[Interview] Yuseonghun, Geumcheon District Mayor, "Achieving Leap Forward through Communication and Balance"

City, living, and transportation infrastructure improvements, regional economic revitalization and job creation, and a full-scale effort to strengthen dense welfare and public safety

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] “This year marks the full start of the 8th elected term, a period in which Geumcheon will leap forward and grow as a future city. With ‘communication,’ ‘balance,’ and ‘leap’ as the guiding principles of district administration, we aim to open the era of ‘Advancing Geumcheon, Proud Geumcheon’ together with residents.”

Geumcheon District Mayor Yu Seong-hoon explained the direction of this year’s district administration in an interview.

Mayor Yu added, “We will focus all our efforts on improving city, living, and transportation infrastructure, revitalizing the local economy and creating jobs, and strengthening dense welfare and public safety. We will move toward a reliable and happy city of Geumcheon that only Geumcheon can achieve and that Geumcheon residents truly desire, with Geumcheon-style policies that anyone can rely on anytime and anywhere.”

To this end, Mayor Yu first revealed a plan to realize true welfare for the vulnerable by listening attentively to the voices of the disadvantaged so that no resident is left behind.

He plans to raise the welfare benefit standards, which have been stagnant for about 15 years, to above the Seoul city average through continuous support for the ‘Together ChanChanChan’ side dish project for middle-aged single-person households, winter support funds for near-poverty groups, increased education benefits and holiday consolation money for basic livelihood security recipients. He will also take responsibility for the healthy elderly life by supporting senior health checkup fees, longevity celebration funds, and expanding job opportunities for seniors.

A Geumcheon Family Center will be established to provide customized welfare services by family type and life cycle, laying the foundation for the future generation of Geumcheon to grow up safely and happily through neighborhood care centers and Geumcheon-style elementary care centers.

Along with this, Mayor Yu will work on creating a balanced and safe Geumcheon where education, culture, nature, and the urban environment harmonize.

By establishing an education support platform such as the Geumcheon Career and Academic Support Center, he will strengthen the public education-centered support system and expand the four experiential schools of health, science, environment, and musical to nurture future talents with balanced intellect and emotions. In addition, through the construction of the Seo Seoul Museum of Art and Geumcheon’s representative library, the ecological parkification of Siheung Valley, the creation of Geumcheon Waterfall Park, and the operation of customized sports classes, he will support the vibrant lives of residents.

Efforts will also be made to prevent various safety accidents through AI pedestrian alerts that detect vehicles, improvements to rainwater retention tanks in flood-prone areas, and the expansion of the cross-section of Siheung Stream.

Finally, he expressed his determination to create a well-connected Geumcheon through redevelopment and reconstruction projects tailored to local characteristics and the construction of transportation infrastructure.

By ensuring the smooth progress of the Shinansan Line, the complex development of Geumcheon-gu Office Station, expansion and new entrances of Gasan Digital Complex Station, and feasibility studies for the Nan-gok Line light rail and the extension of the Sincheon~Sillim Line, he aims to alleviate transportation inequality and promote balanced regional development. To resolve residents’ biggest inconveniences such as traffic congestion and parking difficulties, plans include expanding Beotkkot-ro, constructing an underground overpass on Dusan-gil, and expanding public parking lots, significantly improving the residential environment.

In addition, by establishing the Youth Dream Center, revitalizing the alley economy, and preparing support measures for G-Valley companies, Geumcheon will leap forward as a self-sufficient city full of vitality with youth and jobs in close proximity.

Mayor Yu Seong-hoon mentioned the proverb ‘A clever rabbit digs three burrows in preparation for crisis’ (토영삼굴, 兎營三窟), promising, “In 2023, with a proactive attitude to prepare for crises and wise, swift responses, I will do my best together with about 1,000 public officials to make Geumcheon a better place to live.”

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