Choi Ho-kwon Inaugurated as Yeongdeungpo District Mayor: "Will Realize Yeongdeungpo as a City of Hope, Happiness, and Future"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] On the afternoon of the 1st, Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District Office, held the inauguration ceremony for the 8th term of the local government at Yeongdeungpo Art Hall.

Before the inauguration ceremony, Mayor Choi conducted on-site inspections of major local facilities such as the rainwater pumping station and Dorimcheon Stream, checking the flood and disaster response status. Afterwards, he visited various departments within the district office to greet the staff.

At 2 p.m., he held the inauguration ceremony sitting together with about 600 residents from all walks of life, announcing the vision and policy directions for the 8th term of district administration. The inauguration event lasted about an hour, proceeding in the order of watching a planning video, taking the oath of office, delivering the inaugural address, and a congratulatory song.

In his inaugural address, Mayor Choi Ho-kwon expressed, “I sincerely thank everyone who joined the vigorous first step of the new Yeongdeungpo in the 8th term of the local government,” and stated his ambition, “I will do my best to create a hopeful and happy city Yeongdeungpo, and a Yeongdeungpo that runs again toward the future.”

Inaugural Address

Respected 380,000 residents of Yeongdeungpo District!

Today, I stand here called by the residents who long for a better Yeongdeungpo through the first local government change in 12 years.

I bow my head in gratitude for the support and encouragement you have given, and I will always humbly and modestly uphold the will of the residents.

I will deeply engrave the historical mission given to me and do my best to create ‘Hope, Happiness, and Future City Yeongdeungpo.’

I thank the residents and distinguished guests who attended today to celebrate the vigorous start of Yeongdeungpo’s 8th term.

Especially, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the medical staff and all employees who have devoted themselves to overcoming COVID-19.

Also, I thank former Mayor Chae Hyun-il, who led Yeongdeungpo’s administration for the past four years, Chairman Ko Gi-pan, and the members of the 8th council for their hard work.

Respected residents!

I firmly believe that the success of local autonomy is essential for our country to advance as a mature democracy at the level of developed countries.

Local autonomy, which has been revived for over 30 years, is now rooted in the lives of regions and residents.

Residents themselves choose autonomous governments and develop their regions.

I believe that true autonomy should not be a stage for local politics but a foundation for living autonomy.

I hope residents feel pride and fulfillment in sharing joys and sorrows in their daily lives and directly solving their pains.

I believe our dreams and future lie in local autonomy.

The future is something we create ourselves.

If we cannot change the past, we can change the future through our own efforts.

The moment to change our future is ‘now.’

If we do nothing, nothing will happen.

We must envision the future we desire and steadily put it into practice.

With the district council as a partner in governance, we will solve pressing issues through continuous communication and cooperation,

and realize a hopeful, happy, and future city Yeongdeungpo.

Respected residents!

I will share several basic directions for the district administration that will lead the new Yeongdeungpo in the 8th term.

First, administration faithful to the basics.

Rather than popularity-driven showy administration, I will focus on the fundamental duties unique to local governments such as safety, welfare, and hope ladders.

Second, administration preparing for the future.

Instead of short-term populist policies aimed at elections, I will set long-term visions looking ahead to the development direction of future society and steadily promote them.

I will draw blueprints for urban development with residents and invest in nurturing future talents.

Third, securing sound local finances.

There is a saying, ‘The road to hell is paved with good intentions.’

I will realize stronger and sustainable welfare, not populist welfare that burdens future generations with enormous debt.

Also, I will promote administration based on selection, concentration, and prioritization to use limited resources efficiently.

Fourth, overcoming administrative omnipotence and regulatory supremacy.

I will actively utilize, foster, and support the capabilities, strengths, creativity, and efficiency of the private sector.

Through appropriate role-sharing between public institutions and the private sector, we will reduce costs and strive to provide better services.

By faithfully implementing ‘administration that is basic yet future-oriented’ as above, I will create definite changes in Yeongdeungpo and build a future city Yeongdeungpo.

Respected residents!

Our Yeongdeungpo District is now facing an era of great transformation.

Yeongdeungpo, which was divided into two by the railway built in the early 1900s, now has the opportunity to unite as one Yeongdeungpo through the current government and Seoul city’s promise to underground the above-ground railway.

I will do my best to restore the pride and honor of Yeongdeungpo as one of Seoul’s three major downtowns by leaping forward as a new economic and cultural hub in the southwest of Seoul where jobs, housing, culture, and green spaces harmonize.

Along with this, a huge wave of change called the 4th Industrial Revolution is unfolding before us.

With visions and strategies responding to future societal changes, we will advance beyond Seoul’s three major downtowns to become the center of South Korea.

Yeongdeungpo, which accounts for a quarter of Seoul’s semi-industrial areas, will be transformed into a mecca of cutting-edge future industries where science and industry converge.

Respected residents!

We will take the upcoming changes as an opportunity for a leap forward, steadily prepare for a new future, and improve residents’ quality of life and urban competitiveness.

First, we will create a safe and pleasant residential city.

Improving old and deteriorated housing environments is an urgent task that can no longer be postponed.

Through communication with residents, we will support the creation of high-quality, high-class premium residential complexes.

Utilizing Seoul city’s rapid integrated planning, we will actively support administrative procedures, and small-scale old low-rise residential areas will be rapidly promoted through mini new town projects such as Moa Housing and Moa Town methods.

Second, we will create a vibrant economic city.

First, we will strive to restore the livelihood economy to give hope to small business owners, self-employed people, and residents who have suffered greatly from the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

We will form a special task force for revitalizing the local economy to revive neighborhood markets and provide customized support for small business owners.

The hope for livelihood recovery lies in jobs.

Jobs are the key to solving issues such as income, marriage, childbirth, childcare, housing, and old-age security.

We will promote deregulation and encourage private autonomy and creativity so that the private sector and companies can create many jobs.

In particular, we will support the younger generation so that they do not lose hope amid fierce competition and can pioneer their future.

We will discover various policies to overcome practical difficulties such as employment, start-ups, housing, and education, and promote fair opportunities and job expansion.

Third, we will create a hopeful future education city.

We will foster convergence-type talents who will lead future science and technology by creating a science education ecosystem.

There is a saying, ‘To know a country’s past, visit its museum; to know its future, visit its science center.’

We will attract the Seoul Municipal Science Museum and promote the creation of ‘Seoul Sangsangnara,’ a science playground for young children, so that children, students, youth, and residents can cultivate interest, curiosity, and imagination about science in their daily lives.

We will make it a center for future science education leading the 4th Industrial Revolution by allowing direct experience of future technology fields such as AI, IoT, big data, robotics, metaverse, and aerospace.

Fourth, we will create a culturally rich city full of life.

We will promote the construction of the 2nd Sejong Cultural Center and establish a historical, cultural, and waterfront ecological tourism network.

We will carry out resident-participatory cultural and artistic projects so that all residents can enjoy diverse cultures in their daily lives.

For healthy and vibrant leisure in the city, we will operate various community sports programs and expand the base of community sports.

Fifth, we will create a welfare city where everyone is happy together.

We will actively respond to future demographic changes such as low birth rates, aging population, and increasing single-person households.

We will form a special task force for single-person households to prepare comprehensive measures addressing safety, illness, poverty, loneliness, and housing issues faced by single-person households.

We will strengthen leisure and welfare services to help seniors live healthy and dignified lives and activate volunteer work to create a city of sharing and consideration that embraces socially vulnerable and marginalized groups such as the disabled, elderly, and children.

To realize the district administration goals in housing, economy, education, culture, and welfare that I have mentioned so far, and to create a hopeful and happy city Yeongdeungpo and a Yeongdeungpo that runs again toward the future, I and over 1,500 employees will unite and do our best.

Also, to carry out district administration that respects the will of residents, I will block undue external influences and uphold the political neutrality of public officials.

I will be a strong shield so that all employees can take pride in public service and demonstrate their expertise.

Based on smooth communication, a clean organizational culture, and fair personnel management, I will implement open administration, field administration, and innovative administration.

Respected residents of Yeongdeungpo!

Today, the new Yeongdeungpo of the 8th term of local government has taken a vigorous first step.

There is a saying, Nojeokseonghae (露積成海), meaning small efforts accumulate to achieve great dreams.

Now, each resident is the protagonist and owner of the new Yeongdeungpo.

I ask all residents to gather their strength and wisdom for the greater leap and change of hopeful, happy, and future city Yeongdeungpo.

Once again, I sincerely thank you for your support and encouragement, and I will always be a mayor who stands by you and gives you hope.

I wish health and happiness always be with your families.

Thank you.

July 1, 2022

Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, Choi Ho-kwon