Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, "We Will Create a Future City Dreaming of a 100-Year Leap"

On Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon District, Delivers District Administration Speech on the Submission of the 2023 Budget Proposal on the 17th

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] On the 17th, Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon District, delivered a policy speech at the 276th regular session of the Nowon District Council regarding the submission of the 2023 budget proposal.

First, Mayor Oh stated, “Big data shows that the urban leisure population in Nowon averages 270,000 people per day and is increasing annually. This is analyzed as a result of creating healing towns, circular walking trails, and pleasant riverside paths near residents' homes.”

He also emphasized efforts to enrich residents' lives through cultural and sports activities close to home, highlighting the October opening of Suraksan Sports Town this year, and the groundbreaking of Seoul Eoullim Sports Center and Gongneung Community Sports Center to expand living sports infrastructure by region.

Furthermore, he mentioned that the dismantling of the silo at the Kwangwoon University Station logistics site, a long-standing local issue, is underway. The expansion of transportation infrastructure, including the 15% completed Dongbuk Line light rail and the GTX-C line scheduled to begin construction in the second half of next year, will support the leap toward a self-sufficient city.

He added that with the 200-member “Ddok-ddok-ddok” care team and the Welfare Plus system, a solid and detailed Nowon-type welfare system is being strengthened to support vulnerable groups. The district is recognized as a special welfare district that embraces socially disadvantaged people without exclusion by establishing the nation’s first disability-friendly beauty salon and supporting insurance premiums for electric mobility aids for the disabled.

The total budget for 2023, including special accounts, is 1.2278 trillion KRW, an increase of 83.3 billion KRW or 7.3% compared to this year. Although the budget size has increased compared to 2022, the district’s share of financial contributions for city-district joint projects has also risen. Additionally, the social welfare budget demand increased by 65 billion KRW to 751.3 billion KRW, accounting for 61.2% of the total budget. The budget was formulated in a sound and balanced manner, strictly excluding precedent-based budget allocations, to ensure that precious taxes are not wasted from the residents’ perspective.

The district’s 2023 administrative operation directions are as follows:

First, positioning Nowon as a future city dreaming of a 100-year leap.

They plan to promptly sign a tripartite agreement with Seoul City and Seoul National University Hospital to fully initiate the construction of Nowon Seoul National University Hospital. Next year, they will complete the preliminary feasibility study for Seoul National University Hospital and establish the basic plan for SN-BMC to create a roadmap for a bio-medical complex that will generate 80,000 jobs. Additionally, the Kwangwoon University Station area development project will take its first step as a new economic hub in the northeast region with mixed residential, business, and cultural functions by deciding the district unit plan in the first half of next year.

They are actively working to revise Seoul City’s Urban and Residential Environment Maintenance Ordinance. Once the legal basis is established, they will support rapid reconstruction through safety inspection cost subsidies. Having launched the nation’s first rapid promotion team for reconstruction and redevelopment in September this year, they will actively respond to the expected surge in reconstruction demand.

Moreover, to proactively prepare and responsibly implement carbon neutrality for future generations, they have established a Carbon Neutrality Promotion Team as a control tower. They will build a foundation for a sustainable carbon-neutral city through solidarity and cooperation with individual environmental actors such as public institutions, private companies, and residents.

Second, realizing Nowon as a faster and more convenient transportation city.

The GTX-C line passing through Kwangwoon University Station has selected a preferred negotiation partner and is scheduled to begin construction in the second half of next year. The Dongbuk Line light rail, which began construction last year, is being strictly managed by section to ensure smooth opening in 2026. The express service on Subway Line 4 has secured economic feasibility through preliminary research and will be sequentially promoted to shorten long-distance commuting times to downtown Seoul. The underground construction of the Dongbu Expressway section from Changdong Bridge to Sanggye Bridge is scheduled to be completed in 2025.

To alleviate severe traffic congestion, new entry and exit ramps will be installed on the Northern Beltway - Hwarang-ro section and Dongbu Expressway - Nowon Bridge section to ease residents’ inconvenience. Facilities at 116 child protection zones will also be improved to ensure children can commute safely without accident risks.

Additionally, escalators have been steadily installed at subway stations, with eight completed over the past four years and 14 currently underway. Installation will continue to expand to ensure safe subway use for transportation-vulnerable groups.

Third, creating Nowon as a cultural city with moments of rest.

They will implement cultural policies that enrich everyone’s lives as universal welfare for all, not just some. Along with the Bulamsan Azalea Festival, Nowon Mask Festival, and Nowon Moonlight Walk, the newly introduced Craft Beer Festival next year will be planned to bring fun and vitality to residents’ repetitive daily lives. High-quality outdoor concerts such as the Suraksan Sunset Concert set against the sunset at Suraksan’s foothills and the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail Autumn Concert will offer moving experiences blending nature and culture.

They also plan to provide high-level performances enjoyed right in front of residents’ homes through the Visiting Orchestra and Nowon Street Arts Festival. Above all, safety management systems will be strengthened and on-site response capabilities enhanced in planning large-scale festivals and events, prioritizing residents’ safety. The aging Nowon Culture and Arts Center will be remodeled to build a foundation for attracting world-class performances. The Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail Gallery will be expanded and reopened to add cultural and artistic colors to the trail.

After over two years of preparation, the Nowon Train Village Swiss Pavilion, opening on the 18th, will further complete the Gyeongchun Line Healing Town. The Traditional Culture Experience Center, opening next year, will serve as a space to broaden intergenerational exchanges through traditional culture experiences.

The unique leisure sports complex “Jump,” where children can safely and comfortably play, will begin construction by the end of next year and be completed in 2025. Design services for the Junggye Cultural Health Center and Gongneung-dong Youth Cultural Complex Facility will also proceed. The construction of sports facilities by region is progressing smoothly.

Along with Suraksan Sports Town, which opened in October this year, the Sanggye Community Sports Center, scheduled for completion in April next year, will contribute to expanding public sports infrastructure in the Sanggye area. Construction of Seoul Eoullim Sports Center and Gongneung Community Sports Center is progressing without delay. The reconstruction project for the aging Junggye Community Sports Center, having passed central investment review, will be actively promoted.

Moreover, to support young people in their 20s who are unemployed regardless of economic circumstances, 100,000 KRW per year will be provided for cultural living expenses to encourage youth opening their tomorrow.

Fourth, creating Nowon as a healing city adding rest to nature.

Suraksan Natural Recreation Forest, Korea’s first urban natural recreation forest, will begin construction in November this year and open in 2024. To create the Choansan Healing Town, the aging Biseokgol Neighborhood Park will be improved, and damaged forests restored into themed gardens such as Hydrangea Hill.

Additionally, a 1.8 km circular walking trail from Wolgye Station to Cheongbaek Apartments will become a leisure and communication hub for Wolgye-dong residents.

They will also maintain the Suraksan Byeokun Valley walking trail and extend the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail to Kwangwoon University Station, completing a total of 6.9 km of pleasant walking paths. The restored Danghyeon Stream, currently extended to the north side of Sanggye Station, will be further extended 750 meters to Danggogae Station to restore the river ecosystem and create waterfront spaces for residents’ rest.

Furthermore, the underground construction of the Dongbu Expressway section from Changdong Bridge to Sanggye Bridge is underway. A Jungnangcheon waterfront park will be created above the underground road, and a musical fountain will be installed along Jungnangcheon.

Also, Junggye Park and Deungnamu Park, located in the district center, will be connected through green corridors to form one park as Nowon’s Central Park. The ongoing sequential regeneration projects for living parks and children’s parks, including creating an indoor playground at Jungpyeong Children’s Park, will continue. Hwarangcheon and Mukdongcheon will be maintained as pleasant riverside paths, and seasonal flowering plants will be sown along Danghyeon Stream and Jungnangcheon to create ecological rivers harmonizing with nature. Above all, they will keep vigilant to prevent the construction of high-rise apartments in the Bulamsan Healing Town, which boasts pristine natural scenery.

Fifth, making Nowon an educational city nurturing innovative talents.

Having developed the existing international education special zone into a future talent nurturing education special zone, they will create an educational environment where children and youth can unfold diverse potentials. Along with the Suraksan Infant Forest Experience Center opened this year, they will increase utilization of a total of five infant forest experience centers. The i-Hu Center, leading after-school care projects, will be continuously expanded to support children’s emotional stability and social development.

To stimulate students’ intellectual curiosity and creativity, they will diversify exhibition content at the Math Culture Center and Astronomy and Space Science Center, and expand operation of the Nowon Education Platform to provide personalized career and academic counseling for youth both inside and outside schools.

Additionally, Junggye Neighborhood Park will be developed into a science-themed park linked with the Astronomy and Space Science Center. Nohae Park, frequently used by students, will be renovated into a youth sports-themed park equipped with futsal, basketball, and X-game courts, creating a space for peers to freely play together. They also plan to expand public libraries by living area. New libraries will be established through donations, and existing aging libraries will be remodeled sequentially to develop a lifelong learning city where residents can reach a library within a 10-minute walk from home.

Sixth, making Nowon a warm and healthy welfare city with sharing.

They will strengthen tailored support by various classes and age groups such as infants, youth, and seniors, taking responsibility for residents’ health and welfare from cradle to grave.

First, they will create a child-rearing friendly Nowon where both children and parents are happy. By expanding operation of Nowon Safe Daycare Centers, they will enhance mutual interaction between teachers and children. The “Child-Friendly Taxi” service will be expanded to provide safe and comfortable transportation for pregnant women and parents with infants.

To eliminate blind spots in care, they will expand communal childcare rooms and strengthen sick child care services. During hot summers, water park-type splash pads will be installed throughout neighborhoods, and in cold winters, theme park-type snow sledding hills will be created along Jungnangcheon, providing spaces to enjoy near home without going far.

To help youth, often called the “N-po generation,” envision a hopeful future, a Youth Policy Division will be established to provide various supports. The Youth Work-Life Center, Youth Job Center, and Youth Store will offer work experience and employment/startup services to support self-reliance. The existing Dojeon-suk and the newly constructed station area youth housing will improve youth residential environments. Furthermore, through youth policy networks and youth hangouts, various policies will empower youth to find hope rather than give up.

Next, through the Nowon 50 Plus Center, middle-aged and older adults preparing for retirement will be supported to redesign their lives actively. The Nowon-type senior job project will begin to enable seniors to have jobs and participate socially regardless of income level.

They will fully support shingles vaccination costs for seniors with low immunity to help maintain healthy daily lives. The Surak Senior Welfare Center, equipped with senior sports centers, will open to support healthy leisure activities for seniors. A senior youth caf? is also being carefully prepared within the Sanggye Lifelong Education Center, currently in design.

Moreover, they will pay closer attention to enabling persons with disabilities to participate as members of society. They will expand insurance support for electric mobility aids to prepare for accidents involving this major transportation means and activate the Disability Employment Support Center to increase employment opportunities and build a foundation for independence.

In addition, they will continue to care with affection to create various policies that provide practical benefits to persons with disabilities and their families, like the nation’s first disability-friendly beauty salon.

Finally, as a pet-friendly city, they will operate the pet culture center “Daengdaeng House” and hold pet culture festivals to foster a proper pet culture where people and animals coexist.