Park Yongho Announces Four Major 'Paju Grand Innovation' Pledges... "Transforming into an AI Hub City"

Park Yongho, the candidate for mayor of Paju City from the People Power Party, has unveiled a series of groundbreaking pledges ahead of the 2026 local elections, promising to transform the landscape of Paju.

Park Yongho, the People Power Party candidate for mayor of Paju City, mentioned the four major innovative pledges as 'Job Innovation', 'Transportation Innovation', 'Education Innovation', and 'A Livable and Happy Paju'. Photo provided by candidate Park Yongho

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Park is targeting public sentiment that longs for the advancement of Paju with his four major "Paju Grand Innovation" pledges. He announced the following four innovation pledges: "Job Innovation," "Transportation Innovation," "Education Innovation," and "A Livable and Happy Paju."

For the "Job Innovation" pledge, he proposed transforming Paju into an AI hub city, aiming for a fundamental shift toward a self-sustaining urban structure. He outlined plans to develop the existing Unjeong Technovalley into a "National AI Digital Valley," fostering cutting-edge future industries such as artificial intelligence, software, IoT, digital healthcare, smart farming, and robotics. He also envisioned an eco-friendly, clean valley where high-tech industry offices and residential spaces coexist, similar to Silicon Valley in the United States.

To achieve these goals, he pledged to establish two new entities under the direct supervision of the mayor's office: the "Paju Future Development Advisory Group" and the "AI Industry Policy Office," to drive the ambitious development of Paju.

He also promised to promote innovative growth for LG Display through collaboration with the company, as well as to attract more than 500 new small and medium-sized enterprises to the region, thereby revitalizing the local economy.

For the "Transportation Innovation" pledge, he proposed extending Subway Line 3, extending GTX-A to Geumneung, Geumchon, and Munsan, constructing the Tongil-ro Line, extending KTX to Munsan, establishing GTX-H, and overhauling the bus route system to ensure that, from Unjeong, residents can reach GTX stations within 5 to 10 minutes, from Geumchon within 20 minutes, and from Munsan within 30 minutes. He also proposed operating urban trams in Unjeong, Geumchon, and Munsan to enhance convenience in the GTX city, and mentioned comprehensive public transportation reforms across all of Paju to better support transportation-vulnerable groups.

As part of his "Education Innovation" pledge, he vowed to resolve overcrowded classrooms by establishing new elementary, middle, and high schools; attract science, foreign language, arts, and AI-specialized high schools; operate an AI education and training center; run an AI program on par with Seoul National University (in partnership with Doowon Technical University, Seoyoung University, and Woongji Tax College); build AI digital experience centers, a children's science museum, English immersion kindergartens, municipal daycare centers, and kids' cafes. Through these initiatives, he aims to turn Paju into a "premium education city" where infants, children, and youth can fully realize their dreams.

For the "A Livable and Happy Paju" pledge, he promised to swiftly establish the Paju Medical Center, attract a university hospital and a children's specialty hospital, and build a public-oriented multipurpose cultural facility at the GTX station to serve as a new landmark for Paju.

Park Yongho, candidate for mayor of Paju City. Provided by candidate Park Yongho

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He also announced plans for a large-scale redevelopment of the original downtown areas of northern Paju, such as Geumchon and Munsan, to dramatically improve transportation, education, and living environments, transforming them into more livable and happier cities. He mentioned transforming the current city hall building into an administrative complex town. He also proposed constructing a second city hall for Paju and building the "Paju Arts and Culture Center." Additional pledges included developing a large theme park, a major shopping mall (Costco), park golf courses in towns and neighborhoods, a dedicated park for companion animals, and strengthening disaster preparedness through redundancy in water, electricity, gas, and transportation systems.

Park Yongho stated, "I have walked this path solely with competence and passion, starting as a recipient of basic living support, graduating from Seoul National University College of Engineering, and serving as the Chairman of the Presidential Youth Committee (minister-level). As a proven expert in AI and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, I will solve Paju's longstanding challenges with innovation and create a city where citizens can be truly happy."

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