[Interview] Jeong Munheon, Jongno District Mayor, "Realizing a Livable City through Jongno Modern"

Implementing our style of advanced modernization as the model of the modern world in Jongno…. A bold future vision aiming to realize a livable Jongno and a world-leading Jongno... The cultural tourism belt and cultural New Deal, where beautiful Korean cultural heritages such as Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, and Jongmyo Shrine create synergy with the galleries in Pyeongchang-dong and Samcheong-dong, as well as the performing arts street in Daehangno, making the entire Jongno a single museum, art gallery, or performance hall.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] “2023 will be the inaugural year of ‘Jongno Modern.’”

Jung Moon-heon, the mayor of Jongno District, said this regarding the direction of the district administration this year.

Jongno Modern represents the realization of our style of advanced modernization as a model for the world. Jongno District plans to boldly envision a future aiming to make Jongno more livable than ever and to lead the world.

Mayor Jung stated, “All projects promoted by Jongno District this year will converge into ‘Jongno Modern.’ In particular, the cultural tourism belt and cultural New Deal will create synergy between beautiful Korean cultural heritages such as Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, and Jongmyo Shrine, and the galleries in Pyeongchang-dong and Samcheong-dong, as well as the performing arts street in Daehangno, making the entire Jongno a single museum, art gallery, or performance hall. This is expected to improve the quality of life for Jongno residents and lead to an increase in tangible property value,” he said.

Starting this year, Jongno District will accelerate projects to establish a future education and youth job platform. Mayor Jung said, “The type of talent required is changing in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Education to nurture talent suitable for this trend is a proactive preparation for our children’s future and a demand of the times,” and added, “We will build a Jongno-style future education and youth job platform.”

The future education and youth job platform project is an innovative education and job creation model unique to Jongno that combines the traditional Seodang (village school) education model to cultivate proper character in youth who will lead the 21st century, essential English education for the global era, and youth mentoring. Jongno District expects this project to provide quality jobs for youth and diverse educational opportunities for adolescents.

Jongno District plans to connect students and mentors within local schools and expand the project in cooperation with Jongno’s sister cities. There are also plans to pilot the program in non-English-speaking sister cities abroad. This model, which conducts traditional Seodang education alongside regular curriculum classes, is expected to create jobs and provide an opportunity to promote Korea’s excellent Seodang culture overseas.

Along with this, through ‘Health-i-rang Service,’ a specialized health service model unique to Jongno, residents can receive health management from professional medical personnel close to their homes. The health centers have been reorganized regionally and their functions strengthened as health care centers, representing a shift from provider-centered health services to resident-centered administration. Health projects, which previously focused on individual diseases at health centers, now consider the characteristics and health statistics of each neighborhood, dividing Jongno into five zones and deploying integrated health service personnel by zone to provide customized, resident-centered health care services.

Residents can use integrated health facilities located in their neighborhoods without having to visit distant health centers. Jongno District expects that through Health-i-rang Service, it will establish a resident-centered customized health care system and reduce health disparities in the local community.

Jung Moon-heon, mayor of Jongno District, said, “All projects going forward will be interconnected and bring about significant changes in Jongno,” and added, “We will continuously communicate with residents to maintain a trusted and empathetic district administration as we do now.”