What Does Receiving 42 Applause Claps at the 2024 New Year's Meeting Mean for Choi Ho-kwon, Yeongdeungpo District Mayor?

At the Yeongdeungpo-gu New Year's Meeting held at 3 PM on the 3rd, Mayor Choi delivered a New Year's address explaining the difficult achievements of last year and major projects planned for this year, while also expressing his convictions based on the philosophy of 'Jugeon Jaemin,' drawing attention as residents showed their support with 42 rounds of thunderous applause.

At each district office in Seoul, New Year's greeting meetings are in full swing to welcome 2024, where local residents gather to exchange New Year's greetings and explain major projects for the new year.

These events are the top New Year's gatherings, attended by 500 to over 2,000 people including Mayor Oh Se-hoon, district heads, members of the National Assembly, and city and district council members.

Among these, a district head who received thunderous applause 42 times from residents at the New Year's greeting meeting has become a hot topic.

The protagonist is none other than Choi Ho-kwon, the head of Yeongdeungpo District Office. On the afternoon of the 3rd at 3 PM, at the Yeongdeungpo Art Hall, he delivered the New Year's address titled "Imagine and Challenge! Hope. Happiness. Future City Yeongdeungpo!!" at the '2024 Yeongdeungpo District New Year's Greeting Meeting.'

In particular, Choi showed sincerity by personally writing the New Year's address as in previous years, including reports on last year's achievements, major projects planned for this year, and political messages to the public.

First, Choi opened with, "This year as well, prioritizing the interests of residents, we will vigorously advance toward a hopeful, happy, and future city Yeongdeungpo that imagines and challenges."

He announced that last year laid the foundation for Yeongdeungpo to leap forward as a young district, successfully withdrawing the plan to build LH rental housing on the site planned in Yeouido, the international financial center.

He also explained that previously stalled projects such as the redevelopment of Yeongjin Market and Yangnam Market have now been able to proceed in earnest.

Along with this, he proudly stated that by attracting 'Seoul Sangsangnara,' a Seoul city infant science playground, to the parking lot site in Dangsan-dong together with City Councilor Kim Jong-gil, Yeongdeungpo Dangsan-dong has been established as an 'infant education 8th school district,' a science education hub where children can nurture dreams and creativity.

He also mentioned that child-friendly housing guarantees residence for up to 12 years and is equipped with childcare and educational infrastructure such as daycare centers, children's hospitals, and libraries, making it a groundbreaking project to overcome low birth rates by solving housing and childcare issues in one place.

These explanations drew thunderous applause from the residents for Choi.

Choi stated, "This was possible because I held 262 meetings last year, meeting and conversing with over 4,300 residents, and personally visited all 170 senior centers in Yeongdeungpo to check the sites and listen to opinions."

He expressed regret that the southwestern region of Seoul, the birthplace of the Han River Miracle, has become underdeveloped, emphasizing the need to make Yeongdeungpo's image younger. He said it must be transformed into a premium city where jobs, housing, culture, and green spaces harmonize.

In this regard, he announced plans to ease regulations on semi-industrial areas that occupy one-fifth of Yeongdeungpo's area and design them as future-oriented urban spaces.

He also promised to unite Yeongdeungpo, which has been divided into two for 120 years, by undergrounding the Gyeongbu Line railway.

Along with this, he pledged to prepare measures to relocate about 1,300 factories in Mullae-dong all at once, actively propose this to the central government and Seoul city, and attract the 4th industrial revolution industries to the site after the factory relocation.

Choi also announced that through the Yeongdeungpo Future Education Foundation launching this year, they will nurture 'future scientific talents' to lead the 4th industrial revolution and promote education that accompanies the vulnerable.

Yeongdeungpo residents applauding after hearing the New Year's address by Choi Ho-gwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District Office

Choi said, "I am a working person. I will work looking only at the residents," emphasizing, "There is no status quo in this era. There are only two choices: to move forward or fall behind. For Yeongdeungpo to move forward, it must constantly change and challenge."

He continued, "If we fight over the past and present, we will surely lose the future," quoting from poet Park Nohae's poem 'Warning' the lines, "Do not sell the past to live today" and "Do not let reality devour the future," which earned him applause.

He solemnly stated that Korea's leap to an advanced nation today is thanks to a great generation who did not hesitate to sacrifice and dedicate themselves with the single-minded determination of "I may suffer a little and enjoy less, but I will leave a better country to future generations."

Finally, he noted that these days are an era of political excess. The reality is that politics cannot keep up with the people. Loyalty to individuals or bosses is not democracy. True democracy is to fear the people sincerely and be loyal only to the nation and its citizens, a pointed remark he did not omit.

As the head of Yeongdeungpo District Office, home to Yeouido, the 'No. 1 place for new politics,' Choi reaffirmed his philosophy on popular sovereignty.

There seems to be a reason why Choi, who received 33 rounds of applause at the 2023 New Year's greeting meeting, received 42 rounds at the 2024 meeting.

The enthusiastic applause from residents reflected their support for Choi Ho-kwon, the head of Yeongdeungpo District Office, known as a 'hardworking district head,' a 'district head with determination and conviction,' and yet always humble and communicative with residents.