Corporate Attraction and Urban Corporation Launch... LH Gyeonggi Northern Regional Headquarters Move Drives Economic Growth
Resolving Conflicts Including Logistics Center Cancellation and Reserve Forces Training Ground Relocation
Efforts to Create a Livable City by Improving Transportation, Ecology, Culture, and Living Infrastructure
Mayor Kim Dong-geun: "Progress and Achievements Made by All of Us... Realizing Uijeongbu's Vision"
Uijeongbu City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kim Dong-geun) has selected the ‘Top 10 News’ to review the major achievements made throughout 2024 and to present a vision for the future. These achievements reflect efforts across various fields focused on the city’s sustainable development and improving the quality of life for its citizens.
◇ Continued Corporate Attraction... Successful Acquisition of 3rd to 5th Companies through Persistent Efforts
Immediately after the launch of the 8th elected administration, Uijeongbu City established a ‘Corporate Attraction Team’ and intensified corporate attraction efforts through various sales activities such as visiting corporate briefings, working groups, and strategic meetings. As a result, following last year’s first corporate attraction of the cloud data center and the second of the LH Gyeonggi Northern Regional Headquarters, this year saw tangible results with the third company, BioGansolution Co., Ltd., the fourth Uijeongbu Nonghyup Complex Cultural Facility, and the fifth CJ Bio Co., Ltd.
◇ Catalyst for Becoming a Corporate City... LH Gyeonggi Northern Regional Headquarters Settles in Uijeongbu
The Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) Gyeonggi Northern Regional Headquarters, successfully attracted last year, finally settled in Uijeongbu in June this year. This marks the first tangible outcome of corporate attraction and is seen as accelerating the city’s leap forward as a corporate city. The relocation of LH Gyeonggi Northern Regional Headquarters is expected to boost large-scale development projects in the area, create quality jobs, and revitalize the local commercial district. In particular, it is anticipated to significantly increase tax revenue through corporate local income tax payments.
◇ Starting Point for an Attractive Self-Sufficient City... Launch of Uijeongbu Urban Corporation
This year was especially meaningful for Uijeongbu City, which has been racing to transform into a corporate city. In addition to consecutive corporate attractions, the city launched the Uijeongbu Urban Corporation in March, laying the foundation for future development and enabling the city to actively participate in local development projects. The launch of the Uijeongbu Urban Corporation is significant as it establishes an economic virtuous cycle structure where the profits from various development projects return to the citizens.
◇ Resolution of Uijeongbu’s Biggest Issue... Cancellation of Gosan-dong Logistics Center
Mutual Growth Agreement Ceremony Regarding the Cancellation of the Gosan-dong Logistics Center. Provided by Uijeongbu City
The plan to build a logistics center in Gosan-dong, which had been Uijeongbu’s biggest headache for several years, is now being canceled. This was Mayor Kim Dong-geun’s first campaign pledge and his first directive after taking office. In April, the city signed a win-win agreement with the project implementers to convert the Gosan-dong logistics center into another project, providing residents who had been anxious about the logistics center with a pleasant living environment. Furthermore, the normalization of the complex cultural convergence district urban development project is expected to contribute to revitalizing the local economy.
◇ Uijeongbu Station Area, the Center of Northern Gyeonggi... Selected as a Candidate Site for the Spatial Innovation Zone Pilot Project
The ‘Uijeongbu Station Area,’ a transportation hub and the center of industrial and economic activities in northern Gyeonggi, was selected as a final candidate site in July for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s ‘Spatial Innovation Zone Pilot Project’ competition. The Spatial Innovation Zone is a special urban planning area where regulations on building use, building-to-land ratio, and floor area ratio are relaxed, allowing for the integration of various functions to create a growth hub in the city center. Accordingly, the city plans to develop the Uijeongbu Station Area into a high-density, mixed-use ‘Compact City’ to strengthen urban competitiveness.
◇ A Transportation City Felt by Citizens... Launch of Semi-Public Village Bus and Student Commuter Bus
To improve transportation convenience for citizens commuting to Seoul, Uijeongbu launched its first ‘semi-public system (public management system)’ bus route in February, operating the ‘Uijeongbu 01 Public Bus’ connecting Minrak and Gosan districts with Jangam Station. Additionally, to alleviate the inconvenience faced by students commuting long distances, the city started operating the ‘Uijeongbu Student Commuter Bus’ in August, connecting seven high schools in the Songsan area with the Heungseon area, significantly reducing students’ commuting times and receiving great positive feedback.
◇ Accelerating the Creation of a Walkable Ecological City... Establishment of the Nation’s First Walkable City Bureau
In August, the city established the nation’s first ‘Walkable City Bureau’ to promote integrated urban policies centered on pedestrians. Various projects are underway to allow citizens to enjoy Uijeongbu’s unique natural ecological environment while walking. In October, the city held the first marathon event ‘Dong-o Masil Run (RUN)’ along the downtown Uijeongbu stream, widely promoting the city’s appeal as an ecological city. The city is also expanding green spaces where citizens want to stay, transforming Chudong Park into the best forest garden in northern Gyeonggi.
◇ First Step in Creating a Cultural and Artistic Ecosystem... Opening of Uijeongbu Culture Station Ieum
In August, the city remodeled the 4th floor of Uijeongbu Station to open the cultural platform ‘Uijeongbu Culture Station Ieum.’ This space supports the creative activities of cultural artists and helps citizens easily enjoy various cultural arts in their daily lives, expected to become the center of the city’s cultural and artistic ecosystem. Additionally, the city plans to convert the region’s first private art museum, the Baek Young-soo Art Museum, into a municipal art museum to permanently preserve the works of artist Baek Young-soo and provide citizens with high-quality cultural arts.
◇ Ambitious Dream to Strengthen Urban Vitality... Yonghyeon Public Housing District Selected as a New Housing Site Candidate
Visit to Yonghyeon Public Housing District Site with Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Photo by Uijeongbu City
In November, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced new housing site candidates capable of providing quality housing and jobs, including the Yonghyeon Public Housing District in Uijeongbu (7,000 households). This area includes the former 306 Supplementary Unit, expected to create synergy for urban development. The city plans to secure self-sufficient facilities related to advanced industries for future generations and devote efforts to building specialized industrial infrastructure similar to the Pangyo Techno Valley.
◇ Resolving Conflict Issues through Collective Intelligence of Citizens... Promotion of Hoewon-dong Reserve Forces Training Center Relocation
Second Citizens' Debate on the Selection of Reserve Forces Training Ground Site. Provided by Uijeongbu City
The long-standing civil complaint issue in Uijeongbu, the ‘Hoewon-dong Reserve Forces Training Center relocation problem,’ found a solution through the collective intelligence of citizens. At the second citizen debate on December 21, the citizen forum voted to select the Jailedong area as the relocation site. Citizens invested time and effort to deliberate and reached a rational decision. Following last year’s resolution of the incinerator issue, the citizen forum is gaining attention as a new model of ‘open administration’ that resolves conflict issues through collective intelligence.
Mayor Kim Dong-geun stated, “Despite financial difficulties this year, citizens and public officials worked together to achieve visible progress and meaningful results. I believe that this experience of overcoming crises will become Uijeongbu City’s competitiveness and lead to bold challenges to realize our vision. In the new year, we will devote all efforts to completing ‘Uijeongbu, the city that changes my life.’”
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