People Power Party Candidate Hwang Chun-ja Announces Candidacy for Yongsan District Mayor

Hwang Chun-ja Preliminary Candidate Declares, "I Will Change the Map to Yongsan in the World"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Hwang Chun-ja, a preliminary candidate from the People Power Party, has declared her candidacy for the 8th term of the Yongsan District Mayor.

On the afternoon of the 23rd of last month, around 2 PM, preliminary candidate Hwang Chun-ja announced her intention to run at her campaign office located in Yongsan District.

Since running for Yongsan District Mayor in the 2014 local elections, she has never left Yongsan even for a moment. Amid political upheavals, while others gradually left Yongsan, preliminary candidate Hwang Chun-ja has quietly stayed, practicing grassroots politics on the ground. She expressed regret, saying, “Yongsan’s development is still at a standstill.”

Candidate Hwang said, “It was very frustrating to know the solutions for Yongsan’s development but have nothing I could do,” adding, “Now Yongsan is ready to welcome spring (Chun).”

She is recently encouraged by the movement for change in Yongsan. This is because Yongsan holds the most important position in the 2040 Plan being prepared by Seoul City. She emphasizes that in this new era, Yongsan will become the center of South Korea and requires development befitting that status.

As a district mayor candidate who knows every corner of Yongsan that needs remodeling and has the driving force to develop Yongsan, she expressed her ambition to change the map to make Yongsan a global city.

Her main pledges to realize this include ▲ rapid promotion of underground railway construction between Hangang Bridge, Yongsan Station, and Seoul Station ▲ prioritizing improvement of Yongsan’s residential environment ▲ development of the Gongjakchang site into an international business district ▲ expansion of transportation infrastructure by establishing Bogwang Station and Mallijae Station ▲ building global educational infrastructure by attracting specialized high schools and Meister high schools ▲ expanding residents’ welfare through establishing a general hospital, 24-hour daycare centers, and a community sports center.

Having served eight years in the Republic of Korea Army from enlistment as a female sergeant to discharge as a captain, and then joining Seoul Metro, preliminary candidate Hwang Chun-ja is a pioneering figure who became the first female executive in a nationwide local public enterprise. As seen in the trajectory of her life, challenge and drive are constant fateful tasks for Hwang Chun-ja. To support her daughter preparing for college entrance exams, she started graduate studies together, earning a master's degree in political science and a doctorate in public administration through diligent day and night study.

Having devoted her life to the nation and public service as her vocation, preliminary candidate Hwang Chun-ja said, “The society urgently needs ‘noblesse oblige.’” She fully understands the public’s demand for integrity and moral duty from public officials more than ever and pledged to devote herself to Yongsan’s development with a transparent attitude that meets the expectations of local residents.

Declaration of Candidacy

I am Hwang Chun-ja, the ‘Yongsanist of the New Era,’ a preliminary candidate for Yongsan District Mayor.

Many people in Yongsan will remember my name, Hwang Chun-ja.

Even as the president was impeached amid the waves of the Sewol ferry disaster, and as seasoned politicians defected chasing power by changing party affiliations, I stayed with the residents of Yongsan, seeking solutions to local issues. I served the residents for a long time as the party branch chairperson until Assemblyman Kwon Young-se came to Yongsan. I am also active as an honorary district mayor to solve the problems Yongsan faces.

Nevertheless, Yongsan’s development is still at a standstill. It was very frustrating to know the methods but have nothing I could do. The times demand change. Now it must change. What residents want is change for the future, change for Yongsan.

President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol also said he would move the office to Yongsan in the new era. Yongsan will now become the center of South Korea. Development befitting the center of South Korea is necessary. Yongsan needs remodeling. Yongsan needs a district mayor with the driving force to develop it.

I, Hwang Chun-ja, can do it.

① (Urban Environment) Rapid promotion of underground railway construction between Hangang Bridge, Yongsan Station, and Seoul Station / Gyeongui-Jungang Line

② (Residential Environment) Deregulation related to reconstruction and redevelopment / prioritizing improvement of Yongsan’s residential and alley environments

③ (Core Development) Development of the international business district ? transforming into a political and financial city center

④ (Transportation) Attracting Bogwang Station on the Shinbundang Line / Establishing Mallijae Station on the Sinansan Line / Adding an exit at Namyeong Station / Expanding bus and other public transportation routes (based on citizen feedback)

⑤ (Education) Attracting specialized high schools, Meister high schools, academies, establishing libraries, and building educational infrastructure

⑥ (Medical Welfare) Establishing a general hospital, 24-hour local daycare centers, building a community sports center, and founding a senior university

By promoting these six major pledges, I, Hwang Chun-ja, will make Yongsan truly Yongsan and change the map to place Yongsan on the world stage.

Over the past 10 years, on the hills, markets, and alleys of Yongsan, I have listened to the wishes of countless residents, and I, Hwang Chun-ja, will surely fulfill them.

Promotion of Establishing Yongsan Senior University

It is necessary to proactively develop lifelong education programs unique and differentiated for Yongsan that reflect the increasing social needs of the elderly, creating an environment where they can feel a sense of belonging and learn in a long-term and systematic way, encouraging clubs and volunteer activities for a more vibrant old age, and simultaneously establishing a system that integrally operates social contribution activities for self-realization.

Equipped with facilities such as a small theater, gym, clinic, gateball field, mini golf course, library, billiards room, table tennis room, music room, art room, and caf?, the plan is to promote the establishment of Yongsan Senior University with regular courses similar to universities, a credit system, and various programs in humanities, economics, and informatics.

By forming social networks such as alumni associations, clubs, and reunions, and establishing ‘Yongsan Co., Ltd.’ jointly funded by the district office and civil society to connect graduates’ social activities, a foundation will be laid for a healthy senior generation to live together in the community. This will become a regional project replacing the state.