[Interview] Park Ilha, Dongjak District Mayor: "This Year Marks the Beginning of Changes in Welfare and Daily Life"

The First Half of Minseon 8th Term
Two Leading Sites for 'Dongjak-gu Style Urban Development' Groundbreaking
'Premium Healthcare Silvertown' to Begin Construction Within Term
Noryangjin Transformed into 'New Industry Education and Employment Hub'

"This year marks the halfway point of the 8th term of the elected government, and we will make it the inaugural year in which all areas of Dongjak-gu's governance change, not only in terms of external transformation but also in practical aspects such as welfare and daily life."

Park Il-ha, Mayor of Dongjak-gu, expressed this ambition in a recent interview. Mayor Park emphasized, "Especially in the field of urban development, where it is difficult to achieve results in a short period, we will definitely produce visible outcomes."

Over the past year and a half, Dongjak-gu has focused all its efforts on "Dongjak-gu-style urban development" with the goal of leading changes in the city's appearance and enhancing its value. First, the Korea Dongjak Corporation, a specialized urban development organization, was established to consistently provide private development consulting, and the district became the first autonomous district to establish "Urban Development and Management Guidelines" to accelerate private development.

As a result, from last year to the present, five station area revitalization sites, four Moa Town sites, and three rapid integrated planning sites have been selected, and the district earned the honor of winning the "Grand Prize" in the Urban Innovation category at the 2023 Korea Local Autonomy Innovation Awards.

This year, building on these achievements, the district plans to enhance effectiveness by fully launching key projects and accelerating the realization of the "highest value city." First, the redevelopment plans for the leading areas of "Dongjak-gu-style redevelopment," including ▲the north side of Shindaebang Samgeori and ▲the Namseong station area, will be finalized within the year and successfully pushed to the groundbreaking stage, spreading waves of change throughout the city.

The district plans to establish the architectural plan for a 20-story "Premium Healthcare Silver Town," which will open a new era for Jangseungbaegi, and aims to begin construction within the current term. Mayor Park stated, "We will create a landmark never seen before and truly become one of the Gangnam 4 districts." He also mentioned that the new Dongjak-gu Office building nearby is being planned as a hot place visited by all citizens, with staff working together around the clock.

The roadmap for Dongjak-gu's transformation does not stop there. The district aims to transform areas such as Noryangjin and the old district office site into centers for new industry education and employment by clustering leading domestic and international private companies and graduate schools of new industries. Mayor Park said, "While concentrating government employee training academies as they are now, we plan to create a Tech Town linked to new future industry education," and intends to fill Noryangjin with new industry as a new source of growth to leap forward as a future hub.

Additionally, the district is actively working to reorganize the "urban planning" and "road network system," which still remain stuck in the 70s and 80s. To match the blueprint brought by large-scale urban development across Dongjak-gu, a new "District Comprehensive Development Master Plan" is being established to restructure the urban spatial structure. Road network improvements within the district are also being explored through public contributions from urban development and the expansion and construction of major arterial roads.

In the welfare sector, the greatest achievement is undoubtedly the establishment of the "Dongjak-gu Senior Happiness Call Center," the first of its kind in an autonomous district, launched in March last year. This one-stop welfare service connects seniors to necessary services with a single phone call, greatly satisfying the elderly. This year, senior call taxis have also been fully introduced.

This year, Dongjak-gu plans to further enhance its unique welfare services. By expanding three Dongjak Kids Cafes and four Kiwoom Centers, public care will be strengthened from infants to children. Projects to improve the teacher-to-child ratio in daycare centers, which satisfy childcare workers, parents, and children alike, as well as specialized programs, will also be expanded.

In particular, this year, the district plans to focus support on the youth, who make up 32% of the local population. Notable initiatives include the nation's first ▲Dongjak-style youth jeonse rental housing, ▲certification acquisition congratulatory payments, and ▲introduction of youth internships.

Furthermore, Dongjak-gu will continue to enhance residents' rich cultural and sports experiences by expanding six Hwangtotgil (red clay paths) and one performance hall per neighborhood in the first half of the year, completing the Park Golf Course in Daebang-dong within the year, establishing an indoor badminton court, and continuously resolving everyday inconveniences for residents.

Mayor Park Il-ha of Dongjak-gu stated, "The mayor's duty is to fulfill a role that ensures the city can continue not only one or five years from now but into the future," and emphasized, "Through tangible changes, we will devote all our efforts during the remaining term to leap forward as Dongjak-gu, the Best Value City, where residents feel satisfaction."