Mayor Baek Young-hyun: "I Have Run Tirelessly for Greater Happiness of Pocheon Citizens"

Achievements of Pocheon City in the 8th Elected Term of 2024... First Local Government to Establish Population Growth Bureau
Selected as Pilot Area for Education Development Special Zone... Establishment of Pocheon EduCare Platform
Efforts to Foster Advanced Drone/UAM Industry... Plan to Create Opportunity Development Special Zone
Longest Y-Shaped Suspension Bridge in Korea, Winner of IABS Structural Innovation Award for Excellent Structure

In 2024, Pocheon City has relentlessly advanced with a practical and action-oriented attitude to bring about changes that citizens can truly feel. Baek Young-hyun, Mayor of Pocheon, expressed, “It has been a time of relentless effort for the greater happiness of all Pocheon citizens.” As the eventful year of Gapjin in 2024 comes to a close, we look back on the major achievements of Pocheon City over the past year.

Pocheon City Selected as Pilot Area for Education Development Special Zone. Provided by Pocheon City

Through organizational restructuring, Pocheon became the first local government to establish a Population Growth Bureau. This reflects the city’s determination to address the ongoing issue of population decline and to lead sustainable development in Pocheon. In line with this, a Population Policy Task Force was formed to actively discover and implement population policies tailored to Pocheon’s circumstances. Additionally, a new integrated city brand was created and announced. The aim was to share the healing power of the green nature and the unique charm of Pocheon with everyone. The new city character, ‘Pouri,’ combines ‘Pocheon’ and ‘Uri’ (meaning ‘we’), symbolically representing a city where citizens want to stay together.

Pocheon was selected as a pilot area for educational development zones by the Ministry of Education and was designated as a leading area, securing 7 billion KRW in national funding. This recognition of educational innovation is expected to lay the foundation for establishing a virtuous cycle system for educational development in Pocheon. Furthermore, Pocheon was re-designated as a lifelong learning city and established a lifelong learning center in each town and township, building a foundation for a happy educational city where everyone from children to adults wants to settle.

Securing the Local Extinction Response Fund (Perspective View of the Complex Community Center). Provided by Pocheon City

Selected as an excellent area for the Local Extinction Response Fund by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Pocheon secured a total fund of 4 billion KRW, including a basic allocation of 1.8 billion KRW and an additional allocation of 2.2 billion KRW. Using this, the city plans to create the Pocheon EduCare Platform at Taebong Park in Songuri, Soheul-eup, providing a complex cultural space offering education, care, and leisure services. Five key projects, including the Pocheoncheon Blueway, Cheongseongsan comprehensive development, and Taebong Neighborhood Park creation, were selected for Gyeonggi Province’s regional balanced development projects, securing 40 billion KRW in provincial funding.

To secure future growth engines, Pocheon has also focused on fostering the advanced drone/UAM industry. In August, the official confirmation of the project was made through notification of the donation-for-transfer negotiation of the former 6th Corps site, and plans are underway to create an opportunity development zone centered on the advanced defense drone industry. As the only drone special free zone designated in Gyeonggi Province, Pocheon began commercial drone delivery in August as part of the drone demonstration city construction project.

Hantan River Y-shaped Suspension Bridge. Provided by Pocheon City

In tourism, the Hantangang Garden Festa attracted 300,000 visitors, generating approximately 1.2 billion KRW in non-tax revenue and 13 billion KRW in direct economic effects. The country’s longest Y-shaped suspension bridge received the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE) Award for Structural Innovation, enhancing its value as a tourist resource. The Hantangang tourism zone thematic hub facility project was selected as a new border area development project by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, securing 7 billion KRW in national funding, while the 38th Parallel Security Park project was selected as a new special situation area development project, securing 9.3 billion KRW in national funding. Additionally, Pocheon was selected in the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s pet-friendly tourism city contest, receiving a total of 1 billion KRW in national funding over four years.

To support local businesses, the backbone of the regional economy, Pocheon opened the Pocheon Business Center and created a business-friendly city through customized corporate policies. The Pocheon Foreign Resident Support Center was also opened to help foreign residents quickly settle into the local community.

Pocheoncheon Blueway - Culture Terrace. Provided by Pocheon City

Pocheon became the first city in northern Gyeonggi to obtain WHO Age-Friendly City certification, recognizing the ultra-aging population issue and striving to implement senior-tailored projects to address it comprehensively. Meanwhile, to alleviate chronic parking shortages in aging apartment complexes, public parking lots and small parking spaces were created and opened to citizens.

In administration, with the completion of the new Pocheon City Hall building, the citizen plaza was fully opened to the public, providing a resting space in the city center. Efforts were also made to establish reliable and prompt citizen-centered administrative services, including the opening of a civil complaint call center. Pocheon achieved a grade 2 rating in the Comprehensive Integrity Evaluation by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission and was selected as a mentoring institution for integrity consulting, working to foster a culture of integrity and raise awareness among public officials.

Opening of the Pocheon~Hwado~Joan section of the Metropolitan Area 2nd Ring Expressway in Pocheon City. Provided by Pocheon City

Based on sound finances, Pocheon maintained zero debt through strategic and efficient financial management, improving administrative reliability by reorganizing habitual projects and abolishing unnecessary ones.

Mayor Baek Young-hyun stated, “2024 was a year that confirmed new possibilities for Pocheon,” and added, “We will not be complacent with these achievements and will continue to pursue unwavering administration in 2025 so that all Pocheon citizens can enjoy greater happiness.”