Sang-il Lee, Mayor of Yongin, "Preparing Metropolitan City-Level Spatial Plan Beyond Special City"

2nd Anniversary Inauguration Press Briefing Held... Announcement of Second Half Administrative Operation Plan
"The Principle of Administration is 'Livelihood' and 'Sincerity'... Will Not Lose the Original Intention"

Lee Sang-il, mayor of Yongin City in Gyeonggi Province, is undertaking a reorganization of the urban spatial structure considering city growth centered around a large-scale 'L-shaped semiconductor belt.' The plan is to prepare a spatial plan that effectively considers a metropolitan city-level urban structure beyond the special city status in anticipation of rapid population influx.

Mayor Lee announced this during a press briefing held on the 11th at the City Hall Ace Hall to mark his second anniversary in office.

Mayor Lee explained, "The population of Yongin City, currently at 1.1 million, is expected not only to surpass Ulsan, a metropolitan city, but also to exceed the population of Suwon." He added, "As a city that has experienced problems caused by indiscriminate development around Suji and Giheung districts in the past, it is necessary to prepare thoroughly from now on."

Yisang-il, Mayor of Yongin, is explaining the major achievements and policy directions for the second half of his term during a press briefing held at City Hall on the 11th, marking the 2nd anniversary of the 8th elected term.
[Photo by Yongin City]

"Reorganizing metropolitan-level spatial structure in line with the growing city scale"

The plan for the second half of the 8th elected term in Yongin City is to reset the urban structure and functions according to the new environment of creating the 'world's largest semiconductor mega cluster.' Mayor Lee stated, "Yongin has the spatial capacity needed for such urban growth," and added, "We are considering a metropolitan-level city while sufficiently establishing transportation infrastructure and incorporating planned city characteristics into existing aging urban areas."

To this end, Mayor Lee intends to redesign the '2040 Urban Master Plan' from scratch rather than making small-scale supplements to the existing plan. The urban master plan is a mid- to long-term urban plan established by the city every five years.

Mayor Lee also presented a comprehensive spatial plan. For Cheoin-gu, where the advanced system semiconductor national industrial complex and Yongin Semiconductor Cluster are being developed, the plan is to equip the area with sub-center functions reflecting large-scale development and relocation demands. However, the northeastern part of Cheoin-gu, where Everland and other attractions are located, will be developed as a tourism belt utilizing the existing natural environment.

In Giheung-gu, where the Platform City and Eonnam District developments are underway, the plan is to systematically connect these development sites with the existing urban area while seeking ways to revitalize the stagnant old urban areas and hubs. In Suji-gu, where the old town and large-scale apartment complexes are concentrated, plans will be made for integrated redevelopment of aging housing complexes to significantly enhance transportation conditions and urban functions. In particular, for Suji-gu, the city plans to expedite the establishment of a basic plan for the maintenance of aging planned urban areas to facilitate smooth reconstruction in areas such as Suji 1 and 2 districts.

Two years into the 8th elected term... Yongin is undergoing a complete transformation

A panoramic view of the planned site for the Yongin Advanced System Semiconductor National Industrial Complex. The system semiconductor complex, covering an area of 7.28 million square meters, is expected to completely transform the map of Yongin with roads, railways, and more.
[Photo by Yongin City]

During the briefing, Mayor Lee emphasized, "In Yongin, what we imagine is becoming reality." This reflects his confidence in the 'Yongin Renaissance' he proposed upon taking office in the 8th elected term.

Indeed, over the past two years, Yongin has experienced large-scale changes akin to a complete transformation. The most representative achievement, according to Mayor Lee himself, is attracting the 'Advanced System Semiconductor National Industrial Complex' in the I-dong and Namsa-eup areas of Cheoin-gu. Following the confirmation of the 7.28 million square meter industrial complex development plan in March last year, the area was also designated as a specialized complex for the government's advanced national semiconductor strategic industry. Samsung Electronics plans to invest 360 trillion won here, establishing a total of six production lines. Samsung Electronics aims to operate the first production line (Fab) by 2030.

Yongin City also succeeded in designating the 'I-dong Public Housing District,' which functions as a new city supporting the semiconductor belt. The I-dong district, covering 2.28 million square meters in Cheon-ri, I-dong, is expected to house about 16,000 households.

The attraction of the system semiconductor industrial complex has generated various ripple effects. The 'lifting of the Songtan water source protection zone' is a representative example. Since part of the site for the system semiconductor industrial complex is included in the water source protection zone, lifting this restriction is essential. When the water source protection zone is fully lifted in the first half of next year (January to February), 64.43 square kilometers of land?1.8 times the size of Gwacheon City?will be freed from 45 years of regulation, securing a considerable amount of developable land for Yongin City.

Another side effect is the exemption from the preliminary feasibility study for the expansion of National Road No. 45, a long-awaited project. Along with this, the feasibility of major metropolitan railway and road networks such as ▲ Gyeonggang Line extension (Gyeonggi Gwangju Station to I-dong and Namsa-eup) ▲ Southern Gyeonggi Metropolitan Railway (Jamsil Sports Complex to Hwaseong Bongdam) ▲ Semiconductor Expressway (Hwaseong Yanggam to Yongin I-dong and Namsa to Anseong Iljuk) has also increased.

"The principles of city administration are 'livelihood' and 'sincerity'"

Some critics have labeled Yongin's remarkable progress over the past two years during the 8th elected term as a 'ruling party premium.' In response, Mayor Lee dismissed this by saying, "The two principles I have adhered to as mayor over the past two years are 'livelihood' and 'sincerity.' In front of these, partisanship holds little meaning."

Mayor Lee's administrative style is so proactive that it is sometimes described as 'excessive.' To resolve major issues, he visits the central government himself to deliver proposals and explain the necessity of policies instead of relying on staff. His strong network, built through interactions with journalists and members of the National Assembly, is a significant asset. However, he demands that his staff provide thorough supporting data. His belief is, "It cannot be just a simple plea; there must be solid logical grounds."

His communication skills are highly regarded both inside and outside the city. Even the city’s public officials’ union calls him the 'King of Communication.' This is evident in meetings with school officials and parents within the jurisdiction. Mayor Lee not only provides feedback on the review results of suggestions raised during these meetings but also personally visits the sites to verify follow-up actions.

Mayor Lee said, "I have felt many times over the past two years that if we create change through work and results and take care of people's livelihoods through actions, that sincerity will reach the hearts of the citizens." He added, "I will continue to work with this mindset in the second half of my term without losing my initial resolve."

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