Yeoju City Holds Public Briefing to Present and Plan Development Directions

Residents' Participation and Cooperation Are Major Driving Forces for the Vitality of the Original Downtown

Yeoju City is holding a citizen briefing session on the establishment of a master plan for revitalizing the old downtown area and the concept of large-scale SOC development in eastern Gyeonggi.

Yeoju City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Chung-woo) announced on the 30th that it held a citizen briefing session on the establishment of a master plan for revitalizing Yeoju's old downtown area and the concept of large-scale SOC development in eastern Gyeonggi on the 28th.

Mayor Lee Chung-woo stated, "It is necessary for the administration and residents to cooperate in analyzing the problems of Yeoju's old downtown and solving them," adding, "The administration will proactively establish and implement various project plans for physical improvements through the expansion of social infrastructure, and residents should discuss improvement measures for revitalizing the old downtown together with the administration and become the main agents of revitalization."

The survey results for revitalizing the old downtown showed a significant difference in opinions between local residents and outsiders regarding the recovery of vitality in the area. Merchants emphasized the urgent need to expand convenience facilities such as parking lots to revitalize commercial districts, while visitors highlighted the importance of expanding distinctive food options for commercial district activation.

The city has been promoting urban regeneration projects to revitalize the old downtown since 2021. In the case of Central-dong Area 1, the overall project manager was changed from LH to Yeoju Urban Corporation to accelerate the urban regeneration project.

Citizens requested support for youth activities, support for young entrepreneurs, construction of Yeoju Bridge, maintenance of riverside roads, relocation of Yeheung-dong Administrative Welfare Center, support for revitalizing the Ohhak-dong commercial district, establishment of local food stores, and monitoring of the Ddokbus operation.

Regarding the ‘Large-scale SOC Development Plan for Eastern Gyeonggi,’ explanations were given about the three project areas requested to Gyeonggi Province.

The three areas are road sector (road expansion of 16.76 km), development projects sector (urban development, industrial complexes, logistics complexes, tourism complexes totaling 4.72 km²), and regulatory improvement sector (revision of guidelines for adjacent development application in natural conservation zones and adjustment of the scope of natural conservation zones).

A city official stated, "We have requested the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to relax the adjacent development application standards under the Capital Region Readjustment Planning Act and to separate areas excluding special measures zones in natural conservation zones as growth management zones," adding, "We will strive to reflect this in the Eastern Gyeonggi SOC large-scale development plan and ensure that related guidelines are revised."

He continued, "We are accepting various opinions from citizens for the establishment of the master plan for revitalizing the old downtown at the Yeoju City Urban Planning Division by visit or email until the 11th of next month," and added, "We hope many citizens will participate."