Launch of the 2nd Songpa Policy Development Committee Leading Seoul

66 Experts in Urban Development, Care Education, Cultural Promotion, and Administrative Innovation TFs... Proactive Response to the New Normal Era through Expert Consultation

Park Seong-su, Mayor of Songpa District (center), and members of the 2nd Policy Development Committee.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su), the highest advisory body for district administration, has newly formed the 2nd term of the ‘Songpa Policy Development Committee Leading Seoul’ and began full-scale activities from the 18th.

The district announced that the 2nd Songpa Policy Development Committee, composed of 66 experts in four TF divisions?urban development, care education, cultural promotion, and administrative innovation?has been launched.

The district plans to gather wisdom to proactively respond to the New Normal era based on the committee’s policy recommendations.

Professor Seo Hyun of Seoul National University’s Department of Architecture was appointed as the chairman. He graduated from Seoul National University’s Department of Architecture and Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture in New York, and has authored several books including The Bookshelf of Imagination (Hyohyeong Publishing, 2018) and Building a Triangular House (Hyohyeong Publishing, 2016). He also designed ‘Seoul Book Bogo’ located in Jamsil and is actively engaged as a Songpa-gu figure in the literary field.

Professor Lee Kyung-mook of Seoul National University, who served as the 1st term chairman, and Professor Kang Byung-geun of Konkuk University, who is the director of the ‘Barrier-Free Living Environment Research Institute,’ will also support policy advice as advisors to the committee.

During the past two years, the 1st Songpa Policy Development Committee concretized the district’s vision and policy direction through a total of 54 advisory meetings. It proposed efficient implementation plans for key projects such as the creation of the Songpa Dullegil Trail, establishment of Songpa Saem (Songpa Education Support System), and the launch of the Songpa Cultural Foundation, contributing to enhancing the district’s urban competitiveness.

The 2nd committee reorganized its structure and invited distinguished experts to successfully complete the promises of the 7th local government term and secure sustainable urban competitiveness.

The four TFs, organized by key district policy areas, will reassess the mid-term outcomes of ongoing policy projects and generate productive ideas to discover future growth engines.

In particular, through the ‘Cultural Promotion TF,’ efforts will be accelerated to enhance the city’s cultural competitiveness by attracting the Korea National University of Arts and creating the Seokchon Lake Art Gallery.

Songpa-gu Mayor Park Seong-su said, “To proactively respond to the rapidly changing social environment, policy implementation with expert insight is necessary,” adding, “Through the 2nd Songpa Policy Development Committee, we will lead policy innovation by promoting differentiated policies and do our best to ensure that residents can feel ‘Songpa Leading Seoul.’”