Pocheon-si Holds 2025 Major Work Plan Reporting Meeting
2024 Achievements and 2025 Key Project Plans Announced... Discussion on Promotion Strategies
The 8th term of the Pocheon City government has embarked on a new journey toward 2025.
Pocheon City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Baek Young-hyun) held the ‘2025 Major Work Report Meeting’ on the 27th at the Pocheon City Hall main conference room, continuing in-depth discussions on the achievements of 2024 and the direction for key projects in 2025.
This report meeting was organized to actively reflect the results of the citizen opinion survey on major policies conducted last month into city administration, aiming to achieve tangible changes and outcomes.
□ Top Priorities Chosen by Citizens ? Urban Infrastructure Development and Expansion of Metropolitan Transportation Network
In the recent opinion survey, Pocheon citizens identified ‘urban infrastructure development’ (33.1%) and ‘expansion of the metropolitan transportation network’ (23.1%) as the most urgent tasks.
Reflecting these citizen opinions, Pocheon City has further specified the direction for 2025 and announced various plans at this report meeting to meet citizens’ expectations.
The city plans to promote urban infrastructure expansion projects that will make citizens’ lives more convenient, including securing parking lots, improving public facilities, and urban development projects.
Mayor Baek Yeon-hyun and staff are taking a commemorative photo after concluding the major business plan briefing held on the 27th at the Pocheon City Hall main conference room. The parking lot securing project was positively evaluated by 90.3% of Pocheon citizens in the recent survey, and the city has designated it as a major task to continue the project next year.
By 2025, a total of 826 public parking spaces will be additionally created near Taebong Neighborhood Park and the Pocheon Intercity Bus Terminal area to resolve chronic parking shortages in aging apartment complexes and provide citizens with a safe and pleasant residential environment.
The city is also accelerating efforts to expand sports infrastructure to promote citizens’ health. While swiftly improving aging existing sports facilities, it plans to actively reflect citizens’ demands for new sports facilities to foster a healthy local community.
In particular, due to the recent increase in interest in park golf, a 36-hole park golf course will open in the Hantan River area in the first half of 2025.
Additionally, the park golf course development plan near Soheul-eup and Seondan-dong, proposed during the ‘Jeongdam Talk’ with citizens, is currently under site review, with construction scheduled to start in 2025 and completion in 2026.
The next most important task citizens identified after urban infrastructure development is the expansion of the metropolitan transportation network.
The Okjeong-Pocheon metropolitan railroad project is expected to complete administrative procedures and begin full-scale construction in 2025, and the GTX-G line connecting Incheon (Sungui) - Gwangmyeong (KTX) - Nonhyeon - Guri - Dong Uijeongbu - Pocheon (Songwoo) is being continuously negotiated with central government agencies and Gyeonggi Province to be included in the 5th National Railroad Network Construction Plan (2026?2035).
The Pocheon-Cheorwon expressway construction project, which the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is reviewing for preliminary feasibility study application, is also being continuously advocated to relevant ministries to ensure timely progress.
Furthermore, the city plans to alleviate congestion during commuting hours by establishing new metropolitan bus routes and expanding existing routes, enabling more citizens to benefit from public transportation.
□ Pocheon City’s Response Strategy for Population Growth
In the recent opinion survey, 57.4% of respondents expressed their intention to continue residing in Pocheon, but 39.4% indicated they were considering moving.
Especially among the 20s to 30s age group, the intention to move was relatively high, indicating an urgent need for response.
Accordingly, the city is actively promoting various policies and projects to prevent population outflow and improve living conditions.
One of the core projects Pocheon City is pursuing is attracting the government’s three special zones (Education Development Zone, Opportunity Development Zone, Peace Economy Zone).
In July, Pocheon was selected as a leading area for the Education Development Zone, receiving up to 10 billion KRW in national funding and various special privileges over the next three years.
Building on this, the city plans to implement comprehensive and innovative education policies for future generations, establishing a virtuous cycle structure that integrates improvements in educational environment, employment, and living conditions.
In particular, a hub-type care center will be established using newly constructed public buildings to create a gap care system, and smart safety shuttles and limited-license school buses will operate to enhance student mobility convenience.
To strengthen public education competitiveness, a ‘customized two-track support plan’ specialized in college admission and employment will be prepared, and a ‘College Admission Coaching Center’ linked with professional institutions will operate to provide systematic career and admission services to local students.
Furthermore, the city plans to provide a uniquely specialized quality educational environment through the establishment of the Pocheon Education Research Institute for developing region-tailored education policies and the first Pocheon-type public international school (public multicultural alternative school) in northern Gyeonggi.
The Opportunity Development Zone is being promoted centered on advanced defense drone defense industry through cooperation among the public, private, and military sectors.
The city is reviewing plans to develop the former 6th Army Corps site, confirmed for return last year, into an advanced industrial complex closely linked with jobs and housing, connected to the Opportunity Development Zone.
The plan to utilize the former 6th Army Corps site has received positive support from many citizens in the recent opinion survey, raising expectations for regional economic revitalization and job creation.
The city plans to develop the former 6th Army Corps site through a donation-for-transfer method and systematically expand into nearby agricultural and forestry areas, establishing a new development model that simultaneously promotes regional economic revitalization and balanced development.
The Ministry of National Defense officially confirmed the project promotion through notification of donation-for-transfer prior consultation in August.
Currently, practical consultations for drafting a memorandum of understanding are underway, and the city plans to apply for designation of the Opportunity Development Zone centered on the advanced defense drone industry within this year.
Additionally, through close consultations with related ministries, the city will relax regulations, expedite administrative procedures necessary for infrastructure construction, and actively attract investments from promising domestic and international companies related to defense and defense industries.
Finally, the city plans to promote designation of the Peace Economy Zone centered on the Hantan River area, a UNESCO Global Geopark.
Currently, multifaceted discussions are underway to establish detailed plans for the Peace Economy Zone, and various projects are being promoted to protect the natural environment and cultural values of the Hantan River area while revitalizing tourism for the successful designation of the zone.
Projects to activate nighttime scenery in the Hantan River area include the creation of a media art park, a camping site on floodplain land, and a large-scale outdoor event venue as part of the Hantan River performance and camping cultural leisure complex, which will be actively promoted.
Especially, the Hantan River Ecological Landscape Complex, opened in September this year, and the Y-shaped suspension bridge, boasting the longest length in Korea, are representative attractions where visitors can experience the nature and scenery of the Hantan River.
Pocheon City plans to maximize regional development through organic linkage among the Education Development Zone, Opportunity Development Zone, and Peace Economy Zone.
Rather than each zone being promoted independently, various elements of education, economy, and peace will complement each other to create strong synergy, aiming for balanced growth and sustainable development within the region.
□ ‘Citizens’ Voices Are Policies’
Baek Young-hyun, Mayor of Pocheon City, is explaining about the 'Hantangang Y-shaped Suspension Bridge'. Mayor Baek Young-hyun reiterated the administrative philosophy of ‘Citizens’ voices are policies’ at this report meeting, emphasizing that communication with citizens is the most important factor determining Pocheon City’s future.
Referring to the opinion survey conducted last month, he said, “It is very encouraging that 71.4% of citizens positively evaluated the city administration. We must not be complacent with this result but work harder to meet the high expectations of citizens.”
He also stated, “It is important that all policies and projects promoted by the city are accurately conveyed to citizens,” adding, “We will prepare more effective communication and publicity strategies so that citizens can directly feel the changes in city administration.”
Mayor Baek Young-hyun concluded, “2025 is a crucial time when the projects we have prepared so far must lead to actual results,” and said, “We will promptly implement all policies and projects so that citizens can experience the changes.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
