[Interview] Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, "Nowon-gu Will Take the Lead in Rapid Reconstruction 추진"

Rapid Promotion of Reconstruction, Creation of a Bio Complex Centered on Seoul National University Hospital, and Revolutionary Improvement of Transportation to Prepare for Nowon’s Future

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] “Reconstruction in Nowon-gu is a matter of survival. The district office will take the lead in supporting and assisting the rapid promotion of reconstruction.”

Nowon-gu Mayor Oh Seung-rok expressed strong regret in a New Year interview, stating, “At the end of last year, the ordinance to support the cost of detailed safety inspections for reconstruction was deferred by the Housing and Space Committee of the Seoul Metropolitan Council.”

The easing of safety inspection standards announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport at the end of last year was like a timely rain, the result of Nowon-gu’s dedicated efforts. However, the Seoul city ordinance, which would have allowed the district to support the cost of detailed safety inspections and recover the funds before completion approval, was deferred, causing great disappointment to residents awaiting rapid reconstruction.

Currently, there are 45 apartment complexes in Nowon that are over 30 years old, comprising about 67,000 households. By 2030, this will increase to 119 complexes with approximately 109,000 households, accounting for 88.4% of all apartments in Nowon-gu.

Improving the aging residential environment is directly linked to the survival of the residents. Seeing the population moving to nearby new towns due to poor housing conditions, Mayor Oh emphasized, “If the ordinance passes, we plan to include support for safety inspection costs in the supplementary budget. We will do our utmost to secure the residents’ right to survival.”

He also said, “Nowon is in crisis. Without finding growth engines, Nowon’s future will not be bright,” adding, “Nowon’s future depends on improving the residential environment through the rapid promotion of reconstruction and redevelopment, creating jobs by establishing a bio-medical complex centered on Seoul National University Hospital, and revolutionary improvements in transportation.”

He expressed his ambition to promptly sign a tripartite agreement with Seoul City and Seoul National University Hospital to fully launch the construction of Nowon Seoul National University Hospital, attract bio-medical companies and research institutes, and realize a world-class bio-medical complex, dreaming of “the Boston Bio Cluster of the United States.” Mayor Oh said, “By 2025, the Changdong Vehicle Depot will be relocated to Jinjeop-eup, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do,” adding, “Once the long-awaited Changdong Vehicle Depot in Nowon-gu is relocated, we will accelerate the creation of a bio-medical complex centered on Seoul National University Hospital, which will create at least 80,000 jobs.”

Transportation networks are the most fundamental element for regional economic development, and transportation cannot be overlooked for balanced development between the Gang and the north-south areas. The GTX-C line passing through Gwangwoon University Station is scheduled to begin construction next year. The travel time from Gwangwoon University Station to Samseong Station, which used to take 46 minutes, will be reduced to 9 minutes. Also, with Gwangwoon University Station included in the KTX Uijeongbu extension line, Wolgye-dong will be reborn as a transportation hub. The Northeast Light Rail, under construction since 2021, will open, and the express service on Subway Line 4 will be implemented, greatly contributing to residents’ convenience and regional balanced development. Mayor Oh emphasized that he will do his best to ensure the smooth expansion of transportation infrastructure.

On December 23 last year, the cement storage silo, a 40-year-old wish of Wolgye-dong residents, disappeared into history. Mayor Oh called it “a signal to start the full-scale development of the Gwangwoon University Station area,” and predicted that the logistics site around Gwangwoon University Station, covering 156,492㎡, will undergo revolutionary changes, becoming the new center of northeast Seoul.

Completion of Healing Town and Abundant Culture, Arts, and Entertainment Nearby

Since the 7th term of the elected government, Mayor Oh, who has been focusing on creating healing spots and cultural policies as universal welfare for all, said, “Seoul’s first urban-type Suraksan Natural Recreation Forest began construction last year and will be completed in 2024. We will do our best to make it the nation’s top recreation forest enjoyed nearby.” He added, “Following Bulamsan, Yeongchuksan, and Suraksan, we will create a healing town full of hydrangeas in Choansan, Wolgye-dong, completing the healing city.”

In June this year, the first craft beer festival will be held at Hwarangdae Railroad Park. Along with the Bulamsan Azalea Festival, Nowon Mask Festival, and Nowon Moonlight Walk, the newly introduced craft beer festival will become one of the four major cultural festivals representing Nowon. The “Visiting Street Arts Festival,” which received great response during COVID-19 by bringing performances to neighborhood parks, will be expanded, and a “Visiting Orchestra” will also be operated.

The Nowon Snow Sledding Ground at Jungnangcheon, which opened on December 23 last year, attracted over 9,000 visitors within six days of opening. Last summer, water play areas were operated by region, receiving enthusiastic responses from residents. This year, the facilities will be further enhanced and expanded to allow use by youth and young adults.

Mayor Oh said, “I want to provide residents with high-quality culture and entertainment right in front of their homes, giving vitality to their lives without having to go far.”

Leading Welfare with a Tight Care System and Various Customized Projects

Nowon-gu’s greatest strength is welfare. The pioneering Nowon-type childcare policy won the Presidential Award in the Ministry of Health and Welfare evaluation, and the public response system for child protection and abuse prevention won the highest award. Continuous efforts to eliminate welfare blind spots through programs such as Nowon Ddok Ddok Ddok Care Team and Welfare Plus have also been recognized.

Since October last year, the first nationwide disability-friendly beauty salon has been operating with great response. Mayor Oh said, “We will build a tighter care system, strengthen public responsibility, and work hard to establish infrastructure for people with disabilities.” He plans to lead disability-customized policies such as opening a second disability-friendly beauty salon and creating play spaces for children with disabilities.

This year, a Youth Policy Division was newly established. Since 27% of Nowon’s population are youth, various customized projects centered on facilities such as the “Nowon Youth Life Center” and “Youth Tomorrow” will be implemented to help Nowon’s youth become healthy and independent.

Residents’ Safety and Carbon Neutrality Are Obligations of the Times

Above all, the district office will prioritize the responsibility for residents’ lives and safety, carefully ensuring that no area is left unattended by administrative efforts. To this end, the district has recently upgraded its disaster safety system, including reorganizing holiday and late-night duty systems, forming a private event safety review committee, installing disaster management CCTV, introducing a shared system in the district office situation room, and building an autonomous navigation smart safety system using drones. Mayor Oh emphasized, “We will watch over and re-watch to ensure that not a single safety accident occurs.”

The district is also fully prepared to actively respond to carbon neutrality, a global challenge. Mayor Oh explained, “We have established a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 and to become a carbon-neutral city by 2050.”

The district has formulated a comprehensive plan for Nowon-gu’s carbon-neutral city centered on the newly established Carbon Neutral Promotion Team this year. The team plans to develop environmental education programs and build networks among various environmental stakeholders by utilizing the Nowon Environmental Foundation, Nowon Eco Center, and Jungnangcheon Environmental Center, which were first established by a Seoul autonomous district in 2017.

Nowon-gu Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “We will refine policies in detail and implement them swiftly so that residents can feel the effects firsthand,” and asked, “Please continue to watch over and support us with affectionate eyes in 2023 as well.”