Moon Heon-il, Inaugurated as the 8th Guro District Mayor... "Creating an Advanced Industrial City as a Future Economy Hub Leading the 4th Industrial Revolution"

District Chief Moon Holds Inauguration Ceremony at Guro Art Valley Arts Theater on the 1st... Announces Direction of the 8th Elected Term for a Newly Changing and Happier Guro

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Moon Heon-il, the 8th elected mayor of Guro District, held his inauguration ceremony at the Guro Art Valley Arts Theater on the 1st and officially began his term.

The inauguration ceremony started with a congratulatory performance, followed by the inaugural address, congratulatory messages from the President and a video speech from the Mayor of Seoul, as well as congratulatory speeches from members of the National Assembly, the transition committee chairperson, and the party committee chairperson.

The event was open to everyone and was broadcast live on the YouTube channel. In the segment titled ‘Wishes for the New Mayor,’ three residents representing various groups including seniors, parents, and youth conveyed the hopes of the community to the mayor.

In his inaugural address, Mayor Moon Heon-il announced the direction for the 8th elected administration of Guro District. He promised to build ▲a future economy-centered advanced industrial city leading the 4th industrial revolution centered around G-Valley ▲a city of empathy and communication ▲an education-friendly city ▲a safe and healthy city ▲a city with abundant jobs ▲and a city where prosperity is shared evenly.

Mayor Moon stated, “I will strive to be a consistent mayor who does not lose his original intention,” and added, “I will carry out an administration that residents empathize with and trust through integrity and humility.”

Inaugural Address

Respected 450,000 residents of Guro District!

Today marks a new beginning for Guro District! I would like to express my gratitude to the distinguished guests present here and the public officials of Guro District.

With a solemn heart, I take my first step today as the 8th elected mayor of Guro District.

I deeply appreciate and honor the support and encouragement from the residents, and at the same time, I feel a heavy responsibility for the new changes that you all desire for Guro.

I will engrave this grateful feeling deeply in my heart and strive to be a consistent mayor who does not lose his original intention.

First, I would like to thank former Mayor Lee Sung for his dedicated efforts over the past 12 years for the development of Guro District.

Also, I take this opportunity to thank the current and former members of the National Assembly, city and district council members who tirelessly work day and night as representatives of the residents, as well as the heads of various institutions and organizations who play a significant role in the development of Guro.

I ask for your continued generous advice for the development of Guro.

Respected residents!

Having lived in Guro for over 40 years, I have heard and seen countless stories from neighbors. During the recent election period, I traveled throughout every corner of our district, meeting many residents and listening to sincere stories. Although policy demands varied depending on region, generation, and age, the common hope was to create a ‘better place to live in Guro.’

Now is a time when Guro needs change and innovation.

Over the past two years, social anxiety has increased due to COVID-19, the local economy has stagnated, and difficulties for small business owners, self-employed individuals, and ordinary citizens have intensified.

With rising employment barriers and housing costs, the dreams of young people wishing to build happy families have become increasingly difficult to realize.

Moreover, regional imbalances and long-term stagnant development policies hinder urban development and integration, causing conflicts.

Looking at this crisis positively, it can be seen as a time requiring wisdom to create new opportunities. I once again thank the residents for choosing me to bring change to Guro during this critical time.

Based on my abilities and experience, I will awaken the city’s potential and create a vibrant city full of new innovative energy throughout Guro.

Respected residents!

Guro District is the history of Korea’s industrial development and has played a leading role in the country’s growth. Now, Guro dreams of a greater leap forward following the wave of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

I have been rooted in Guro for 40 years and have designed numerous ‘smart cities’ domestically for 30 years. Starting my business over 30 years ago when the concept of information and communication technology (ICT) was still unfamiliar, I built one of Korea’s leading ICT companies exporting ICT solutions worldwide.

With strong drive, flexible thinking, experience, and passion accumulated in the rapidly changing ICT field, I will devote myself to the development of Guro in the digital economy era.

Today, we stand at the starting point of a new change for the 8th elected administration. At this exciting starting line filled with expectations and anticipation, I would like to briefly share the direction of the district administration that I will diligently pursue during my term.

First, I will establish the foundation for a ‘future economy-centered advanced industrial city’ leading the 4th industrial revolution centered around G-Valley.

I will foster and develop the 4th industry and lead the transition to a resident-friendly smart city.

I will nurture industry-academia R&D hubs and connect them with innovation clusters to establish the foundation for a future economy-centered advanced industrial city.

Second, I will create a Guro where everyone empathizes and communicates.

Through customized welfare policies, I will provide high-quality welfare services.

I will establish a public nursing home and provide tailored services for families with disabled members.

I will create a society where foreign residents live harmoniously together,

and implement various policies for families with companion animals.

Third, I will make Guro a great place to study where the dreams of youth come true.

I will expand educational infrastructure such as learning support centers and IoT specialized science museums, and will not neglect nurturing talent and developing aptitudes for youth in the 4th industrial era.

I will establish a support center for slow learners and a lifelong education promotion institute,

providing opportunities for everyone to enjoy the joy of learning.

Fourth, I will make Guro a safe and healthy city.

I will build a systematic response system for new infectious diseases

and expand quarantine infrastructure.

I will discover various childbirth encouragement policies to create a female-friendly childbirth and childcare environment.

I will expand branches of dementia relief centers and increase dementia-safe village areas to establish a one-stop dementia management system from prevention to care.

Fifth, I will make Guro a city with abundant jobs.

I will develop G-Valley into a mecca of the 4th industry to create quality jobs.

I will establish a youth startup support center to connect young people’s innovative ideas to startups, and a middle-aged job center to actively assist middle-aged residents in reemployment activities.

Additionally, I will do my best to revitalize the local economy by expanding local currency for small business owners.

Lastly, sixth, I will make Guro a city where prosperity is shared evenly.

I will establish a ‘Redevelopment and Reconstruction Project Promotion Team’ with resident participation to actively support long-stagnant development projects,

and carefully attend to and prepare support plans even for low-rise residential areas where large-scale development is difficult.

I will expedite the relocation of the Guro vehicle base to connect the separated living areas and create neighborhood parks near residential areas, making Guro an eco-friendly city where work and life are balanced.

Dear public officials of Guro!

Currently, the world is competing and evolving with innovative technologies and services such as the 4th Industrial Revolution, smart cities, and blockchain to seize future leadership. The public sector must also change to keep pace with the times and avoid obsolescence.

We can do it too.

We must jump into the new wave of change and take on challenges.

Now, public officials must break free from rigid environments and focus on efficiency and performance based on autonomy. We must carry out administration with a creative and proactive attitude.

I will grant responsibility and autonomy to public officials and support you to work with conviction. I will share the difficulties you face on the ground and create a fair personnel administration that evaluates work and performance, fostering an honest and happy organizational culture.

Respected and beloved residents!

This is a new beginning.

I have lived in Guro for over 40 years, getting married, raising children, and running a business here. I believe my love for Guro is the same as that of the residents. As a fellow Guro resident, I want to be a friendly neighborly mayor who communicates and empathizes without formality.

I will always listen to the vivid voices from the field with integrity and humility, pay attention to residents’ perspectives, and work together to solve difficulties. I will truly carry out an administration that residents empathize with and trust.

In Guro, a city where unfairness and privilege do not prevail, a fair and just city, I will always think and strive to make residents’ lives happier and more prosperous.

The future of a newly changing and happy Guro is only possible with the participation of residents.

Please join us in creating the ‘Miracle of Guro.’

Thank you.

July 1, 2022

Mayor of Guro District Moon Heon-il