[Interview] Ryugyeonggi Jungnang-gu Mayor: "With the largest-ever budget of 1 trillion won, we will create more definite changes and a greater Jungnang"

2023 Budget 1.0162 Trillion Won... Jungnang-gu Surpasses 1 Trillion Won for the First Time Since Its Establishment

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il]

The top priority value in district administration is education... Focusing on creating the strongest public education city

Administrative efforts concentrated on rapid and certain residential development, attracting businesses, and increasing quality jobs

"In the new year of the Year of the Black Rabbit, I will continue to diligently visit the field with residents through Jungnang Masil and alley cleaning, raising the pride of living in Jungnang-gu even higher."

The 2023 New Year budget for Jungnang-gu is 1.0162 trillion won, surpassing 1 trillion won for the first time since its establishment in 1988. The significance of this record-high budget scale lies in making welfare more comprehensive, residential environments more pleasant, the economy more vibrant, and education levels the highest, serving as a stepping stone to further grow Jungnang-gu.

Ryu Gyeong-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, announced that the top priority in district administration this year is education, and he will focus investments to make Jungnang-gu the best public education city. The education expense budget this year is 10 billion won, increased by 2 billion won from last year's 8 billion won. The plan is to continue increasing by 2 billion won annually to reach 16 billion won by 2026, making it the highest level of education investment among Seoul’s autonomous districts.

Also, the Bang Jeong-hwan Education Support Center, the largest among Seoul’s autonomous districts, has received very high public response. To meet the increasing demand and improve convenience and accessibility of the center, the second Bang Jeong-hwan Education Support Center is being promoted with a goal to open in 2025. Once the second center is completed, Jungnang-gu will be the only district in Seoul with two education support centers.

To spread a culture of reading, the opening of the Muk 2-dong Family Library will start this year, and six public libraries will be built during the term. Recently, the Jungnang Forest Children's Library received the Prime Minister’s Award in the national library operation evaluation, highly recognizing the '1000 Books Reading Project.'

Mayor Ryu emphasized, "We will nurture future talents through a significant expansion of school education expenses, expansion of educational infrastructure such as the second Bang Jeong-hwan Education Support Center, and the 1000 Books Reading Project, making Jungnang the best education city."

Along with education, in 2023, efforts will be accelerated to improve the residential level of Jungnang-gu through rapid and certain housing development. Currently, projects are underway at a total of 17 housing development candidate sites, including seven Moa Town locations in Seoul. This is the largest development area among Seoul’s autonomous districts, making it the most active district. To promptly deliver accurate information and promote projects in the direction desired by residents, and to expand public facilities such as parking lots, roads, parks, libraries, and cultural and sports facilities, the existing dedicated department was expanded into the Housing Development Promotion Team with increased personnel and organization. By 2026, the plan is to develop 20% of Jungnang-gu’s low-rise residential area, creating a premium residential complex of about 15,000 households. This strategy aims to bring a breeze of change to urban planning that has been stagnant for over 30 years and to invigorate the city.

Steps to leap forward as a self-sufficient economic city will also be accelerated. For this, attracting businesses and creating quality jobs are essential. Centered on Sinnae IC, where two knowledge industry centers are already established, during the 8th elected term, a fashion industry advanced complex will be built in Yangwon District, and the Jungnang Startup Support Center will be constructed in Sinnae-dong. Mayor Ryu said, "When each project is completed, about 1,000 large and small companies are expected to move in, creating about 10,000 jobs." Also, with the completion of the Jungnang Fashion Support Center by 2024, the competitiveness of Jungnang-gu’s representative industry, the ‘fashion sewing industry,’ is expected to be greatly strengthened.

Along with this, the number of specialized street-type shopping districts to revitalize alley markets will be expanded from the current two locations, including Sangbong Food Alley, to five. Mayor Ryu Gyeong-gi stated, "We will also devote all efforts to polishing the cultural assets that Jungnang is proud of," emphasizing, "In particular, we will improve accessibility to Mangwoo Station Sapark and develop the Lee Jung-seop specialized street and a public museum to make Mangwoo Station Sapark a world-class treasure."

Additionally, cultural and sports infrastructure will be greatly expanded so that all residents can enjoy happy leisure activities. A cultural and arts center will be built in the Myeonmok Administrative Complex Town and the SH Corporation headquarters relocation site, and the first public museum in Jungnang-gu will be established in Mangwoo-dong. The Myeonmok Retention Basin Cultural and Sports Complex Center and a multipurpose gymnasium behind Seoil University are scheduled to begin construction in 2024.

Mayor Ryu Gyeong-gi of Jungnang-gu emphasized communication administration, saying, "In 2023, I will continue to open Jungnang’s mornings with early morning cleaning and walk through Jungnang villages to breathe together with residents closest to their lives." He added, "By solidifying education, residential environment, and economic foundation in Jungnang-gu, which has beautiful natural environment and history, I will further raise the pride of living in Jungnang-gu."