Mayor Kim Donggeun: "If We Stop Now, We'll Return to the Past... I Will Complete a 'Greater Uijeongbu'"

"If the past four years have been a time of sowing the seeds of change, the next four years will be about reaping those fruits and completing the vision of a 'Greater Uijeongbu.' If we stop the current momentum of change, we will inevitably be forced to return to the past."

Kim Donggeun, Mayor of Uijeongbu, is holding a press conference at Uijeongbu City Hall on the 21st to officially declare his candidacy for the next mayoral election. Photo by Lee Jonggu

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Kim Donggeun, the current Mayor of Uijeongbu, held a press conference at Uijeongbu City Hall on the 21st, officially announcing his intention to run for the next mayoral election. Mayor Kim emphasized his tangible achievements as the incumbent and appealed for the "uninterrupted progress" of Uijeongbu.

As the first message of his candidacy, Mayor Kim presented a "problem-solving administration." He said, "The most frequent comment I've received from citizens since taking office is that 'Uijeongbu is finally changing.'" He stressed that he has taken responsibility and addressed long-standing, unresolved issues such as the cancellation of the Gosan logistics center project, the relocation of the Howon Reserve Forces Training Center, and the Jangam-dong incinerator problem, rather than avoiding them.

He continued, "The trust and accomplishments built over the past four years have been proven by results, not just words." He expressed his determination to "personally see through the changes initiated to enhance the value of Uijeongbu to the very end."

In particular, Mayor Kim identified breaking the chronic "bedtown structure" of Uijeongbu as a core task. Citing the successful attraction of Daewoong Group to Camp Jackson, he asserted, "Uijeongbu is no longer just a city of apartment complexes and logistics centers. The city is transforming into one that attracts large corporations and high-tech industries, a city where jobs are created."

To achieve this, he presented the following as the highest priorities among the "five major innovations": designation as a free economic zone and attraction of global companies; establishment of advanced bio and IT complexes in the returned U.S. military base areas; and restructuring of the industrial landscape by lifting regulations in the Yonghyeon Industrial Complex.

Kim Donggeun, mayor of Uijeongbu, held a press conference at Uijeongbu City Hall on the 21st to officially declare his candidacy for the next mayoral election. Photo by Jonggu Lee

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In addition, he highlighted achievements in the areas of culture, ecology, and education, such as the restoration of ecological streams including Jungnangcheon and Buyongcheon, the establishment of a foundation for the Baek Youngsoo Municipal Art Museum, designation as a legal cultural city, successful hosting of the Hoeryong Cultural Festival, increasing admission rates for Gyeonggi Northern Science High School, and the push to establish a new Sports Convergence Science High School.

He also stated, "Through more than 100 on-site mayor’s offices, I have directly communicated with citizens and have continued administrative innovations such as opening City Hall and community centers to the public to lower the barriers of administration."

In his candidacy declaration, Mayor Kim Donggeun stated, "The next four years will be a time to realize a 'Greater Uijeongbu' that expands the scope of citizens' lives," pledging to pursue a major transformation of Uijeongbu through innovation across all sectors.

Mayor Kim first emphasized the plan to attract advanced bio and IT industries centered on the returned U.S. military base areas, and to create a foundation for global companies to enter through the designation of a free economic zone, thereby generating quality jobs. Through these efforts, he aims to transform Uijeongbu from a bedtown into a self-sufficient city.

He also pledged to develop Uijeongbu into a transportation hub in northern Gyeonggi Province by extending Subway Line 8, establishing a railway network connected to GTX-C, introducing SRT, building a metropolitan transfer center, and implementing circular bus routes.

In terms of urban space, he plans to create business hubs centered on the Uijeongbu Station area and fundamentally restructure the city by expanding mixed-use spaces that combine cultural and leisure functions on key sites.

Kim Donggeun, Mayor of Uijeongbu, is holding a press conference at Uijeongbu City Hall on the 21st to officially declare his intention to run for the next mayoral election. Photo by Lee Jonggu

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Additionally, he pledged to enhance Uijeongbu’s cultural and ecological infrastructure to create a "city where people want to stay," and to strengthen the city’s brand through the development of waterfront spaces and gardens. He also emphasized the expansion of citizen participation systems and on-site communication-based administration, aiming to establish a structure in which citizens directly determine the city’s direction.

Mayor Kim Donggeun stated, "Uijeongbu is already on the path to progress. By not stopping now and completing innovations across jobs, transportation, urban development, culture, and administration, I will advance Uijeongbu as the central city of northern Gyeonggi Province." He added, "Based on my experience transforming Uijeongbu, I will take full responsibility for achieving even greater changes."

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