Why Did Park Hee-young, Yongsan District Mayor-Elect, Meet with Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport?

On the 28th, President-elect Park Hee-young Meets with Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong to Propose Advancing Five Major Issues Including Transportation System Innovation, Yongsan Park, and International Business District... President-elect Park Hee-young: "We Will Continue Policy Cooperation with the Ministry to Ensure Yongsan Residents' Views Are Fully Reflected"... Minister Won Hee-ryong: "We Will Actively Cooperate with Yongsan-gu".

Park Hee-young, mayor-elect of Yongsan District (left), met with Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, on the 28th to discuss current issues in Yongsan.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] On the 28th, Park Hee-young, the elected mayor of Yongsan-gu in the 8th local election, held a meeting with Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and requested the prompt advancement of five major national land and transportation projects in Yongsan-gu.

It is highly unusual for a newly elected local government head to actively communicate with the central government before taking office to resolve local issues, drawing significant attention to Mayor Park's actions.

The meeting was arranged to explain the local long-standing projects to residents who have high expectations for 'public communication' following the presidential office's relocation to Yongsan and to request active support from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

At the meeting, Mayor Park conveyed Yongsan-gu's positions on ▲ the swift promotion of the Shinbundang Line Yongsan section ▲ additional exit installation at Namyeong Station (towards Wonhyo-ro) ▲ supplementation of the development plan for the Yongsan Maintenance Depot site ▲ reflecting Yongsan residents' opinions in the creation of Yongsan Park ▲ and the development project of the Camp Kim site as a complex commercial district.

The second phase extension of the Shinbundang Line is a 5.22 km route from Sinsa Station to Yongsan Station, currently delayed due to issues related to the return of the U.S. military base.

Mayor Park requested the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to expedite the project and to consider residents' convenience by selecting a settlement station that takes into account the population density of 12,000 households to be built in the Hannam Redevelopment Promotion District (Hannam New Town).

The international business district planned to be developed within the maintenance depot site was also a major topic of discussion. He conveyed to the ministry the long-standing wishes of Yongsan residents confirmed during the election period, including appropriate residential ratios, attraction of comprehensive medical facilities, and the creation of a complex transfer center.

Additionally, to alleviate local residents' inconveniences, he urged the ministry's interest in installing an additional entrance at Namyeong Station, which currently has only one exit, creating Yongsan Park reflecting residents' opinions, and the complex development of the Camp Kim site focusing on commercial and business functions.

Mayor Park Hee-young emphasized repeatedly, "Since Yongsan residents are direct stakeholders in the large-scale development projects currently underway, their positions must be reflected as much as possible."

In response, Minister Won Hee-ryong stated, "I fully understand Yongsan-gu's position. Going forward, we will establish communication channels and closely consult with Yongsan-gu on residents' long-standing projects as well as various development projects."

The five major projects discussed on this day are key projects that will determine Yongsan's future vision and are also major pledges of Mayor Park Hee-young.

Mayor Park Hee-young said, "Judging that it is urgent to establish policy cooperation with related ministries as soon as possible, I have taken the initiative to discuss current issues despite being the mayor-elect." He also stated, "For Yongsan to emerge as a city that determines South Korea's competitiveness, national-level interest and cooperation must accompany it," and pledged to actively cooperate with the central government and Seoul City in the future.

Park Hee-young, Mayor-elect of Yongsan District

Meanwhile, the transition committee for the 8th term Yongsan-gu mayor will hold a closing ceremony on the 30th to conclude its activities. The ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. in the small conference room on the second basement floor of the Yongsan-gu Comprehensive Administrative Town and will proceed with a progress report, national ceremony, report on transition committee activities, greetings, and commemorative photo session.

The transition committee was launched on the 10th with an inauguration ceremony at the office on the second basement floor of the Yongsan-gu Comprehensive Administrative Town and has been operating under the leadership of Chairman Shin Pyeong.

Chairman Shin Pyeong expressed gratitude, saying, "Thank you to the committee members who worked hard to receive and review reports on local government issues in a short time," and added, "The common opinion among the four subcommittee members is to reduce budget and organizational waste and seek administrative efficiency."

On this day, Vice Chairman Lee Jong-du of the transition committee is scheduled to report on the review items of the committee, including visions, strategies, and major projects for achieving goals by the four subcommittees.

The Administration, Finance, and Economy subcommittee is expected to emphasize that scientific administration based on a big data platform should be operated to provide practical help in local government affairs. The main projects selected include the establishment of a knowledge industry center, strengthening youth startup support services, and supporting small business owners.

The Urban, Safety, and Construction subcommittee agreed that bold changes are necessary for the district to establish itself as the center of South Korea's new economy with global competitiveness. They reviewed ▲ establishing communication channels with related institutions such as the government and Seoul City for major urban development ▲ smooth communication for redevelopment promotion ▲ proactive climate change response ▲ smart transportation system construction ▲ and realization of a crime-free safe city.

The Education, Welfare, and Culture subcommittee plans to propose ▲ designation as an education internationalization special zone ▲ establishment of a cultural foundation ▲ expansion of cultural enjoyment opportunities by life cycle and social class ▲ review of direct operation of household waste collection and transportation ▲ reexamination of the feasibility of purchasing sites for dementia-safe villages and Jeju camping grounds ▲ and feasibility study for the construction of a public postpartum care center.

The Health and Affiliated Institutions subcommittee will request expanding welfare services under the principle of beneficiary payment and improving operational efficiency through organizational diagnosis of major affiliated institutions.

The district plans to produce a white paper on the activities of the 8th term transition committee for future use.

Mayor Park Hee-young said, "We will operate the 8th term local government based on residents' opinions," and added, "Especially when promoting large-scale development projects, we will do our best to ensure that residents' opinions are reflected in local administration and government policies through meticulous strategies."