Lee Sun-hee Inaugurated as 8th Term Mayor of Gangbuk-gu... "I Will Be a Mayor Who Empowers Your Life"

Inauguration Ceremony Held at Gangbuk Culture and Arts Center on the 1st: Presenting the Vision 'Gangbuk Empowering My Life!'... Promises to Expand Transportation Infrastructure, Establish Redevelopment and Reconstruction Support Team, and Ease Height Restrictions in Bukhansan

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Lee Soon-hee, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, held an inauguration ceremony on the 1st and officially began her term for the 8th elected administration.

Mayor Lee Soon-hee first paid respects at the National Seoul Memorial Cemetery in the morning, then took over the affairs of Gangbuk-gu and began full-scale district administration.

Later, at 3 p.m., about 1,000 guests and residents, including members of the National Assembly, city and district council members, related local organizations, religious groups, and residents' committees, attended the inauguration ceremony held at the Gangbuk Culture and Arts Center Grand Theater.

The district prepared the inauguration ceremony to be modest yet substantial, in a form that residents could enjoy together. First, the pre-event performance by the Gwanggaeto Samulnori Art Troupe lifted the atmosphere of the venue. The ceremony then proceeded in the order of national anthem, oath of office, inaugural address, and congratulatory speeches.

In her inaugural address, Mayor Lee stated that she would steadfastly move forward to eradicate temporary measures and complacency and to reap the fruits of innovation.

She also presented the direction for the 8th elected administration. First, she pledged to strive to make Gangbuk-gu a well-connected central city in the northeastern region through ▲‘promotion of the New Gangbuk Line,’ ▲‘early opening of the Dongbuk Line,’ and ▲‘consideration of extending the Uisinseol Line to Wangsimni.’

She also announced the establishment of a ▲‘Redevelopment and Reconstruction Support Team’ directly under the mayor to accelerate customized urban development. Along with this, she promised to ▲‘rationally ease the altitude restrictions of Bukhansan Mountain’ to seek ways for nature and humans to coexist.

Additionally, she committed to efforts for ▲building industrial infrastructure to revitalize the local economy, ▲customized Gangbuk welfare targeting single-person households, infants, the disabled, and the elderly, ▲creating a child-friendly educational environment, ▲making Gangbuk-gu safe from crime and accidents, and ▲improving residents' quality of life through cultural, sports, and arts programs.

Following the inaugural address, congratulatory performances were held by the ‘Hanbit Art Troupe,’ which overcame visual impairment, and the ‘National Representative Music Jump Rope Demonstration Team.’ The ceremony concluded with a performance of the 8th elected administration’s vision slogan, ‘Gangbuk that empowers my life!’

Mayor Lee Soon-hee said, “I will not lose the original intention to establish Gangbuk-gu as the ‘central city of northeastern Seoul’ together with the residents,” and added, “We will make Gangbuk-gu a better place to live, a happy Gangbuk-gu, and a proud Gangbuk-gu.”

Inaugural Address

Respected residents of Gangbuk-gu,

Beloved Gangbuk-gu Office family members!

Distinguished guests who have come to encourage the new start of Gangbuk-gu,

Welcome. I am Lee Soon-hee, the 8th elected mayor of Gangbuk-gu.

During the recent local election period, as I traveled throughout Gangbuk-gu,

I was able to confirm the residents’ strong desire for a ‘new Gangbuk-gu’ more than ever before.

That earnest wish has brought me to this place today.

I am deeply grateful.

I will solemnly uphold the will of the residents and carry out the duties of mayor with humility and sincerity.

I will keep my original intention and do my best throughout my term.

I will deeply engrave both the expectations and concerns you send me,

and devote all my energy to making a city where anyone wants to live,

a Gangbuk-gu that everyone can proudly speak of anywhere.

Residents of Gangbuk-gu!

Until now, Gangbuk-gu, despite possessing the blessed natural environment represented by Bukhansan National Park,

and abundant historical, cultural, and tourism resources,

has not been able to fully spread its wings of growth.

This is due to the realistic constraints behind the blessed nature,

and being left out of the city development strategy centered on Gangnam.

It is also true that our bold and daring internal challenges to overcome difficulties were insufficient.

Today, as I take office as mayor,

I want to say let us boldly shed the resigned mindset of accepting given limits as they are,

and the long-standing habit of complacency.

Even if it involves some hardship and pain,

we need a struggle for change to break through the stagnant reality.

Urgency alone cannot fulfill all wishes overnight,

but if we believe in our desire for change,

our will to challenge, and growth potential,

and if the office and residents unite,

I believe the path to a new future will surely open.

With the determination that there will be no other chance if not now,

I ask everyone to join in starting a new history for Gangbuk-gu.

The district office will change first.

If there are mistakes, we will boldly correct them,

and quickly organize things that are familiar but inefficient.

Through proactive, innovative, communicative, and integrated administration,

we will lay the foundation for change.

Recognizing that the maturity of autonomy and decentralization

is a barometer of our democracy’s development,

we will confidently expand the role of local government.

The 1,400 Gangbuk-gu office employees, including myself,

will work together in the 8th elected administration to

eradicate temporary measures and complacency,

and steadfastly pursue the fruits of innovation.

We will thoroughly examine essential tasks for our district’s development,

and newly set strategic priorities.

We will seek changes in means and methods,

and avoid formal arrangements in district administration.

Through bold selection and concentration, we will enhance administrative efficiency.

Above all, the will of all residents, not just the mayor’s intention,

will be the center of district administration.

To this end, we will employ scientific and practical means to understand residents’ wishes.

Not just the opinions of a few close to the office,

but to uphold the will of all residents,

we will thoroughly conduct prior public opinion surveys and post-monitoring.

We will strengthen objective evaluation of district office projects,

and establish a principle of reward and punishment to complete responsible administration.

To produce fair, rational, and efficient results,

if necessary, we will devote ourselves with the determination to change everything except the name ‘Gangbuk-gu.’

Residents of Gangbuk-gu!

The 8th elected administration of Gangbuk-gu

will take ‘Gangbuk that empowers my life!’ as its vision,

and will serve residents with more dedication and passion than ever before.

First, we will overcome regional disparities by expanding transportation infrastructure.

Transportation is the foundation of urban development.

We will definitely make Gangbuk-gu well-connected in all directions.

Prioritizing the promotion of the New Gangbuk Line connecting from the 4.19 Democratic Cemetery Intersection

through Gwangsan Intersection and Beondong Intersection to Sangbong Station,

we will also push for the early opening of the under-construction Dongbuk Line,

and the urban extension of the currently operating Uisinseol Line.

We fully understand how much inconvenience residents have endured due to poor transportation conditions.

With bold and innovative transportation policies,

we will fire the starting signal for Gangbuk-gu’s development.

Second, we will innovate the residential environment to improve quality of life.

The 8th elected administration will establish a ‘Redevelopment and Reconstruction Support Team’ directly under the mayor,

and accelerate customized urban development.

We will promote people-centered redevelopment and reconstruction so that original residents are not excluded from development benefits,

and everyone can share the fruits of progress.

We will comprehensively review solutions to problems caused by altitude restrictions in Bukhansan,

and derive reasonable improvements suited to reality.

We will create alternatives first on how nature and human life can coexist without harming each other,

and persuade the central government and Seoul city.

To this end, we will strengthen solidarity and cooperation with neighboring autonomous districts facing similar difficulties.

Third, we will create a vibrant and dynamic local economy.

Gangbuk-gu will no longer remain an industrial wasteland.

Beyond the limitations of an old bedroom community,

we will strive to attract various industrial infrastructures to become the true central city of northeastern Seoul.

In particular, utilizing the abundant cultural and tourism resources and geographical characteristics of our district,

we will create conditions to attract advanced cultural industries free from environmental issues.

Furthermore, we will support customized jobs by generation and demand,

expand Gangbuk-style labor welfare policies for workers,

and ensure that workers outside the formal system can enjoy their rightful rights and live with dignity.

Until industry and labor become our district’s new routine,

we will work diligently with the attitude of sincere salespeople.

Fourth, we will realize Gangbuk-style welfare that empowers residents.

Through our district’s unique customized welfare policy, ‘Gangbuk-style welfare,’

we will create a ‘livable Gangbuk-gu.’

We will establish care, medical, and funeral support systems so that the rapidly increasing single-person households can live with peace of mind.

We will strengthen infant care services, expand care services for the disabled, and establish support systems for people with severe disabilities,

so that everyone in Gangbuk-gu can live their daily lives equally.

Considering the characteristics of our district with many elderly residents,

we will expand visiting nursing for elderly care,

and realize welfare tailored to each generation and class.

Fifth, we will prepare a bright future for our children through quality education.

There is a saying that it takes a whole village to raise a child.

We will do our best to make Gangbuk-gu a great place for child education.

We will focus our capabilities on educational support and investment so that young couples compete to settle in Gangbuk-gu.

First, by improving the quality of after-school programs and expanding care classroom hours,

we will reduce the burden of private education expenses and care for dual-income families.

Through innovation in school educational spaces,

we will support our children to grow into future-oriented talents.

We will expand insufficient youth facilities and build additional public libraries,

creating an environment where children can spend time safely and meaningfully outside school.

Sixth, we will make Gangbuk-gu safe from crime and accidents.

Prevention is the most important factor in crime and accidents.

We will expand the installation of security CCTV with high crime prevention effects

to minimize crime blind spots,

and strengthen cooperation with the police and fire departments to enhance resident safety and security.

We will actively promote projects to prevent serious crimes that infringe on personal dignity and freedom, such as stalking and dating violence.

We will improve the walking environment along the Uicheon Stream, a riverside promenade in the city,

so that more people can comfortably and safely enjoy leisure and health.

We will broadly apply the philosophy of safe administration.

To ensure residents’ housing stability, we will actively respond to unfair practices in the rental market, such as unjust rent increases.

Finally, we will enrich residents’ daily lives through cultural and sports revitalization.

Today, culture, sports, and arts are the most important factors determining quality of life.

The 8th elected administration of Gangbuk-gu

will pay special attention so that all residents can easily enjoy high-quality cultural, sports, and arts activities nearby.

We will carefully oversee and support the smooth construction of the currently under-construction ‘Gangbuk-gu Comprehensive Sports Center’ and the ‘Samgaksan-dong Children and Youth Arts Education Center.’

We will strengthen practical support for local cultural artists,

enhance the status of Gangbuk as a cultural city,

and secure competitiveness in cultural and artistic content to renew the city’s image.

Furthermore, as befits Gangbuk-gu, which aims to be a city of high-level culture and arts,

we will expand awareness of the right to life,

and strive to create a Gangbuk-gu where not only people but also animals are happy.

We will establish a therapeutic interaction-type dog playground in the popular Buk Seoul Dream Forest,

to foster a proper companion animal culture,

and make Gangbuk-gu comfortable for both residents and their pets.