[Interview] Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, "Creating a Cultural City to Look Forward to Tomorrow through Job, Housing, and Transportation Improvements"

Seoul National University Hospital-Centered Bio Medical Complex Development, Accelerated Reconstruction and Redevelopment, and Promotion of Dongbuk Line Light Rail and GTX-C Line: The Three-Pronged Approach to Pioneering Nowon’s Future... Integrating Culture and Arts Naturally into Residents’ Daily Lives... Nowon-gu’s Commitment from Education and Welfare to End of Life Care

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] “We will pioneer the future of Nowon with jobs, housing, and transportation as the three pillars, blending nature with culture to create a Nowon where everyone from infants to seniors can be happy.”

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon District, held a vision declaration ceremony with the launch of the 8th local government administration, pledging to repay the trust of the residents.

Mayor Oh emphasized, “The 100-year future of Nowon depends on job creation through the establishment of a bio-medical complex centered around Seoul National University Hospital,” adding, “This is the key for Nowon to transform from a bedroom community into a self-sufficient city with close proximity between residence and workplace.”

The long-awaited projects of relocating Changdong Vehicle Base and Dobong Driver’s License Test Center, which have been a longstanding issue for Nowon District, achieved visible results during the 7th local government administration. The plan to establish a bio-medical complex centered on Seoul National University Hospital on the secured 75,000-pyeong (approximately 247,933 square meters) land has been further concretized.

The goal is to create a world-class bio-medical complex by attracting major bio-medical corporations, small and medium enterprises, and research institutes centered around Nowon Seoul National University Hospital, which will serve as the anchor facility. Nowon Seoul National University Hospital is planned as a research-oriented hospital with 700 beds, consisting of four buildings: the medical treatment building, research and education building, convergence building, and administration building.

Additionally, a complex commercial and cultural district including a shopping mall will be formed underground, connected to Nowon Station to enhance accessibility. Opposite this, a complex commercial support district including MICE (Meeting, Incentive Travel, Convention, Exhibition) facilities and hotels is planned. If the Seoul Arena performance hall in Changdong is completed in four years, the synergy effect will be further maximized.

Mayor Oh firmly stated, “We will communicate with Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul City, and Uijeongbu City to ensure the project proceeds without setbacks and will definitely achieve it.”

He also raised his voice regarding issues related to reconstruction and redevelopment. Mayor Oh pointed out, “Nowon District has the highest number of apartments over 30 years old in Seoul, but many complexes fail at the detailed safety inspection stage,” and “Nowon’s population has decreased by 130,000 over 20 years. The primary reason people leave Nowon is poor residential environment.”

He promised to continuously request the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to ease safety inspection standards, support detailed safety inspection costs through the district office, and help prevent the contraction of reconstruction projects.

Mayor Oh explained, “The Dongbuk Line light rail will open in July 2026, and the GTX-C line is scheduled to start construction next year. Once the Dongbuk Line light rail opens, it will take 26 minutes from Sanggye Station to Wangsimni Station, and the GTX-C line will reduce the travel time from Gwangwoon University Station to Samsung Station from 46 minutes to 9 minutes.” In four years, the Dongbuk Line light rail, Nowon’s fifth subway line, will be completed, making Nowon the third in Seoul in terms of the number of subway stations, following Gangnam and Songpa. The opening of the Dongbuk Line light rail and GTX-C line is expected to greatly contribute to residents’ convenience and balanced regional development.

Mayor Oh confidently stated, “We will create a Nowon that welcomes a second renaissance through new leaps with job creation from the bio-medical complex centered on Seoul National University Hospital, improved residential environment through reconstruction and redevelopment, and convenient transportation.”

During the 8th local government administration, there are ambitions to complete healing towns including the four major healing towns (Gyeongchun Line, Bulamsan, Yeongchuksan, Suraksan Healing Towns) and the four major streams (Jungnangcheon, Danghyeoncheon, Uicheon, Mukdongcheon), as well as the Choansan circular walking trail, opening of Suraksan Natural Recreation Forest, extension of the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail to Gwangwoon University Station, and extension of the Danghyeoncheon walking trail to Danggogae Station to complete the healing towns.

Mayor Oh expressed expectations for cultural policies, saying, “The most regrettable aspect during the 7th local government administration was the cultural sector. Due to COVID-19, we were only able to accomplish one-third of what we planned,” and “Many residents, busy with making a living, have not been able to enjoy cultural life much. I want to share the joy and leisure of life through culture and arts.” Plans include remodeling the Nowon Culture and Arts Center to attract world-class performances, establishing the Nowon District Art Museum, and hosting world-class exhibitions. A street arts festival visiting all 19 neighborhoods will be held regularly to overcome the limitations of gatherings restricted by COVID-19. Also, in June next year, the first craft beer festival will be held, aiming to establish it as one of Nowon’s four differentiated and specialized major festivals alongside the existing Bulamsan Azalea Festival, Tal Festival, and Nowon Moonlight Walk.

Mayor Oh Seung-rok emphasized, “Today and tomorrow, I have no choice but to tie my shoelaces and run,” and “As a mayor who works on the ground, I will do my best once again to be remembered as the mayor who solved Nowon’s long-standing issues and made a significant mark in creating a greater Nowon.”