[Interview] Mun Heon-il, Guro District Mayor: "Improving Residential Environment and Leading the 4th Industrial Revolution... Enhancing Guro's Value"

Rapid and Systematic Redevelopment/Reconstruction to Enhance Asset Value with Dedicated Organization to be Established in January Next Year... Plan to Develop G-Valley as an IoT Mecca to Establish Identity as a 4th Industrial Revolution Advanced City... Residents' Will Ranked as Top Priority for District Administration Operation, Visiting Flood Damage Sites and Touring 16 Neighborhoods... Direct On-Site Civil Complaints Visits Starting from the 17th of This Month

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] “We will do our utmost to promote rapid and systematic redevelopment and reconstruction, and to establish G-Valley as the mecca of IoT (Internet of Things) to enhance the value of Guro.”

In an interview, Moon Heon-il, Mayor of Guro District, stated that he will do his best to bring a breeze of change to the long-stagnant Guro and create a city where all residents can be happy.

Mayor Moon said, “From the election campaign to the present after taking office, what residents have consistently wanted is to make Guro a better place to live. Having lived as a Guro resident for over 40 years, I deeply felt the need for change in the stagnant Guro,” expressing a strong will for change.

To improve the residential environment directly connected to residents’ lives, a dedicated organization will be established in January next year to mediate conflicts through experts and provide one-stop services for laws and information related to redevelopment and reconstruction.

The ‘Redevelopment and Reconstruction Support Team’ will be composed of experts in architecture, urban planning, transportation, and related fields. It plans to provide integrated, customized consultation services by field and target characteristics to help residents understand and reduce conflicts, thereby promoting rapid project implementation.

At the same time, for aging and low-rise densely populated residential areas where large-scale development is difficult, Seoul city’s development projects will be actively utilized. Last year, Garibong 2 District and Gung-dong Wooshin Villa were selected as targets for the Rapid Integrated Planning (Shintong) project, which shortens the designation period of maintenance zones. In June, Guro-dong 728 and Gocheok-dong 241 areas, and in October, Gaebong-dong 270-38 area were selected as Moa Town sites for joint development of old and low-rise houses, accelerating the projects.

Mayor Moon is putting great effort into redefining the city image so that when people think of a ‘smart city,’ ‘Guro’ comes to mind by fostering the 4th Industrial Revolution, the core of the future economy.

In particular, various blueprints are being drawn up to develop G-Valley, where IT and ICT companies are concentrated, into the mecca of IoT (Internet of Things).

Currently, in cooperation with Dongyang Mirae University and Soongsil University, projects are underway to cultivate customized talents needed by G-Valley companies. Building on this, there is a plan to make Guro a university-industry R&D hub in the southwest region. Furthermore, a ‘4th Industrial Revolution Youth Employment Academy’ will be established in the future to create a youth education-specialized area where education, employment, and start-ups are organically connected.

Along with this, professional training courses for G-Valley employees and 4th Industrial Revolution education programs for residents will be conducted to create a resident-friendly smart city.

Recently, Guro further enhanced its position as a ‘smart city’ by winning the highest award, the Presidential Award, at the 18th Korea Local Autonomy Management Competition for the 24-hour Smart Safety City Guro-type Smart Pole Construction Project. Considering the characteristics and environment of each area in Guro, 161 Guro-type smart poles integrating various smart devices such as LED streetlights, security lights, multi-purpose CCTV, WiFi, and LoRa sensors were installed on a single pole, reducing costs and ensuring local safety.

The district plans to install a drone station at Anyangcheon to prepare for disasters such as floods and to establish new smart poles in the Hang-dong public housing district.

Mayor Moon emphasized, “As the residential environment improves and asset values rise, and as the brand image of ‘a city leading the 4th Industrial Revolution era’ is formed, Guro’s status will be elevated, and Guro will be reborn as a city where people want to live and visit.”

Mayor Moon cited ‘the will of the residents’ as the most important driving force in district administration. After taking office, he devoted himself to recovery efforts by visiting various flood-affected areas, completed tours of all 16 neighborhoods in August and September, and since the 17th of this month, has been visiting civil complaint sites directly to resolve residents’ inconveniences.

Mayor Moon pledged to continue on-site communication to listen to the precious voices of residents.

Moon Heon-il, Mayor of Guro District, said, “As a native of Guro for 40 years, I will approach long-time neighbors warmly and communicate with them. I will incorporate my over 30 years of experience as a CEO leading IT and ICT companies into district administration to create ‘a changing Guro through warm companionship with residents,’ as the slogan of the 8th elected term.”