[Interview] Lee Chang-woo, Dongjak District Mayor: "2021, the Year When Future Projects Become Visible"

The First Link for Future Urban Structure Reorganization: 'Jangseungbaegi Comprehensive Administrative Town' Groundbreaking Next Month, Scheduled for Completion in 2023... Dongjak's Future Growth Prospect 'Tourism Development around Yongyang Bongjeojeong' Takes Shape with Opening of Yongyang Bongjeojeong Park Natural Yard on the 30th of Last Month

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] “This year marks the practical conclusion of the 7th term of the elected administration, and we will ensure that residents can tangibly experience the outcomes of the future projects we have long prepared.”

This was the key topic raised by Lee Chang-woo, Mayor of Dongjak-gu, in an interview with this publication. The year 2021 is busier than ever for Dongjak-gu. This is because key projects such as the ‘Jangseungbaegi Comprehensive Administrative Town Construction’ and the ‘Tourism Development of the Yongyang Bongjeojeong Area,’ which have been promoted since the 6th term of the elected administration, are beginning to bear fruit one by one.

Mayor Lee has previously described the role of local government using the metaphor of the ‘bamboo knot theory’ in media interviews. He said, “Although local autonomy has reached its 27th year, residents have not felt the power of local government because there were no ‘knots’ of change. We will complete the first knot of change in Dongjak, which has seen no change for a long time, within the term of the 7th elected administration.”

◇ Jangseungbaegi Comprehensive Administrative Town Construction

The demolition work for the ‘Jangseungbaegi Comprehensive Administrative Town,’ which began last October, is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2023. The construction of the new government office building has been a long-standing wish of local residents, so much so that funds for the building were collected since 2004. With the start of the 6th elected administration, a dedicated department directly under the mayor was established to actively promote the project. The district is leveraging the high value of the current government office site, and the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) will build the new office in the Jangseungbaegi area and donate it to the district. In return, the district will compensate LH with the site through a ‘donation in exchange for land’ method, thus advancing the project in earnest.

Additionally, to coexist with the merchants of Yeongdo Market, who have continued their livelihoods on the site of the new office building, the project plans to create Korea’s first ‘mixed-use administrative building with commercial spaces,’ introducing approximately 1,200 pyeong (about 3,966 square meters) of special rental stores. Mayor Lee stated, “Through the relocation of public institutions, the Jangseungbaegi area will be developed into an administrative hub where the district office, health center, community centers, and affiliated organizations such as the facility management corporation and the residents’ hall are concentrated. Meanwhile, the Noryangjin area, rich in commercial land, will be nurtured as an economic center.”

◇ Tourism Development Project for the Yongyang Bongjeojeong Area

On the 30th of last month, the district completed the ‘Yongyang Bongjeojeong Park Natural Yard,’ one of the core sub-projects of the tourism development for the Yongyang Bongjeojeong area, and opened it to residents. The Noryangjin area, where Yongyang Bongjeojeong is located, is rich in historical, cultural, and natural resources such as the Han River, the fish market, and Sayuksin Park, and is considered a region with high growth potential.

The district plans to bundle these individual resources into a tourism product, linking it with the development plans around Noryangjin promoted by Seoul City, and establish a tourism belt connecting Yongsan and Yeouido to create a ‘hot place.’ Mayor Lee said, “With Seoul City preparing to develop Nodeul Island, we thought that attracting citizens visiting Nodeul Island to Noryangjin could secure future sources of income, which led us to promote the tourism development project for the Yongyang Bongjeojeong area.”

Starting with the creation of the Natural Yard, the district plans to complete the ‘Yongyang Bongjeojeong Historical and Cultural Space,’ themed on the historical value of Yongyang Bongjeojeong, and the second phase of park development, ‘Observation Deck Installation,’ in 2022. They are also promoting the creation of a ‘Cafe Culture Street’ linked with the Bondong Urban Regeneration New Deal project.

Furthermore, in cooperation with Seoul City, projects such as the ‘Baeknyeon Bridge,’ modeled after the boat bridge crossed by King Jeongjo, the ‘Han Riverfront Pedestrian Network’ connecting the Han River Park interrupted in Dongjak, the ‘Nodeul Overpass Demolition,’ and the ‘Nodeul Ferry Park Reconstruction’ are scheduled to be completed by next year.

◇ Promotion of Balanced Regional Development by Living Zones

Since the 6th elected administration, the district has been striving to expand living SOC (Social Overhead Capital) by region so that no resident is culturally excluded, even by a single library or welfare facility.

First, in the Sadang-dong area, the district is promoting the construction of a ‘Public Complex Building’ that integrates health and welfare facilities and a lifelong learning center, aiming to develop the area around Namseong Station as a second economic axis connecting to Noryangjin through the effect of attracting visitors. Also, in Heukseok-dong, a high school is being established with the goal of opening for the spring semester of 2023. In Daebang-dong, the district is repurposing a decommissioned military underground bunker to create a youth creative innovation experience space, scheduled for completion in January next year.

Alongside this, in Noryangjin, a complex cultural facility with a performance hall seating over 700 people will be built using public contribution land, and in Sangdo-dong, a living SOC complex facility combining a swimming pool, senior citizens’ center, public housing, and public parking lot is being promoted. Mayor Lee said, “Through projects preparing for Dongjak’s future and various life-centered policies, we will do our best to shape Dongjak-gu in the direction residents desire and bring about tangible changes in daily life.”