Changwon Special City, "This Year Marks the Start of Innovation Growth Driving the 4th Industrial Revolution Era"

Changwon Mayor Hong Nam-pyo Holds New Year Press Conference
Full Speed Ahead on the Path of Innovative Growth for the Next 50 Years

"Changwon, which has led numerous changes from the first planned city to the current special city, is now ready to advance as a future high-tech city. Based on the newly established administrative foundation, we will pour all our administrative capabilities into leading innovation and creating tangible changes that citizens can feel."

Hong Nam-pyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, Gyeongnam, made this pledge on the morning of the 18th at a New Year's press conference held in the City Hall Citizen Hall, announcing the 2024 administrative operation direction centered on the core keyword for Changwon City in 2024, "Accelerating the Transition to Innovative Growth."

Photo of Hong Nampyo, Changwon Special City Mayor, at a press conference.

Mayor Hong emphasized, "Last year was a year to lay the groundwork for innovative growth through a major innovation in Changwon's strongest manufacturing industry and the restructuring of urban spaces, and this year marks the starting point where that potential will explode," expressing his bold ambition to sprint full speed toward the path of innovative growth opening the next 50 years based on the newly established administrative foundation.

Before explaining the main directions of administrative operations in detail, Mayor Hong shared last year's achievements with citizens, including attracting Changwon National Industrial Complex 2.0, a complete overhaul of city bus routes, the commencement of SRT Gyeongjeon Line service to Suseo, and the conditional approval of the public project for the Gusan Marine Tourism Complex development.

He then introduced the major administrative visions and core strategic projects for this year in the fields of ▲industry and economy ▲welfare and safety ▲culture, marine, and environment ▲urban and transportation ▲youth and population.

◆ Full-scale Operation of the ‘Innovation Engine’ Leading Changwon’s Next 50 Years

The ‘Changwon National Industrial Complex 2.0,’ which will serve as the forward base for growth engines, aims to pass the preliminary feasibility study within the year. To this end, key contents such as the next-generation advanced complex beam irradiation facility?the largest single R&D project in Gyeongnam with a total project cost of 500 billion KRW?and the hydrogen powertrain research and demonstration complex will be concretized, and efforts will be made to attract anchor companies to accelerate the development timeline as much as possible.

The Masan area will strive to regain lost vitality by creating new growth engines. It will establish the nation’s first ‘Digital Free Trade Zone’ and develop an urban high-tech industrial complex where knowledge-based ICT industries and advanced manufacturing are concentrated. The Masan Free Trade Zone will build a new ecosystem through diversification of uses following its designation as a national industrial complex. At the same time, efforts will be intensified to upgrade the manufacturing-centered Jungni and Bongam industrial complexes.

The Jinhae area will lay the foundation to leap forward as a ‘port and logistics hub.’ In line with the construction of Jinhae New Port, Gadukdo New Airport, and the national smart logistics platform plan, a feasibility study will be conducted to establish the ‘Changwon-centered Triport-based International Logistics Special Zone,’ and the expansion designation of the Jinhae New Port hinterland complex will be actively reflected in national plans.

Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, is explaining the vision for city administration and key strategic projects.

▲ A Reliable Administration Responsible for Citizens’ Welfare and Safety

The highest priority of administration, citizens’ happiness and safety, will be carefully examined to build a solid and reliable shield.

To support work-family balance for working moms and dads, the ‘Changwon Mom Community Center’ and the ‘Changwon Comprehensive Childcare Support Center,’ which provides one-stop complex childcare services, will be operated to respond to childcare demands from dual-income and single-parent families and to prevent childcare gaps.

Efforts will also be made to build infrastructure for ‘barefoot walking trails’ by region, aiming to support citizens’ vibrant and healthy daily lives.

Full measures will be taken to promote the ‘Disaster Response Innovation Strategy’ to prepare for natural disasters frequently caused by extreme abnormal climate phenomena.

◆ Urban Elegance Adding Richness to Daily Life

Utilizing the infinite possibilities of the sea, plans include establishing a basic marine policy plan linked to the coastline, developing the Gusan Marine Tourism Complex, developing Myeongdong Marina Port, and creating and developing Masan Marine New City, aiming to become a central city for marine leisure tourism in the South Coast region.

The southern region (Southeast region - Changwon) will accelerate the wide-area tourism development project, which includes five projects such as the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Road and the Hallyu-themed artificial garden. The operational direction of the long-stalled Changwon Cultural Complex Town will be finalized within the first half of this year to provide citizens with diverse cultural enjoyment opportunities.

◆ Organic Urban Design Meeting Future Space Demands

Five new railway lines, including the ‘Dongdaegu?Changwon High-Speed Railway’ and the ‘Industrial Line connecting Changwon National Industrial Complex 2.0, Jinhae New Port, and Gadukdo New Airport,’ will be included in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s 5th National Railway Network Plan to realize a two-hour living zone to the metropolitan area and establish a foothold as a national logistics hub.

Procedures for introducing urban rail (tram) will also be actively pursued, and an integrated public transportation network organically linking the S-BRT, scheduled to open in March, and existing buses is expected to be established.

◆ A Dynamic City Guaranteeing Youth Dreams and Opportunities

All efforts will be made to attract a medical school to protect citizens’ health rights and nurture excellent local talent. While gathering citizens’ aspirations for the establishment of Changwon Medical School, the necessity and justification will be continuously proposed to the government and the National Assembly, with the plan to resolve Changwon’s 30-year-old wish this year.

Additionally, a ‘systematic talent cultivation system linked to university innovation’ will be established. In the short term, support will focus on selecting glocal universities and linking preferred company jobs, while in the long term, a virtuous cycle system of talent cultivation, employment/entrepreneurship, and settlement will be established to nurture core talents leading Changwon’s next 50 years.

Furthermore, the youth age range will be raised from the existing 19?34 years to 39 years to expand beneficiaries, and a new ‘Changwon Freshman Support Fund’ will be introduced to provide up to 1 million KRW to first-year university freshmen in the city, alleviating youth living expenses.