Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon District, "We Will Move Toward an Attractive Future and Growth City"

Published 31 Dec.2023 17:42(KST)

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon District, expressed his gratitude to the residents in his 2024 New Year's address and said, "Please look forward to a soaring Nowon, a Nowon where all generations are happy."

The district identified its key projects for 2024 as ▲ rapid promotion of reconstruction and redevelopment ▲ establishment of the Seoul Nowon Biomedical Cluster ▲ Gwangwoon University Station area development project (scheduled to start construction in the second half of this year) ▲ creation of three representative cultural and leisure facilities (Suraksan Natural Recreation Forest, the children and youth leisure complex experience facility ‘Jump’, and the Italy Pavilion at Nowon Train Village), and announced that it will accelerate efforts to ensure the success of these mid- to long-term projects crucial to the city's survival.

Meanwhile, on November 20th, during the 282nd regular session of the Nowon District Council, Mayor Oh delivered a policy speech on the submission of the 2024 budget proposal and announced the direction of district administration for 2024.

First, to enhance urban competitiveness through a ‘future city dreaming of a 100-year leap’

Second, to create a ‘faster and more convenient transportation city’

Third, to establish a ‘cultural and sports city with pauses’ as universal welfare for all residents

Fourth, to continuously develop a ‘healing city that adds rest to nature’

Fifth, to solidify the status of Nowon as an educational city by creating an ‘innovative talent nurturing education city’

Sixth, to build a ‘warm and healthy welfare city with sharing’

2024 New Year's Address from the Mayor of Nowon District

Dear residents of Nowon District and readers of Asia Economy, hello. I am Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon District.

The year 2024, the Year of Gapjin (甲辰年), has dawned. Like the red sun rising to awaken the dawn, I wish you all a year full of hope.

First, I sincerely thank all the residents who showed warm interest and affectionate support over the past year. While the four years of the 7th elected term were a time to analyze Nowon's present and draw a future blueprint, the past year of the 8th elected term has been spent meeting you based on data from every neighborhood in my mind and working hard to improve the actual quality of life for residents.

Our district is changing.

From being the district with the most apartments over 30 years old in Seoul, we are leading efforts to relax safety inspection standards and provide cost support for rapid reconstruction, and now we are heading toward an attractive future city that will be extensively reorganized from the perspectives of nature and the future.

The relocation of Changdong Vehicle Depot and Dobong Driver's License Test Center, the last large-scale development sites in Seoul, is gaining momentum again, and we are moving forward as a self-sufficient city with close proximity between residence and workplace, represented by the ‘Seoul Nowon Biomedical Cluster,’ no longer just a bedroom community but a growth city.

With the synergy of the Gwangwoon University Station area development project, scheduled to start construction in the second half of this year, and the GTX-C line, the Wolgye-dong area will be reborn as the new center of northeastern Seoul.

Last year marked a turning point for ‘Cultural City Nowon’ after COVID-19. With abundant cultural events such as Dancing Nowon, the Craft Beer Festival, Moonlight Walks, and the Traveling Orchestra, Nowon will become a city attracting nationwide attention.

I am confident that Suraksan Natural Recreation Forest, to be completed in the second half of this year, the children and youth leisure complex experience facility ‘Jump,’ scheduled to begin construction in August, and the Italy Pavilion at Nowon Train Village, scheduled to begin construction in October, will further enrich Cultural City Nowon.

Dear residents of Nowon District!

In a policy evaluation survey conducted last summer on the first anniversary of the 8th elected term, 87.5% of residents gave positive evaluations of the district administration in areas such as ‘communication and publicity,’ ‘planning,’ and ‘understanding of current issues.’ I am truly grateful.

Also, 61.2% of residents responded that they take pride in being residents of Nowon District, and 81.9% believe that the urban status of Nowon will grow larger than it is now.

With a solemn sense of responsibility, I will repay your trust with results. We will prepare and move forward step by step for a soaring Nowon and a Nowon where all generations are happy. Please look forward to Nowon in 2024, which will soar like a blue dragon, and join us on this vigorous journey.

I wish your families health and happiness always, and a prosperous New Year. Thank you.