Mayor Joo Gwang-deok: "This Year Will Be the First Year of a Major Transformation in Namyangju's Industrial Ecosystem"

"We will strive to attract advanced industries to Wangsuk New Town to create a compact city, promote cultural exchange and carbon neutrality, and transform and grow into a city where citizens enjoy living and everyone wants to visit."

Joo Gwang-deok, Mayor of Namyangju City, is speaking about the major business plans for 2025 at a New Year's press conference held at the city hall on the 22nd. Photo by Lee Jong-gu

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On the 22nd, Namyangju Mayor Joo Gwang-deok held a New Year's press conference at the city hall's Yeoyudang and declared, "2025 will be the inaugural year of a major transformation in Namyangju's industrial ecosystem."

Mayor Joo expressed deep gratitude for the support of 740,000 citizens and emphasized, "The attraction of the Gyeonggi Provincial Public Medical Center, which has enhanced Namyangju's competitiveness, and the 550 billion KRW investment project for the Wangsuk New Town industrial complex are precious achievements that realize the hopes of both the public and private sectors."

He further announced plans to promote an urban development project in the area of 'Ipae-dong,' located between Wangsuk 2 District and Dasan 2-dong.

Currently, Namyangju is undertaking large-scale public development projects totaling 16 million square meters, including Wangsuk New Town, which is four times the size of Yeouido, as well as the Yangjeong Station area and Jinjeop 2 District. However, the Ipae-dong area, situated between Wangsuk 2 District and Dasan 2-dong, has been criticized for being designated as a greenbelt and thus unable to fulfill its role as an important area connecting the new towns.

Mayor Joo stated, "We will hold a separate session later to explain specific matters such as the development direction and the progress of the feasibility study for establishing a development plan for the Ipae-dong area."

He promised to make Namyangju a transportation hub city in the Seoul metropolitan area.

To this end, the Metropolitan Area Express Railway (GTX)-B project, which began construction last year, aims to open in 2030, and full-scale land compensation procedures will commence this year. Additionally, efforts will focus on the prompt advancement of new GTX lines D, E, and F, as well as the G line.

Administrative efforts will also be concentrated on the extension of Line 9, which received basic plan approval at the end of last year and is scheduled to begin construction in 2026, as well as the direct connection projects for the Gyeongchun Line and Suin-Bundang Line.

Joo Gwang-deok, Mayor of Namyangju City, is speaking about the major business plans for 2025 at a New Year's press conference held at the city hall on the 22nd. Photo by Lee Jong-gu

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Mayor Joo also declared his intention to create a "future advanced industrial city" with economic power capable of supporting one million citizens.

In particular, he promised to solidify the foundation of a self-sufficient city by specifying target companies related to future strategic industries such as AI cloud computing and fabless semiconductor design, and by attracting companies to the urban advanced industrial complex.

He plans to hold an investment attraction briefing session in the second half of the year to focus on converting interest into actual investments by many companies.

Mayor Joo added, "Large-scale plans such as the creation of Jeong Yak-yong Park as a new landmark (with a project cost exceeding 100 billion KRW), the promotion of a garden expo, and the construction of a future new city hall (with 90 billion KRW prepared) are drawing attention," and said, "During the remainder of my term, I will focus on attracting advanced companies and improving the overall living conditions of citizens."

He also stated, "To revitalize the local economy, I will spare no effort to support the livelihood economy, expand Namyangju-style care services, create spaces for youth, generate jobs for seniors and women, improve the educational environment, expand various welfare sectors, and establish a one-person, one-sports leisure platform."

Mayor Joo emphasized that he will also develop Namyangju into a city of culture and healing. In particular, he plans to promote the Namyangju-style Garden Expo in September to spread garden culture for citizen healing.

Namyangju Mayor Joo Gwang-deok said, "Citizens and public officials have worked hard to make Namyangju the most innovative self-sufficient city in South Korea," and emphasized, "We will continue to make steady efforts throughout this year to create a future-oriented self-sufficient city where everyone wants to live."

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