[Photo] Kim Soo-young, Yangcheon District Mayor, Emphasizes Urban Function 'Resilience' in Crisis

[Seoul District Photo News] Kim Soo-young, Yangcheon-gu Mayor, Delivered New Year's Address at the '2022 Opening Ceremony' Held on the 3rd at 3 PM in the Yangcheon Digital Media Center on the 3rd Floor of the District Office... Oh Seung-rok, Nowon-gu Mayor, Emphasized "Integrity, Kindness, Fieldwork" at the 2022 Opening Ceremony, Urging to Show a Nowon Beyond Expectations... Yeongdeungpo-gu Held the 2022 Opening Ceremony, Pledging a Strong Leap Forward... Yoo Deok-yeol, Dongdaemun-gu Mayor, Officially Started the Year of the Tiger by Visiting and Encouraging Staff... Yoo Seong-hoon, Geumcheon-gu Mayor, Encouraged COVID-19 Frontline Workers in His First New Year Schedule... Kim Seon-gap, District Mayor,

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Kim Soo-young, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, attended the ‘2022 Opening Ceremony’ held at 3 p.m. on the 3rd at the Yangcheon Digital Media Center on the 3rd floor of the district office and delivered a New Year's address.

At the ceremony, Mayor Kim emphasized the ‘resilience’ that enables a city to regain its original functions despite any crisis.

He pledged to realize ‘Resilience City Yangcheon’ in unison with all staff through the power of ‘healing’ to recover to the pre-crisis state and ‘leap forward’ even in disaster situations like COVID-19, and governance that overcomes crises ‘together’.

"In 2022, the Year of the Black Tiger, I hope all our staff will unite with one heart and mind to make Nowon not just a district that residents ‘expect’ but one that ‘surpasses’ expectations."

At the opening ceremony held at 2 p.m. on the 3rd in the small auditorium on the 6th floor of Nowon-gu Office, Mayor Oh Seung-rok expressed gratitude to the staff for the achievements shown over the past year and spoke accordingly.

Last year, Nowon-gu achieved many significant accomplishments. First, it laid the foundation for the SN-BMC (Seoul Nowon Biomedical Cluster) for Nowon's 100-year future. Despite various uncertainties, after much mediation effort, on December 22 last year, an implementation agreement was signed regarding the relocation of Dobong Driver's License Examination Office, titled ‘Support for Co-growth and Win-win Development of Nowon-gu, Seoul City, and Uijeongbu City.’

The relocation of Dobong Driver's License Examination Office to Uijeongbu was the biggest obstacle to transforming Chang-dong Vehicle Base into a bio complex centered around Seoul National University Hospital. The agreement signing has given great momentum to future project promotion.

Mayor Oh said, “Job creation and population inflow due to SN-BMC will be a new leap forward for Nowon,” urging that infrastructure construction for this should be comprehensively and systematically established from now on.

He then mentioned the full-scale development of the Gwangwoon University Station area. Mayor Oh emphasized that the Gwangwoon University Station area development project is not limited to Wolgye-dong development but has broader significance.

Mayor Oh said that with the GTX-C line entering the Gwangwoon University subway station, this area will become a super transit station with geographical advantages, and through development connecting to the Gyeongchun Line forest path in Gongneung-dong, it will be reborn as a cultural hub of youth as well as an economic center.

He also expressed regret over the inability to promote planned cultural policies last year due to COVID-19. However, he mentioned short but enjoyable events during the with-COVID period such as the Gyeongchun Line Music Concert, Moonlight Walk, and Gaksimje Old House Music Concert, and expressed ambition to hold large-scale cultural programs like a craft beer festival for residents if opportunities arise in 2022.

Furthermore, he promised to provide cultural programs that penetrate every corner of the neighborhood. He said efforts will be made to offer high-quality cultural and artistic programs enjoyed in daily life to enhance residents' insight and expand opportunities for healing through culture.

Finally, Mayor Oh asked staff to adhere to four key points in 2022: ▲ uphold principles and self-respect regarding overtime pay, business trips, and related work ▲ strive to improve internal and external integrity ▲ despite difficulties on the ground, pay attention to ‘resident friendliness’ ▲ promote ‘field-oriented’ administration by visiting and listening extensively.

Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “Amid the prolonged difficulties of COVID-19, I am always grateful that all staff are working hard with the dream of a better future for Nowon,” and added, “I hope all staff will unite with one heart and mind to create a Nowon that residents expect in 2022.”

Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Chae Hyun-il) held a hybrid non-face-to-face opening ceremony on the 3rd to strengthen staff unity and share the 2022 administrative direction and major project plans of Yeongdeungpo with all employees in celebration of the Year of the Black Tiger.

Mayor Chae Hyun-il, along with the deputy mayor and some department heads, were seated in the auditorium of the Yeongdeungpo-gu Office annex, while employees watched the broadcast streamed via IPTV from their respective offices.

In his New Year's address, Mayor Chae said, “I express deep respect and gratitude to the residents and staff who united on the front lines of COVID-19 prevention over the past year,” and added, “In the Year of the Black Tiger, we will strive to overcome COVID-19 wisely with the tiger's bravery and intelligence and make Yeongdeungpo a city leading the development of the southwestern region.”

Following the address, presentations on ‘Major Projects to Shine in 2022’ by project managers below grade 7 were held.

The presentations began with a brief explanation of the 2022 administrative direction and major changes, including ▲ creating a healthy, healing, cultural, and green city to enhance urban dignity and residents' quality of life ▲ preparing new growth engines ▲ establishing a comprehensive education and welfare system covering all generations.

Next, presentations covered ▲ growth as a cultural production city based on Yeongdeungpo's rich cultural resources and development potential ▲ creation of public cultural welfare spaces in Times Square ▲ promotion of urban regeneration projects for cultural tourism activation such as the construction of the 2nd Sejong Cultural Center and Daeseonje Bun Cultural Development Center ▲ restoration of Daebangcheon Stream and improvement projects for Anyangcheon and Dorimcheon Streams ▲ expansion of non-smoking zones and installation of smoking booths, showcasing Yeongdeungpo's diverse potential to lead the future in each field.

After the major project presentations, attending staff gathered on stage to cut a tiger-patterned rice cake and took commemorative photos, pledging a vigorous leap and progress in 2022.

Mayor Chae Hyun-il of Yeongdeungpo-gu said, “In 2022, we will join forces with 380,000 residents and about 1,400 staff to move more vigorously toward a global future city full of residents' pride and an open Yeongdeungpo.”

Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, toured all departments of the district office on the morning of the 3rd before the official start of work in the Year of the Black Tiger, delivering New Year's greetings and encouragement to staff.

Considering the COVID-19 situation, Mayor Yoo replaced the traditional opening ceremony and various New Year's events with direct visits to each department to share New Year's greetings. He especially expressed heartfelt thanks and appreciation for the dedication and hard work of the health center medical staff and department employees who have been exhausted by the ongoing COVID-19 response over the past two years.

The New Year's address for all staff was recorded on video and made available on the administrative system. In the morning, during a staff meeting with the deputy mayor and department heads, he urged, “Careful attention and support for vulnerable groups including the homeless in winter, recipients of public assistance, and near-poverty groups are urgently needed, and thorough and flawless winter snow removal measures must be established and supplemented.”

He also said, “Please promptly execute support for small business owners and self-employed people struggling due to COVID-19, and do your best to ensure other projects proceed quickly from the beginning of the year.”

Regarding the fire at Cheongnyangni Agricultural and Marine Products Market last month, he repeatedly emphasized, “Please ensure thoroughness in joint patrol inspections to prepare for traditional market fires starting this week.”

In the afternoon, presiding over a meeting of 14 neighborhood chiefs, he asked for thorough COVID-19 prevention, strengthened support and care for welfare blind spots in cold weather, strict management of snow removal agents in each neighborhood, and active participation in traditional market fire prevention campaigns.

Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol of Dongdaemun-gu said, “The Year of the Black Tiger has dawned. Traditionally, the tiger is considered an animal that drives away bad energy and brings good fortune. I hope that with the good energy of the Black Tiger, we can quickly overcome COVID-19,” and added, “This year, our district will do its best to support self-employed and small business owners going through difficult times due to COVID-19 and make every effort to help merchants affected by last month's fire at Cheongnyangni Agricultural and Marine Products Market restore their businesses as soon as possible.”

Finally, he expressed gratitude to the health center medical staff and all district employees who have worked hard on COVID-19 prevention and testing despite harsh cold late into the night, saying, “I thank all our staff for their excellent work so far and ask that we continue to do our best to create a Dongdaemun-gu full of hope and warmth for residents.”

Yoo Sung-hoon, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, began his first schedule of the new year on the 3rd by encouraging frontline COVID-19 workers instead of holding an opening ceremony.

Starting at 3 p.m., Mayor Yoo visited frontline workers at the residential treatment centers, home treatment task force team, disaster safety countermeasures headquarters, screening clinics, and temporary screening sites who have been battling COVID-19 daily to ensure residents' safety, offering encouragement and gratitude.

Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon said, “I deeply respect and thank the medical staff and workers who sweated at screening clinics and residential treatment centers last year, enduring the heat and cold,” and added, “In 2022, we will devote all our efforts to making this year a ‘year of recovery,’ ‘year of unity,’ and ‘year of leap’ to overcome COVID-19.”

Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Sun-gap) held the ‘2022 Opening Ceremony’ non-face-to-face on the 3rd via live audio broadcast from the district office, considering the COVID-19 situation.

The ceremony was arranged to encourage staff and deliver New Year's greetings, conducted in an announcer and dialogue format.

Mayor Kim Sun-gap began his New Year's greeting by saying, “Thank you for your hard work in responding to COVID-19 throughout this year,” and added, “Like the wise, strong, and challenging Black Tiger, I hope you all achieve a vigorous leap forward.”

He reflected on last year, saying, “As COVID-19 prolonged, seeing everyone struggle made me feel heavy-hearted, sorry, and pitiful,” and shared, “I felt very good when I heard residents say thank you for the kind guidance from staff at screening clinics and vaccination centers.”

Regarding his wish for this year, Mayor Kim said, “With the introduction of oral antiviral drugs this year, I expect the with-COVID era to properly begin,” and added, “I hope this year will be one where the hearts of residents, who have suffered many wounds, are healed and daily life is restored.”

Finally, he quoted from Dasan Jeong Yak-yong’s ‘Mokminsimseo’: ‘Cheonhajisa biilinsowiya,’ meaning ‘No one person can do all the work in the world,’ and concluded, “As the saying goes, ‘The more wisdom, the better,’ if staff and residents put their heads together and share wisdom, we can raise Gwangjin's value.”

Mapo-gu (Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun) held the opening ceremony of the ‘2022 New Year Hope Calligraphy Exhibition’ at 3 p.m. on the 3rd at the Mapo Arts Center.

Hosted by the Mapo Cultural Center, the exhibition featured 50 non-professionals including Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun and 50 professional calligraphy artists.

The exhibition contents include New Year's blessings and good writings, and can be viewed at the Mapo Cultural Foundation from the 3rd to the 16th, and at Gwangheungdang from January 17 to February 13.

Chae Hyun-il, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, met online with residents born in the Year of the Tiger at Studio Tium on the afternoon of the 3rd to exchange New Year's greetings and listen to their wishes for district administration.

On this day, Mayor Chae communicated online with residents by generation and neighborhood, sharing New Year's hopes and ambitions, local issues, daily life improvements, and expectations for district administration freely.

Mayor Chae Hyun-il said, “In 2022, based on the core values of communication and cooperation in district administration, we will strive to make Yeongdeungpo a better place to live together with residents.”

Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) announced that the Korea New Knowledge Workers Association (President Kim Jong-baek) donated 104 bags of 10kg rice (equivalent to 3.01 million KRW) to neighbors struggling due to COVID-19.

The Korea New Knowledge Workers Association is a federation of new knowledge workers who establish a new human image responding to the 21st-century knowledge information society and contribute to productivity improvement and national competitiveness enhancement through sharing diverse knowledge information. Its central office is located in Yongdu-dong, Dongdaemun-gu.

Since January 2021, the association has donated goods worth approximately 18.64 million KRW (rice, loach soup, circulators) six times to vulnerable groups in Dongdaemun-gu.

The rice donated this day will be delivered to vulnerable households in Dongdaemun-gu. Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol said, “I thank the Korea New Knowledge Workers Association for delivering rice to neighbors in need,” and added, “I hope the association, which develops policy alternatives and contributes to economic development and improvement of citizens' quality of life, will achieve even greater progress in the future.”