2 Years Since the Launch of the 8th Civilian Administration... Gwanak-gu's Innovation, Communication, and Cooperative Governance Achievements Continue

Visible Achievements in Gwanak S-Valley 2.0, Selection for Sharosugil Local Brand Development Project, and Various Other Successes
Notable Creation of Healing Spaces for Residents Including Barefoot and Loess Trails
1.536 Trillion KRW in External Funding Secured Over 2 Years of the 8th Elected Term, Opening the '1 Trillion KRW Era' Based on the Main Budget

Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) has marked the 2nd anniversary of the launch of the 8th local government administration. Centered on innovation, communication, and cooperation, the administration focused on the 500,000 residents of Gwanak-gu has achieved remarkable results in various fields.

Over the past two years, Gwanak-gu has been actively working to fulfill the “8th Local Government Administration Pledges” promised to residents, including ▲Together Economy ▲Together Welfare ▲Youth Special City ▲Top Education & Culture ▲Clean and Safe Living Environment ▲Innovative Gwanak Office, achieving a pledge fulfillment rate of 58.5% as of April 2024.

The first completed pledge was the establishment of the “Youth Culture Bureau.” As the region with the highest youth population ratio nationwide, Gwanak-gu prioritized youth policies by creating the country’s first “Youth Culture Bureau” through an organizational restructuring in November 2022. Since then, it has implemented various youth-focused policies such as expanding youth housing, supporting youth employment, subsidizing youth language and qualification exam fees, and providing free health checkups for single-person youth households. Notably, in April 2023, the “Gwanak Youth Center” was opened, further expanding spaces for youth activities.

Economic achievements are also prominent. The “Gwanak S Valley 2.0” project, a key initiative carried over from the 7th local government administration, has established 17 startup infrastructure facilities centered around Nakseongdae-dong and Daehak-dong. Currently, 136 startup companies are housed there, with about 1,000 people developing their capabilities across various fields. Annual sales have increased more than 44-fold, and annual investment attraction has grown over 30-fold, showing rapid growth alongside Gwanak S Valley and its resident companies. At CES 2024, three resident companies from Gwanak S Valley won the “CES Innovation Award” in three categories, marking a remarkable achievement.

Additionally, ten major alleyway commercial districts have been designated, with alleyway festivals, merchant academies, and integrated events promoted. In March this year, the “Sarosugil” commercial district was selected for the Seoul Local Brand Development Support Project, enabling up to 3 billion KRW to be invested in commercial district development over three years. Currently, an 8 billion KRW “Starlight Sinsari Commercial District Renaissance” project is underway to revitalize the area around Sillim Station, with this year being the final fifth year focused on producing results and wrapping up the project.

Last year, welfare infrastructure expansion achievements stood out with the opening of the Gwanak-gu Disabled Happiness Center and the Seoul-style Kids Cafe in Nangok-dong. The senior citizens’ center and 50 Plus Center, scheduled for completion in August this year, along with the Gwanak Cultural Welfare Town and Seoul-style Kids Cafes in Euncheon-dong and Haengun-dong in 2025, and the Senior Comprehensive Welfare Town in 2026, are all progressing smoothly.

Healing spaces for residents are also being created throughout Gwanak-gu. The district’s representative healing space, “Starlight Naerimcheon,” saw the creation of the “Starlight Naerimcheon Riverside Terrace” in May this year, providing a resting place for residents and a venue for various events. The ecological stream restoration project from Seoul National University’s main gate to Dongbang 1 Bridge will be completed within the year, along with the completion of specialized spaces around the Sillim Line stations, aiming to establish Starlight Naerimcheon as a representative attraction in the southwestern Seoul area.

To promote healthy and happy leisure activities for residents, efforts are being accelerated to complete the Nakseongdae District soccer stadium and Nangok District park golf course by December this year. In particular, responding to the increasing demands of residents, the construction of 11 loess trails in the Nakseongdae District residents’ sports ground and Janggunbong Neighborhood Park is nearing completion.

Gwanak Youth Center

Efforts have also been made to expand the essential living infrastructure that residents need most: parking lots. Last year, the Nangok Smart Public Parking Lot and Namhyeon Small Park Public Parking Lot were completed, and new parking lots such as Moraenae Park Public Parking Lot and Sangdo Neighborhood Park Public Parking Lot are being constructed. The expansion of parking spaces continues through new construction and the expansion of parking lot opening and sharing projects.

Furthermore, as a result of prioritizing efforts to attract external funding, Gwanak-gu secured 153.6 billion KRW in external resources over two years of the 8th local government administration (as of May 2024), opening the “1 trillion KRW era” in the district’s history based on the main budget for 2024. Gwanak-gu has also received high external recognition in various fields, including selection as an OECD Government Innovation Best Practice for “Online Gwanak Office” in 2022, winning the “2023 National Local Government Job Award” for two consecutive years, and receiving the highest grade in the 2023 Government Joint Evaluation.

Mayor Park Jun-hee of Gwanak-gu said, “The achievements of the past two years would have been difficult without the efforts of our staff and the residents’ interest in local government affairs. Moving forward, we will continue to unite with our staff and vigorously strive to make Gwanak-gu a place where everyone is happy.”