Joo Gwang-deok Mayor: "A Year of Hope and Leap Forward with a Major Industrial Ecosystem Transformation"

Policy Address at Namyangju City Council
Vision for a Transportation Hub and Prosperous City
Directions for City Administration in 2025

Joo Gwang-deok, Mayor of Namyangju City, stated at the city council on the 4th, “We will devote all our efforts to creating a ‘city where people want to invest,’ a ‘future-oriented self-sufficient city,’ and a ‘truly wealthy city,’” expressing Namyangju’s ambitions as it approaches its 30th anniversary and the milestone of becoming a special city with a population of one million.

Joo Gwang-deok, Mayor of Namyangju City, is presenting the '2025 City Administration Operation Direction' through the city council's policy speech on the 4th. Photo by Namyangju City

In his policy speech that day, Mayor Joo presented the 2025 city administration directions, which include plans for △a transportation hub city △a prosperous city △a desirable city to live in △a cultural and educational mecca △and a city ranked number one in happiness index responsible for citizens’ daily lives.

First, to complete the ‘true transportation hub city,’ the city will actively promote metropolitan transportation network projects such as the direct connection of the Gyeongchun Line and Suin-Bundang Line, the extension of Line 9 to Namyangju, and the introduction of shuttle trains between Sangbong and Maseok. Last year, the foundation for transportation was established with the opening of five GTX lines and five railway lines, and this year plans to enhance the completeness of the transportation network.

Namyangju City has designated this year as the ‘first year of a major industrial ecosystem transformation’ and, starting with the 550 billion KRW ‘Digital Universe’ construction agreement signed last year with Woori Financial Group, is accelerating efforts to attract innovative industries such as bio, medical, and AI cloud to the 1.2 million square meter urban high-tech industrial complex within the Wangsuk New Town.

Mayor Joo Gwang-deok stated, “We will hold large-scale investment attraction briefings and, with the sense of mission as Namyangju’s first sales representative, make every effort to ensure that companies’ ideas and plans translate into actual investments.”

He also proposed measures to revitalize the local economy. The city plans to promote commercial district revitalization tailored to regional characteristics and citizen-centered redevelopment of aging infrastructure to foster the resurgence of the original downtown and balanced urban development.

Additionally, the city plans to establish a differentiated urban brand through innovative hydrogen city development and the construction of a new city hall in proportion to the population of one million.

Furthermore, Namyangju aims to become a ‘cultural and educational mecca’ by expanding advanced educational environments and cultural healing infrastructure. Mayor Joo emphasized, “We will strengthen the education community network and lead a new model of lifelong learning through the ‘Human Book Library.’ We will also host the ‘citizen-led Namyangju Garden Expo’ and expand barefoot walking trails in 16 eup, myeon, and dong districts to support citizens’ health in their daily lives.”

Finally, aiming to be the ‘number one city in happiness index,’ the city will strengthen care policies tailored to life cycles. Four additional Dahamkke Care Centers and Sangsang Nuriter facilities will be expanded, youth support projects will be increased, and ‘Namyangju Dream Maru’ will be operated to support women entrepreneurs.

Moreover, the city will enhance job opportunities and active senior infrastructure for the elderly and support all citizens to enjoy welfare benefits.

Mayor Joo Gwang-deok said, “Although a year of great change is expected, Namyangju will become a year of hope and leap forward based on the growth foundation built so far. To realize the aspiration for a 1 million mega city super-growth Namyangju, I will personally look into citizens’ difficulties and sincerely communicate to ensure citizens’ voices are reflected in policies while continuing administrative innovation.”

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