[New Year Interview] Ryoo Kyung-gi, Jungnang District Mayor, "Will Make It the No.1 Public Education Hub"

Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu

"Last year, ranked 7th in the residents' happiness index and entering the era of a 1 trillion won budget, Jungnang-gu will continue in 2024 to focus on making Jungnang-gu a place where children are happy and elders are respected, an educational city that cultivates future competitiveness, rapid and definite residential environment improvements, and a vibrant economic Jungnang."

Ryu Gyeong-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, expressed this determination in his first interview of the new year.

Jungnang-gu's budget for this year is a total of 1.071 trillion won, surpassing 1 trillion won for the second consecutive year following last year. As a result, the scale of Jungnang-gu's finances has risen to the top 6 among Seoul's autonomous districts, reflecting the elevated status of Jungnang-gu. Mayor Ryu stated, "In 2024, we will brighten hope through education, blossom diverse cultural arts and the livelihood economy, and breathe vitality into the city."

To advance toward becoming the "best public education hub," the district increased the education expense budget for improving the public education environment from 3.8 billion won in 2018 to 12 billion won this year, more than tripling it. In particular, the Bang Jeong-hwan Education Support Center has received great response from residents, with a cumulative visitor count reaching 96,000 since its opening, and a second Bang Jeong-hwan Education Support Center is under construction, aiming for completion in 2025. Additionally, an astronomy science center and a second media center (to be completed in 2024) are being established. Popular programs such as "Reading 1,000 Books Before School" and "Reading 1,000 Books in Elementary School," which involve over 10,000 children, continue steadily, building a foundation of "Reading Jungnang" as the basis of learning and education.

Moreover, the district actively utilizes beautiful natural environments such as Yongmasan, Bonghwasan, Mangu Mountain, and Jungnangcheon, along with deep and rich historical and cultural assets, to create a diverse and sophisticated cultural city. At Mangu Historical and Cultural Park, facilities have been established including the Jungnang Mangu Space, a landmark for learning history and culture; a circular walking trail where visitors can enjoy exercise and stroll while smelling the forest; an observatory offering city views; cafes; and shuttle buses for convenience.

The "Seoul Rose Festival," where 10 million roses bloom every May, was attended by 400,000 residents last year and attracted 2.6 million visitors, boosting pride in Jungnang-gu. In the second half of 2024, a Rose Research Institute will be established to create a more professional and specialized rose festival. Additionally, the Myeonmok Retention Basin Cultural and Sports Complex Center and the Bonghwasan Onggi Kiln Experience Center are scheduled to begin construction in 2024.

The district is implementing projects reflecting residents' voices to ensure comfortable and happy daily lives, including postpartum care support, senior center construction, Dongjin School establishment, expansion of Jungnang indoor playgrounds, creation of exclusive rest areas for the visually impaired, and expansion of job opportunities for seniors.

Efforts to create a pleasant Jungnang are also accelerating. By 2026, 20% of low-rise residential areas will be developed to create a premium residential complex of approximately 15,000 households, dramatically changing Jungnang-gu's skyline. The Myeonmok Administrative Complex Town, equipped with administrative, cultural, and welfare infrastructure, will begin construction in 2025, and the relocation of the SH headquarters to Sinnae-dong, including office facilities and a 600-seat professional performance hall, is scheduled to start in 2026.

Metropolitan transportation convenience will also be greatly enhanced. In December last year, the KTX-Eum train on the Jungang Line began stopping at Sangbong Station, enabling travel to Andong in just 2 hours. When the entire section opens at the end of 2024, travel time to Busan (Bujeon Station) will be reduced to about 3 hours. Projects such as the "Myeonmok Line Urban Railway (9.05 km)," connecting the north and south of Jungnang-gu within 22 minutes, and the "GTX-B Line," connecting major points from Incheon Songdo through Sangbong to Namyangju Maseok within 30 minutes, are also being steadily promoted. Mayor Ryu emphasized, "We will focus on building a dense welfare network, cultivating an educational city with future competitiveness, rapid and definite residential environment improvements, and creating a vibrant economic Jungnang."