[Interview] Mun Heon-il, Guro District Mayor, "We Will Achieve Transformation into an Advanced Industrial City Based on the 4th Industrial Revolution"

Transition to a 4th Industrial Revolution-Based Advanced Industrial City, Supporting G-Valley Companies While Focusing on Training 4th Industrial Revolution Specialists... Simultaneous Promotion of Urban Value Enhancement Through Redevelopment and Reconstruction Projects

Guro-gu (Mayor Moon Heon-il) is putting great effort into supporting G-Valley companies to transform into an advanced industrial city leading the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Mayor Moon led the Guro-gu overseas market development team this month and participated in ‘GITEX Global 2023,’ the largest IT·ICT exhibition in the Middle East, actively working to create quality jobs and strengthen regional competitiveness. Returning from a five-day business trip to Dubai on the 19th, Mayor Moon first emphasized the importance of technology and talent. He explained, “The potential of Guro-gu lies in the fact that companies equipped with advanced technology and professionals are concentrated around G-Valley,” adding, “Five local companies participated in GITEX held in Dubai, and these companies have also grown based on specialized talent and solid technological capabilities.”

In this way, Guro-gu is dedicated to supporting G-Valley companies while also nurturing specialized talent for the 4th Industrial Revolution. The district is fostering industry-academia R&D hubs linked with universities in the southwestern region, and since last year, it has been operating a program supporting master’s and doctoral degree courses for G-Valley employees. Mayor Moon stated, “Currently, eight students are enrolled as Guro-gu scholarship recipients, and recruitment for new scholarship students for next year will begin in November,” adding, “Since this targets employees with field experience and expertise, we expect it to be even more effective.”

Alongside this, the G-Valley Guro Campus employee education project, one of the pledges of the 8th local government term, has been launched. Educational conditions have been established within the digital complex, and a preliminary demand survey was conducted in August targeting companies located in G-Valley. Based on the results, the curriculum was designed. Mayor Moon said, “The G-Valley Guro Campus is characterized by listening to companies’ opinions on job roles requiring education and tailoring the education programs accordingly,” emphasizing, “Rather than training many talents in a short period, we will focus on properly cultivating the talents needed by the industry.” He also stressed, “The local economy will revive and residents’ quality of life will improve only if companies based in Guro-gu do well,” and pledged, “We will continue to actively support any areas where the district’s role is needed.”

Additionally, Mayor Moon, who has a background as a businessperson, launched the Redevelopment and Reconstruction Project Support Team immediately after taking office, expanding opportunities for resident participation and accelerating administrative procedures such as permits, steadily realizing the promised ‘change of Guro-gu.’ Mayor Moon expressed his ambition, saying, “Guro-gu is now at the center of change,” and “I will work hard for the residents.”

Mayor Moon cited the formation of the Redevelopment and Reconstruction Project Support Team as the most memorable achievement over the past one year and four months. The Guro-gu Redevelopment and Reconstruction Project Support Team is composed of private experts providing independent advice and support. It is also separately listed in the organizational chart. Mayor Moon said, “Communication with residents regarding redevelopment and reconstruction projects has definitely increased, led by the support team,” and “We will support the swift processing of administrative procedures and promote maintenance projects with a sense of speed.”

Furthermore, aiming for 2050, the district is promoting the establishment of the ‘Guro-gu Urban Development Master Plan.’ As a long-term development plan, a ‘100-member Resident Participation Group’ was launched this month to reflect residents’ opinions and explore urban spatial development directions from various perspectives. Mayor Moon stated, “If efforts to create an advanced industrial city are a strategy to strengthen substance, redevelopment and reconstruction projects are to change the city’s appearance and enhance its value,” adding, “By promoting both simultaneously, we will achieve a recognized transformation of Guro-gu.”