. We will devote continuous efforts to consultations with related organizations to resolve still outstanding major issues such as the promotion of the light rail transit, relocation of the Sinjeong vehicle depot and extension of Line 2, and early commencement of the Western Truck Terminal.

We, the approximately 1,500 Yangcheon public officials, will do our best together to hold an education expo befitting the status of an educational special zone, establish an education support center, support various cultural and artistic activities, revitalize community sports, and create a warm city that helps socially vulnerable groups.

Dear beloved residents, we have united in times of crisis and turned crises into opportunities, boldly facing continuous challenges. As we have done so far, we will trust only the residents of Yangcheon and move forward vigorously in the new year. Like the rabbit that leaps over obstacles with strong hind legs, I hope that in the Year of the Black Rabbit, all residents will overcome difficulties vigorously, and that your homes will be filled with vitality and happiness. Wishing all residents a very happy new year.

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