[GB Release 50,000 Households] Mayors of Goyang, Uiwang, and Uijeongbu: "From Bed Towns to Self-Sufficient Cities"

Goyang Mayor "Requests Extension of Line 9 South of Han River"
Uiwang Mayor "Calls for Industrial Sites and Metropolitan Transportation System"
Uijeongbu Mayor "Demands Strengthening of Balanced Development in Capital Region"

Mayors of Goyang, Uiwang, and Uijeongbu in Gyeonggi Province expressed their hopes on the 5th that their respective areas will be reborn as self-sufficient cities through the designation of new housing sites, urging the government to support infrastructure development.

Lee Dong-hwan, Mayor of Goyang City, is speaking at the joint briefing on the announcement of 50,000 new housing units in the metropolitan area held at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 5th. From left to right: Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul; Park Sang-woo, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport; Mayor Lee Dong-hwan; Kim Sung-je, Mayor of Uiwang; Kim Dong-geun, Mayor of Uijeongbu. / Photo by Yonhap News

Lee Dong-hwan, mayor of Goyang, attended the joint briefing on the 'Announcement of 50,000 New Housing Units in the Metropolitan Area' held at the Government Seoul Office on the 5th, stating, "Goyang has long suffered from overlapping regulations such as the Green Belt (GB), Overcrowding Control Zone, and Military Facility Protection Zone, resulting in a severe lack of quality job self-sufficiency functions despite its status as a special city."

He added, "We plan to secure a self-sufficient base by developing the Daegok Station area knowledge convergence complex," and requested the government to extend Line 9 and electrify the suburban railway line to enhance connectivity with northern Gyeonggi Province by expanding railway lines south of the Han River."

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced plans to supply 9,000 housing units in the Daegok Station area. Mayor Lee emphasized, "We will proactively establish a wide-area, three-dimensional complex transfer system centered on Daegok Station," and "In cooperation with the government, we will create a standard model for a self-sufficient specialized complex that integrates advanced industry, commercial, office facilities, and transfer systems."

Kim Seong-je, mayor of Uiwang, welcomed the inclusion of the Ojeonwanggok district in the new housing sites. Mayor Kim said, "83% of Uiwang is designated as Green Belt, which has long stalled development and infringed on residents' property rights," and expressed hope that "the development of the Ojeonwanggok district will dramatically improve the poor residential environment and transportation system."

He then made two requests to the government. Mayor Kim asked, "Please secure as much industrial land or urban support facility land as possible so that the Ojeonwanggok district can expand its foundation as a genuine self-sufficient city rather than a bedroom community," and "Create a medical and bio high-tech industrial complex alongside the residential area to form a metropolitan high-tech industrial belt connected to the nearby Pangyo Techno Valley and Gwacheon Knowledge Information Town."

He also expressed hopes for the establishment of a metropolitan transportation system. Mayor Kim said, "It will enhance connectivity among the existing large-scale urban development sites in Uiwang and improve transportation convenience for metropolitan citizens," and "Since the recently commenced double-track railway line from Dongtan to Indeokwon passes through the Ojeonwanggok district, please actively consider adding an additional station in the middle."

Kim Dong-geun, mayor of Uijeongbu, stated, "The development of the Yonghyeon district should act as a growth engine that breathes new life into the underdeveloped Uijeongbu, which has suffered from overlapping regulations," emphasizing, "To this end, sufficient self-sufficient facility land must be secured when establishing development plans to expand self-sufficiency functions in advanced business sectors." He also noted the need to build specialized industrial infrastructure within public housing districts, similar to Pangyo Techno Valley.

Furthermore, he added, "Although Uijeongbu serves as the administrative center of northern Gyeonggi Province, it suffers from a severe lack of economic and industrial infrastructure compared to southern areas due to the Capital Region Readjustment Act," and stressed, "Balanced development policies within the metropolitan area must be strengthened."