Ruling and Opposition Goyang Mayoral Candidates Attend First Changneung New Town Meeting... Present Solutions for Safety, Transportation, and Self-Sufficiency

Lee Donghwan and Min Kyungseon, Goyang Mayoral Candidates
‘Goyang Changneung Future Residents Joint Meeting’ Held
Lee Donghwan: “Setting a Model with Safe and High-Quality Apartments, Direct Link to Central Seoul”
Min Kyungseon: “Focusing on Resident-Centered Solutions for Changneung Stream Improvement and Transport Infrastructure”

The ruling and opposition party candidates running for mayor of Goyang Special City in Gyeonggi-do met with future residents of Changneung New Town, engaging in an intense policy debate over key local issues such as ensuring apartment safety, expanding the transportation network, and building a self-sufficient city.

Candidate Donghwan Lee is explaining the Changneung issue. Photo by Candidate Donghwan Lee

At 2 p.m. on May 17, the ‘Goyang Changneung Future Residents Joint Meeting’ was held in the small conference room of Deogyang District Office, attended side by side by Lee Donghwan, the candidate of the People Power Party, and Min Kyungseon, the candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea. This meeting drew significant attention from local political circles as it marked the first official occasion for both candidates to come together, directly listen to the voices of Changneung New Town’s future residents, and present concrete solutions. Around 100 future residents filled the venue, and for approximately 70 minutes, sharp questions from the residents and responses from the candidates followed one after another.

Lee Donghwan, the People Power Party candidate, laid out specific and feasible roadmaps addressing the pressing issues faced by future residents, including the maintenance of the Changneung Stream, expansion of transport infrastructure, attracting businesses, and improving the living and educational environment.

Lee focused on alleviating residents’ anxieties by referencing the recent issue of shoddy construction at building sites. He stated, “We will thoroughly incorporate residents’ demands and safety standards from the preliminary design stage and completely strengthen the city-level management and supervision system,” adding, “I will make Changneung New Town a representative model of ‘Safe and High-Quality Apartments’ in Korea.”

Regarding the highly anticipated Changneung Stream maintenance project and the creation of a lakeside park, Lee presented a clear timeline. He clarified, “Rumors of a total cancellation are unfounded; the project is proceeding without interruption by section and by phase.” He explained that the Gangmae-dong drainage impact section (3.15 km) began construction in September 2025 and will be completed in September 2028, while the Changneung New Town section (4.41 km) connecting directly to the S-6 Block will be undertaken by LH with groundbreaking planned for 2027. He also added that he has continuously petitioned the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to ensure the lakeside park is developed as originally planned.

As for improving the transportation network, Lee pledged to push forward with a plan for direct service to central Seoul from the Saejeol Station on the Goyang-Eunpyeong Line, rather than a simple transfer connection. Additionally, to fill the initial transportation gap before the railway opens, he promised to promptly review bus routes connecting to existing railway stations such as Daegok, Hwajeong, Wonheung, and Samsong before move-in, and to introduce more buses during rush hours or temporary shuttle buses as needed.

Furthermore, Lee emphasized that designating the area as a ‘free economic zone’ is key to completing a self-sufficient city, declaring his intention to see it through. He plans to actively attract outstanding venture companies, building on the achievement of having brought in 776 companies—including IS Dongseo and Energy X—over the past four years.

To help Goyang City leap forward as a global cultural hub, Lee presented a vision for revitalizing large-scale performances using K-culture infrastructure and developing the ‘GoyangCon’ brand. Regarding education, he stressed that Changneung No. 3 Middle School, which passed the Ministry of Education’s central investment review in April, will open on schedule in March 2030 with full administrative support from the local government.

At 2 p.m. on the 17th, candidates Lee Donghwan of the People Power Party and Min Kyungseon of the Democratic Party of Korea both attended the "Goyang Changneung Prospective Residents Joint Meeting" held in the small conference room of Deogyang District Office. Photo by Lee Donghwan

Meanwhile, Min Kyungseon, the Democratic Party of Korea candidate, also won support from the audience by presenting his own differentiated solutions and policy alternatives in response to residents’ pointed questions about the improvement of Changneung Stream, expansion of transportation infrastructure, and school establishment.

Both ruling and opposition candidates attending the meeting agreed that Changneung New Town will be a core living area for tens of thousands of Goyang citizens, and stressed that this event must not be a one-off occurrence. Both candidates concluded the meeting by pledging to make resident meetings a regular practice at each stage of new town development, and to work together to create a ‘premium Changneung New Town’ in active communication with local residents.

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