Gangbuk-gu Holds '2024 New Year's Meeting'... "Focusing on Gangbuk-style Development"

On the 5th, over 700 residents attended at Seongshin Women's University Mia Unjeong Green Campus Auditorium... In her New Year's address, District Mayor Lee Soon-hee emphasized focusing on 'Gangbuk-style development' utilizing natural, historical, and cultural resources... She pledged to spare no effort in challenges and attempts to realize residents' wishes

Gangbuk-gu, Seoul (Mayor Lee Soon-hee) held the ‘2024 Gangbuk-gu New Year Meeting’ on the 5th at the main auditorium of Sungshin Women's University Mia Unjeong Green Campus to present a hopeful vision for the 2024 Gapjin Year.

The New Year meeting, which started at 10:30 a.m., was attended by about 700 people, including Lee Soon-hee, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, Choi Chi-hyo, Chairman of the Gangbuk-gu Council, members of the National Assembly, Seoul Metropolitan Council members, Gangbuk-gu Council members, as well as principals of elementary, middle, high schools, and universities in the area, religious groups, cultural artists, members of professional organizations, and residents, brightening the event.

Before the event, pre-performance was held by the Gangbuk-gu Silver Orchestra and the Gangbuk-gu Youth Orchestra. The event featured a promotional video showcasing last year’s major achievements and the future vision and key projects of Gangbuk-gu in 2024, including ▲relaxation of altitude restrictions in Bukhansan ▲Villa Management Office project winning the grand prize in the 2023 National Basic Local Government Manifesto Best Practice Competition (Community Strengthening category) ▲launch of the Urban Railway New Gangbuk Line Promotion Committee and a signature campaign across autonomous districts ▲various festivals such as Cheonbyeon Life Gangbuk Festa 2023 “Uicheon Kkotida,” Uicheon Yeoul Market, and the 2023 Gangbuk Baekmaek Festival ▲support for redevelopment and reconstruction.

The event proceeded in the order of the national ceremony, introduction of guests, New Year video message from Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, New Year address by Gangbuk-gu Mayor Lee Soon-hee, New Year greetings from guests, and congratulatory performances by the Gangbuk-gu Women’s, Senior, and Boys and Girls Choirs. Afterwards, Mayor Lee Soon-hee saw off the guests including Gangbuk residents, concluding the event.

In her New Year address, Mayor Lee Soon-hee said, “Thanks to the support and encouragement of the residents, Gangbuk-gu has been able to steadily promote various policies and projects to realize ‘Gangbuk that empowers my life.’ I believe that the 8th term of the elected government is the right time for our district to start leaping and changing, and we have been running tirelessly.”

She continued, “The signature campaign for the New Gangbuk Line, which involved about 220,000 participants, shows how many people sympathize with and participate in the urban railway New Gangbuk Line project. We will continue our efforts to attract the urban railway New Gangbuk Line without rest.”

She also explained the achievements so far, saying, “Following the announcement of the plan to relax altitude restrictions in Bukhansan according to Seoul City’s new altitude district concept in June last year, the Villa Management Office project, implemented for the first time nationwide, became a good precedent showing that even small-scale multi-family housing can improve residential environments sufficiently.” She also mentioned the contribution to revitalizing local commercial districts through events such as ‘Cheonbyeon Life Gangbuk Festa 2023 Uicheon Kkotida’ and the ‘2023 Gangbuk Baekmaek Festival.’

Mayor Lee said, “Based on this, Gangbuk-gu will focus on ‘Gangbuk-hyeon development’ in 2024, making the most of our district’s unique natural, historical, and cultural resources,” and announced the district’s major projects and goals for 2024.

Towards a vibrant city with sustainable growth

First, Mayor Lee said, “We will develop Uicheon as an urban waterfront emotional space and a representative tourist attraction linked with local commercial districts, and develop Gangbuk-gu into an urban healing space through the creation of Hwagyesa Temple forest healing trails, Uiryeong Cultural Park, and barefoot walking paths.” In addition, she stated, “We will take the lead in realizing carbon neutrality through the 2050 Gangbuk-gu Carbon Neutral Green Growth Basic Plan and the expanded installation of unmanned transparent PET bottle collection machines.”

A warm and pleasant living environment that is safe for both body and mind

Next, she said, “We will establish a basic plan for residential area maintenance, prepare maintenance plans reflecting the characteristics of each area, and strive to ensure smooth progress of maintenance projects such as rapid integrated planning, Moa Town, and promotion district projects. The Villa Management Office will expand its project area to improve the residential environment.”

She also stated, “To minimize welfare blind spots, we will expand care services and provide detailed, generation-specific welfare through youth facilities, youth job centers, and integrated senior citizen festivals.”

A place where change happens and joy sprouts

She continued, “According to the ‘2040 Gangbuk-gu Urban Development Plan,’ we will set the future vision and strategy for urban spatial planning, transform abandoned vacant houses into community spaces for residents, and establish design plans that reflect the district’s identity to improve urban aesthetics.”

Furthermore, she said, “This year, we will hold festivals for children and youth, expand the 4.19 Revolution National Cultural Festival and autumn night concerts so that various generations and more visitors can enjoy them, and also expand cultural and sports facilities.”

A city with smooth transportation and communication

In addition, she expressed her intention to improve transportation infrastructure by saying, “We will do our best to have the urban railway New Gangbuk Line reflected in the ‘2nd Seoul Metropolitan Urban Railway Network Construction Modification Plan,’ and strive to ensure smooth construction of the public parking lot in the Uidong Traffic Plaza.”

She also said, “Through the Gangbuk-gu new government office building project, we will improve administrative infrastructure, and the new government office to be opened will be a resident-centered open space and a hub for regional revitalization.”

Finally, Mayor Lee Soon-hee said, “In the 8th term of the elected government, Gangbuk-gu will not hesitate to take on challenges and attempts to realize the wishes of the residents. We will always listen to the voices of the residents and do our best until the end without losing our original intention to carry out trustworthy district administration.”