Sang-il Lee's 'Yongin Renaissance' Launch... "I Will Implement Administration That Grows, Expands, Elevates, and Protects"

Lee Sang-il, Mayor of Yongin, is holding a New Year's press conference at the City Hall Convention Hall on the 5th. Photo by Yongin City Hall

[Asia Economy (Yongin) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Lee Sang-il, mayor of Yongin, announced plans to establish a semiconductor ecosystem in Yongin comparable to the Silicon Valley in the United States. He also promised to actively work towards opening a Meister High School for future semiconductor workforce development and establishing semiconductor departments within universities. Furthermore, he emphasized the active promotion of expanding major road and railway networks through a "broadening administration."

At a New Year's press conference held on the 5th at the City Hall Convention Hall, Mayor Lee stated, "This year, Yongin City's main budget size has opened the era of the city's first 3 trillion won budget, increasing by 227.6 billion won (7.6%) from last year's 2.9871 trillion won to 3.2147 trillion won." He added, "With this budget allocation, the 2023 Yongin city administration will operate as a 'nurturing' administration leading the future with dynamic growth, a 'broadening' administration promoting regional characteristics and balanced development, a 'raising' administration respecting the lives of all citizens, and a 'protecting' administration that works harder for citizens' safety."

He continued, "We will enhance the city's semiconductor capabilities through the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, Platform City, 2nd Yongin Technovalley, Giheung Future Urban High-tech Industrial Complex, and Samsung Future Research Complex, ultimately creating 83,000 quality jobs." He presented the vision of "completing an 'L-shaped semiconductor belt' connecting Samsung Electronics Giheung Campus, Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, and Platform City to build a semiconductor ecosystem comparable to the Silicon Valley in the U.S."

In particular, he promised, "We will build a 'semiconductor highway' connecting Giheung~Namsa~Idong~Wonsam~Baegam~Iljuk, newly develop 350,000 square meters in this area, and establish a 'basic plan for semiconductor belt industrial sites' to attract numerous promising semiconductor materials, parts, and equipment companies."

Mayor Lee further explained, "To attract many good companies, we will provide fast one-stop permits and approvals and apply 'special exceptions for industrial complex floor area ratios' to increase the floor area ratio by up to 1.4 times. For future semiconductor professional workforce development, we will promote the establishment of semiconductor and AI high schools and contract departments in local universities, and swiftly secure secondary water supply for the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster."

He also introduced, "We will create a 15 billion won 'Yongin Venture Startup Investment Fund' to enable companies from various fields to settle in Yongin, and launched a policy supporting development charge calculation fees by receiving talent donations from an institution under the Construction Cost Association, the first of its kind nationwide. We also plan to implement an 'export intern support project' to train local young talents as trade experts and support local SMEs in pioneering overseas markets."

For the 'broadening' administration that promotes balanced development while leveraging regional characteristics, Mayor Lee presented plans to expand major railway and road networks.

He first said, "We will strive to extend the Gyeonggang Line from Gwangju Samdong to Mohyeon~Idong~Namsa, and do our best to have the Dongbaek~GTX Yongin~Seongbok Station~Sinbong light rail line connecting Dongbaek and Sinbong included in Gyeonggi-do's urban railway network construction plan." He added, "For the extension of Line 3, we will cooperate with Seongnam, Hwaseong, and Suwon cities, actively persuade Gyeonggi Province and the central government, and promptly promote projects included in the 4th National Railway Network Plan through active consultation with nearby local governments such as Hwaseong and Osan."

He also stated, "To enable highway access from anywhere in Yongin, we will establish 'Yongin IC' in line with the completion of the Seoul~Sejong Expressway in December, and promote improvements to 'Giheung IC' on the Gyeongbu Expressway, the construction of a new northbound 'Namsajinwi IC,' and the opening of 'Dongbaek IC' on the Yeongdong Expressway."

Mayor Lee emphasized, "Starting this year, the licenses for 171 Gyeonggi-do public buses on 12 metropolitan bus routes will be transferred to the Metropolitan Transportation Committee under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, making negotiations with Seoul City for additional buses much easier. We will do our best to increase metropolitan buses to reduce commuting inconveniences for citizens." He also highlighted, "The welfare budget has been allocated at 1.0791 trillion won, an increase of 79.4 billion won from last year, opening the era of a 1 trillion won welfare budget for the first time in the city."

He added, "From this year, we plan to provide 100,000 won in transportation expenses to multi-child families and expand childbirth product support from 100,000 won to 150,000 won. Parental allowances will also increase to a maximum of 700,000 won per month to strengthen the care system."

Additionally, Mayor Lee promised ▲support for youth jeonse deposit return guarantee fees ▲operation of a senior-customized happiness well-aging center for elderly health and welfare ▲'Yongin Neighbor Keeper' to discover vulnerable households ▲support for 'public funeral services' for unclaimed deceased persons ▲construction of the 'Bandabi Sports Center' accessible to both disabled and non-disabled persons ▲construction of a 'sports center' with a multipurpose gymnasium and indoor swimming pool in Sanghyeon-dong, Gwanggyo District ▲completion of the Heungdeok Youth Culture House and Giheung National Sports Center in Giheung-gu (October) ▲and opening of the Yongin Creative and Science Library in Suji-gu (November).