Yangcheon District Mayor Kim Su-young to Hold Candidacy Press Conference at 2 PM on the 3rd, Declares 'Uninterrupted Yangcheon Development'
[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Kim Soo-young, the confirmed sole candidate for the Yangcheon District Mayor from the Democratic Party of Korea in the local elections held on June 1, expressed her determination to realize the future leap of Yangcheon District in the 8th term of the elected government through her candidacy declaration on the 3rd.
Mayor Kim stated, “When I took office 8 years ago, Yangcheon District was stagnant due to frequent leadership changes and administrative confusion, but I led the change in the stagnant and underdeveloped Yangcheon through 'on-the-ground leadership.'” She cited examples such as redevelopment in the Sinwol and Sinjeong areas, development of the Galsan area, promotion of remodeling of five major parks, and active promotion of Mokdong apartment reconstruction. She especially expressed gratitude to the residents of Yangcheon for their participation during the COVID-19 crisis, which enabled the district to lead the overcoming of the crisis with proactive and innovative policies such as the Good Consumption Campaign and the Youth Digital Supporters Project.
She added, “While leading the administration of Yangcheon District, we received excellent evaluations through various awards such as the highest (SA) grade for 5 years of pledge fulfillment, the Ministry of Environment’s Green City Presidential Award (2020), first place in the national basic local government ESG evaluation (2021), and first place in national local government administrative services (2022). Based on crisis management capabilities and stable administration, in the 8th term of the elected government, I will complete major local pending projects such as apartment reconstruction and low-rise residential area development, design and commencement of construction of the Mokdong Line, Gangbuk Transversal Line, and Daejang Hongdae Line within the term, and development of the Western Truck Terminal,” she declared her aspirations.
Kim Soo-young, Yangcheon District Mayor, is the only re-elected female mayor among Seoul district mayors from the Democratic Party of Korea. She previously served as the president of Ewha Womans University Student Council, adjunct professor in the Department of Social Welfare at Soongsil University, and a member of the Presidential Committee on Jobs.
It is expected that if elected, she will become the first three-term female head of a Democratic Party organization and the first three-term female head of a Seoul city organization.
Kim Soo-young’s Declaration of Candidacy for the 8th Term
Turning crisis into opportunity, continuous development of Yangcheon ? Kim Soo-young will make it happen.
Dear respected residents of Yangcheon,
This is Kim Soo-young, Mayor of Yangcheon District.
Hearing the laughter of children in the parks throughout Yangcheon brings hope for the end of COVID-19 and the restoration of daily life. First, I extend my condolences to those who have suffered from long-term illness and economic downturn, and I thank all Yangcheon residents who have worked together to overcome the crisis.
When I took office 8 years ago, Yangcheon District was stagnant due to frequent leadership changes and administrative confusion.
The Sinwol area had become slum-like with vacant houses every other home due to the lack of progress in New Town redevelopment, and although air conditioners were provided as compensation for aircraft noise damage, they were useless because residents feared the electricity bills.
In the Sinjeong area, conflicts deepened among residents over redevelopment support and opposition, and especially in the Galsan area, unauthorized factories and repair shops were rampant, leaving development stalled and neglected.
The Mokdong area was similarly stagnant. Many residents hoped for the emergence of young and intelligent politicians in the past, but there was no significant change. Ultimately, the sense of loss among residents left behind by politicians who abandoned Yangcheon like a cast-off object while pursuing higher political ambitions was indescribable.
On-the-Ground Leadership
I, Kim Soo-young, led the change in the stagnant and underdeveloped Yangcheon by actively engaging on the ground. I resolutely promoted the redevelopment of Sinwol and Sinjeong New Towns, and from two years ago, residents began moving into comfortable residential spaces, with living infrastructure such as the Health Healing Culture Center and Administrative Complex Town being established. Households in aircraft noise-affected areas received electricity bill support for up to four months, and massage chairs were installed in senior centers for the elderly.
In the Galsan area, Galsan Neighborhood Park was created and the Galsan Cultural Center was opened, transforming the area into a high-quality residential space rich in culture and greenery.
In the central axis of Mokdong, park remodeling was promoted, and barrier-free deck paths and book rest areas were created along Anyangcheon and Yongwangsan to establish green healing spaces that improve quality of life.
We also actively promoted the reconstruction of Mokdong apartments, passing the zoning upgrade review for complexes 1 to 3 after 15 years, and one complex passed the detailed safety inspection.
Despite going against government policy trends, I made efforts including ministerial meetings to ease reconstruction standards. The district unit plan traffic impact assessment promoting Mokdong’s development has been approved and is progressing rapidly.
Meticulous Motherly Leadership
Welfare in Yangcheon has also been upgraded.
Visiting nurses and social workers visited residents to implement detailed and outreach welfare, and the nation’s first “Nabi-nam Project” for single men in their 50s became a catalyst to newly raise awareness of social solitary deaths.
With the establishment of the 50 Start Center and 50 Plus Center, infrastructure for care and independence for second life planning was built.
The West Seoul Senior Welfare Center was opened to expand welfare spaces for the elderly in the aging era.
We established the Disability Human Rights Center and Lifelong Education Center for People with Developmental Disabilities to lay the foundation for a disability-friendly city.
Operating the Labor Welfare Center and enacting ordinances supporting socially isolated youth and essential workers, we have been realizing a Yangcheon where no one is left out.
The past eight years have passed in a breathless rush, so fast I hardly noticed the time.
Though I heard complaints from those around me that I was overly ambitious for a re-elected mayor,
the time was far too short to lift the underdeveloped administration caused by the consecutive vacancies of Yangcheon mayors before my inauguration.
I worked harder and made more efforts.
Our outstanding policies and competent problem-solving abilities in Yangcheon have been recognized through 40 awards in 322 categories, including the Manifesto Pledge Fulfillment highest (SA) grade for 5 years, the Ministry of Environment’s Green City Presidential Award (2020), first place in the national basic local government ESG evaluation (2021), and first place in national local government administrative services (2022), restoring staff confidence and residents’ trust.
Our district is no longer a backward autonomous district due to administrative gaps,
but has become a leading Yangcheon District nationwide.
All this was possible thanks to the support of our residents.
During my tenure, I operated the “On-site Mayor’s Office” 167 times, meeting residents at senior centers, parks, roads, and various locations throughout Yangcheon to find solutions together.
Many chronic complaints without answers were miraculously resolved through communication and compromise with residents.
Transformational Leadership Turning Crisis into Opportunity
During the time when masks were in absolute shortage due to a surge in confirmed COVID-19 cases, I was most worried about the elderly standing in long lines for hours to purchase masks.
I decided that this could not continue and rolled up my sleeves.
I persuaded social enterprises in the district to produce public masks, and with the help of about 1,400 district office employees and 10,000 volunteer members of functional organizations, we visited households door-to-door
to provide free masks promptly to seniors aged 65 and over, achieving this for the first time in Seoul.
As the COVID-19 situation prolonged, the sales of small business owners in alley markets plummeted due to unavoidable social distancing, deepening their worries.
To put out the urgent fire, we launched the “Good Consumption Prepayment Campaign,” the first of its kind nationwide, encouraging residents to prepay even if they used the services later, leading to voluntary participation and nationwide support.
We also sought ways for small business owners to adapt to the post-COVID era. The accelerated non-face-to-face economic environment posed a double burden for local business owners unfamiliar with digital technology.
The “Youth Digital Supporters” project, initiated first nationwide by Yangcheon District, utilized the rich online consumption experience of youth to turn the crisis of alley markets into an opportunity for digital economic revitalization and quality public job creation, an excellent innovative case.
Thanks to the youth, the owner of a dumpling shop in Sinjeong 4-dong, who revived through online sales, said, “For the first time in my life, I don’t regret paying taxes,” bringing dumplings personally to the district office. The owner of a traditional market side dish shop smiled broadly at the unbelievable achievement of 60 times sales growth through nationwide sales beyond the neighborhood.
The lively youth who became friends with a taciturn shop owner in his 50s
always remind me of the path our Yangcheon community must take.
The excellent cases that will serve as a stepping stone for overcoming the COVID-19 crisis and future leap forward have emerged in Yangcheon because of the capabilities built through residents’ participation and support over the past eight years.
Dear beloved residents of Yangcheon,
Based on the happy changes and achievements in Yangcheon, I, Kim Soo-young, intend to run for the Yangcheon District Mayor election held this June with a grand vision together with the residents.
I will be the 8th term “Omega-3” Mayor.
A three-term mayor who breaks through obstacles with five big (Mega) promises.
First, I will complete the ongoing residential environment improvement and transportation network construction. I will expedite the reconstruction of Mokdong apartments by supporting safety inspection costs and simplifying reconstruction procedures. Based on the successful completion of the Sinjeong Redevelopment Promotion Project and Galsan Urban Development Project, I will swiftly complete the redevelopment of low-rise residential areas.
Second, I will design the Mokdong Line and Gangbuk Transversal Line within my term and ensure the Daejang Hongdae Line, which allows arrival at Hongdae within 15 minutes, begins construction within the term to eliminate public transportation blind spots. Building on achievements such as passing preliminary feasibility studies and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport notifications, I will always remember residents’ wishes and complete these projects to the end.
Third, I will bring culture into daily life in Yangcheon through a large musical theater, traveling performances, and designation as a legal cultural city. I will fully develop Anyangcheon to be designated as a national garden and complete remodeling of the five major parks to enrich residents’ daily lives.
Fourth, I will accelerate the long-awaited development of the Western Truck Terminal, transforming it into an advanced logistics and complex shopping mall, and attract cutting-edge future industries to the Homeplus site so residents can fully enjoy cultural and job infrastructure benefits.
Fifth, I will persistently advance the development through the relocation of the Sinjeong Vehicle Base and the creation of the Mokdong Retention Basin Innovation Growth Valley without retreating from difficulties.
Kim Soo-young started the development of Yangcheon, and Kim Soo-young will complete it.
Kim Soo-young’s 8 years of administrative experience and crisis management capabilities can complete Yangcheon’s development.
For the continuous development of Yangcheon, please give another chance to Kim Soo-young, a capable and competent mayor.
Thank you.
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