[Dongdaemun-gu News] Dongdaemun-gu Mayor Ilhyeong Lee Proposes 'Experiential Tourism Belt Creation' and 'Cheongnyangni Station Area Complex Development' & Agrees on City-District Joint Cooperation for 'Yakja-dong Walking' and 'Attractive City' Construction... Dongdaemun-gu Holds First Step 'Drone-related Briefing' on 17th for Cheongnyangni with Drone Taxi Launch
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] On the 17th, Lee Pil-hyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun District Office, met with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to discuss regional issues in Dongdaemun District and cooperative measures between the city and district.
At the meeting, Mayor Lee requested various cooperation plans regarding the creation of a Northeast Seoul experiential tourism belt linking Gyeongbokgung Palace, Pungmul Market, and Yakryeong Market; the development of a waterfront cultural space along Jeongneungcheon Stream; and the establishment of a landmark through complex development around Cheongnyangni Station.
He especially emphasized active cooperation in creating an experiential tourism belt with stories to revitalize urban spaces and the local economy by linking the historical significance of the area containing Seonnongdan and Bojewon (located within the Seoul Korean Medicine Promotion Center) with the unique characteristics of Jegi-dong, where about ten traditional markets are adjacent.
The experiential walking tour course, connected with the Korean Wave, wellness tourism, and the nearby Jeongneungcheon waterfront cultural space, is expected to become a new attraction in Seoul offering opportunities to experience traditional Korean culture along with diverse food, sights, and entertainment.
Additionally, efforts were requested to build a metropolitan transfer center at Cheongnyangni Station, where GTX-B and C lines, as well as the Gangbuk Transversal Line and Myeonmok Line, will stop; to promote complex development around the station area and expand future infrastructure; and to consider the development of the Jangandong logistics terminal site and the Dongdaemun District flower city project.
In response, the city expressed its intention to actively cooperate with the district on necessary matters such as creating the Jeongneungcheon waterfront cultural space and preparing regional development plans through the relocation of the eastern maintenance depot at Cheongnyangni Station.
Furthermore, Mayor Oh and Mayor Lee moved to Hongneung Seoul Bio Hub to pledge cooperation on ways to make Seoul a world-leading city.
At this meeting, Dongdaemun District proposed that the area around Hongneung Seoul Bio Hub be designated and developed as a Special Development Promotion District. With research facilities, universities, and hospitals densely located in the Hongneung area, it is expected to develop into a world-class bio-medical cluster. The district requested active city support to create an attractive city where anyone would want to live, visit, work, and invest. About 20 local residents present at the meeting also strongly agreed with this proposal.
During the subsequent meeting with Hongneung Seoul Bio Hub officials, Mayor Lee and Mayor Oh listened to and empathized with the difficulties faced by companies in the bio industry, which has been significantly contracted due to recent high inflation, high exchange rates, and high interest rates leading to reduced investment. They agreed to mutually cooperate in preparing support measures to overcome these challenges.
Hongneung Bio Hub, located in Hoegi-dong, is an anchor facility built and operated by Seoul City to support bio-medical R&D and technology commercialization. In August 2020, it was designated as a Small Giant R&D Special Zone by the Ministry of Science and ICT for the digital healthcare sector. Currently, Hongneung Bio Hub has an Industry Support Building, Research Laboratory Building, and Regional Open Building, providing consulting for technology commercialization, shared R&D equipment, and laboratory spaces. After the completion of the Global Cooperation Building in 2023, it will support global expansion, making Hongneung a definitive startup base camp where bio companies can grow.
Lee Pil-hyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun District, stated, “The designation of the ‘Special Development Promotion District’ requested by the district is absolutely necessary so that startups nurtured at Hongneung Bio Hub can continue to grow their companies and improve their technological capabilities in Hongneung, contributing to regional development, residents’ welfare, national power enhancement, and citizens’ happiness.” He added, “Feeling a heavy responsibility to develop the region and create favorable conditions, we will unite with local residents and closely cooperate with Seoul City to build a bio-technology powerhouse.”
On the 17th, Dongdaemun District (Mayor Lee Pil-hyung) held a ‘Drone-related briefing session for the promotion of UAM (drone taxi) mayoral campaign pledges’ at the Dongdaemun District Office.
The briefing session was attended by Lee Pil-hyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun District, Choi Hong-yeon, Deputy Mayor of Dongdaemun District, executives above the director level, district officials, and representatives from Innodep. An Innodep executive, who is conducting a drone demonstration project in cooperation with Jeju Provincial Government, introduced the drone utilization platform and explained projects that could be applied to the district using UAM (drone taxi) and drones, which are Mayor Lee’s campaign pledges.
Deputy Mayor Choi, who attended the session, said, “There are countless tasks where drones can be utilized,” and added, “We will proactively identify and review areas where drones can be introduced in administrative tasks such as wildfire prevention monitoring, and establish phased plans to implement them, leading advanced administration.”
The district aims to actively promote the UAM (drone taxi) campaign pledges in line with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s ‘Mobility Innovation Roadmap,’ which targets commercialization of UAM (drone taxis) in the metropolitan area by 2025. The district plans to introduce the rapidly growing drone industry, a core of the 4th industrial revolution, to foster Dongdaemun as Seoul’s new future city.
Lee Pil-hyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun District, stated, “We will build a future transportation system centered on Cheongnyangni, including UAM (drone taxis), and promote projects so that Dongdaemun District can leap forward as Seoul’s new future city and the transportation and commercial hub of Northeast Seoul.”
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