[Interview] Park Junhee, Gwanak-gu Mayor, "Achieving Leap as Southwest Seoul Economic Hub"

2024 Budget Increased by 31.5 Billion Won to 1.003 Trillion Won... 12 Billion Won Allocated for Economy and Jobs Sector Establishing 'Gwanak Job Happiness Corporation' to Provide Quality Jobs... New Adventure Water Playground, Soccer Stadium, and Hwangtotgil Path Created to Improve Residents' Quality of Life

"In 2024! We will definitely achieve tangible results that residents can feel, and we will run even harder without losing our original intention for a happier Gwanak and a better place to live."

Park Jun-hee, Mayor of Gwanak-gu, expressed this determination while explaining the direction of the district administration for this year in an interview held on the 19th, marking the Year of Gapjin (甲辰年).

This year, Gwanak-gu's budget totals 1.003 trillion won, opening the era of a 1 trillion won budget for the first time in the history of Gwanak-gu.

Mayor Park, starting from the 7th term of the local government, established an external policy team and focused administrative efforts on attracting external resources to overcome the difficulties of poor local finances. As a result, 894.2 billion won in external resources were secured during the 7th term, and 114.7 billion won during the 8th term. Through these continuous efforts, Gwanak-gu has opened the era of a 1 trillion won budget for the first time.

This year's Gwanak-gu budget is 3.2% larger than last year’s and focuses on three major investment areas: recovery of the livelihood economy, implementation of welfare for the vulnerable without blind spots, and making Gwanak safe 365 days a year. Among these, 12 billion won has been allocated to the economy and jobs sector to build a "bigger and stronger economy," including overcoming employment crises and revitalizing the local economy.

Mayor Park emphasized, "Jobs are the best welfare. This year, we will strive to create the most jobs among Seoul’s autonomous districts," highlighting that jobs are the core of local economic revitalization. His strong commitment to job creation was also reflected in last year's achievements: "Five consecutive years of creating the most public jobs among Seoul’s autonomous districts" and "Two consecutive years receiving the Minister of Employment and Labor Award for local government job performance nationwide."

This year, Gwanak-gu aims to create 11,750 jobs and will establish the "Gwanak Job Happiness Corporation" to provide quality jobs. It plans to employ vulnerable groups such as seniors and middle-aged workers and provide many jobs through responsible management and profit-making projects.

The successful promotion of Gwanak S Valley 2.0 is also contributing to creating quality jobs. Currently, over 3,000 entrepreneurs are active in about 500 companies, including private startups, and the goal is to attract more than 1,000 venture companies during the term, creating 6,400 jobs.

Additionally, the "Gwanak-style Artterior Project," which has received great responses every year, is also helping create jobs for local cultural artists. The Artterior project, which helps improve the environment of small business stores, has transformed a total of 1,663 stores with about 460 artists since 2019. This year, 200 locations will be supported.

Furthermore, collaboration with local companies and small business owners continues to support youth employment. Projects such as the "Gwanak Stepping Stone Youth Job Project," which connects local companies, and the "Lunchbox Support Project," which supports vulnerable groups together with young small business owners, will proceed without delay.

Moreover, customized festivals for alley markets and traditional markets will be held to strengthen market competitiveness. Following the issuance of the "Sillim Station Market Recovery Gift Certificate" on January 5, 350 billion won worth of "Gwanak Love Gift Certificates" will be issued to promote local consumption and increase sales for small business owners. This is because the local economy circulates through jobs.

The district is focusing not only on the economy but also on improving residents' quality of life, having opened the "1 trillion won budget era." Plans include creating an adventure water playground for children in the Sillim Valley area of Gwanaksan Park, customized sports facilities such as a soccer-only stadium and park golf course, a new yellow soil road, and completing the Starlight Naerincheon landmark project.

Mayor Park Jun-hee said, "Our goal is to make Gwanak-gu a place where all 500,000 residents live happily. We will do our best to improve residents' happiness and quality of life, and with a grateful heart under the administration principles of innovation, inclusion, and cooperation, we will continue to make Gwanak’s history together with our great residents."