Mayor Lee Hyun-jae: "I Will Make It a Business-Friendly City and an Economic Hub"

[2025 Local Government Head New Year's Address] Lee Hyun-jae, Mayor of Hanam, Gyeonggi
Next Year, Establishing Semi-Public Village Bus System and Public Management of City Buses
Building a Strong Economic Growth Foundation through Successful Corporate Attraction
Plan to Continuously Provide the Optimal Environment for Nurturing Future Talent
Committed to Balanced Expansion of Living Infrastructure by Region

"Based on the solid foundation built through administrative innovation, Hanam City will focus its administrative capabilities to leap forward as a city favorable for businesses and an economic city."

Lee Hyun-jae, Mayor of Hanam City, delivered a New Year's message on the 28th ahead of the new year, stating, "We will focus the city's administrative capabilities to make Hanam City a business-friendly city and an economic city." Photo by Hanam City

On the 28th, ahead of the New Year, Hanam Mayor Lee Hyun-jae said in his New Year's address, "Last year was a meaningful year in which Hanam City widely promoted its reputation as a livable city and further elevated the city's status. We received top national rankings such as 1st place in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's 'Comprehensive Civil Service Evaluation,' 1st place in the Korea Road Traffic Authority's 'Traffic Safety Index,' 4th place in the metropolitan area in the Urban Research Institute's 'Social Safety Index,' and 4th place nationwide in the Dong-A Ilbo Future Strategy Institute's 'Regional Development Index Evaluation,' demonstrating that our excellent policies and administrative services have been highly recognized externally."

Mayor Lee Hyun-jae stated, "According to 2021 statistics, Hanam City's per capita GRDP is about 27 million KRW, ranking 17th in Gyeonggi Province, which is about one-fifth of Gangnam's. Overcoming this is essential for Hanam to leap forward as the most livable city in the metropolitan area," expressing his aspirations for the year 2025, the Year of the Wood Snake.

Mayor Lee emphasized, "First, we will strive to establish a more convenient transportation system."

He announced plans to stabilize public transportation services by implementing a quasi-public operation system for village buses and a public management system for city buses by 2025, and to enhance transportation convenience for residents of Wirye and Gam-il through the construction of the new Hakam 1 Bridge and a feasibility study for a public bus garage in the western area.

He also promised, "We will create a pedestrian passage connecting Misa Hangang Park and the Hangang walking trail, open communication channels related to the construction of the new Suseok Bridge, hold resident briefings to minimize any inconvenience to residents, open the Gam-il Bangadari-gil connecting road, expedite the extension of subway lines 9 and 3 to Hanam, and actively consult with relevant agencies on extending the Wirye Sinsa Line to Hanam."

Following this, Mayor Lee said, "We will lay a solid foundation for economic growth through active support for corporate activities and successful business attraction."

Hanam City is actively supporting corporate activities through various means such as the Corporate Support Center. The Camp Colbern project, which has been stalled for 18 years, proceeded with a private business operator recruitment in December last year, and plans to select a preferred private business operator in the first half of this year, aiming to establish a Special Purpose Company (SPC) in the second half.

Mayor Lee stated, "The K-Star World project, which will serve as a stepping stone for Hanam to become a K-culture hub city, will be accelerated based on the revision of the GB release guidelines (July 2023 by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport) and the shortening of administrative procedures for foreign investment (November 2023 Emergency Economic Ministerial Meeting). We plan to start the basic concept study (August 2024), hold a pre-briefing for private business operator recruitment (November 2024), prepare the private business operator recruitment guidelines draft in the first half of this year, and officially launch the project through recruitment in the second half."

Additionally, he expressed that a strategy for attracting excellent companies will be established through a feasibility study related to the supply of self-sufficient facility sites in the Gyosan New Town, ensuring thorough preparation.

Mayor Lee emphasized, "Just as the subway line 5, which most people thought impossible, now serves as the artery of Hanam's transportation, the three major development projects will play a central role in Hanam's economy in the future. For Hanam to develop into a self-sufficient city where 500,000 people work, live, and enjoy leisure, the success of urban development projects is essential."

He said, "We will enrich citizens' lives with abundant culture and arts."

Mayor Lee explained, "Last year, busking performances and cultural festivals attracted 80,000 citizens and received great responses. The Misa Hangang Sand Road has become a representative national walking destination, hosting nationwide walking competitions. In 2025, we will expand special busking performances in the Wirye and Gam-il areas and add barefoot paths by region to naturally integrate culture into citizens' daily lives."

He added, "We will continue to provide the optimal environment for nurturing future talents."

Hanam City is providing comprehensive support from pregnancy to childcare by expanding childbirth incentives and postpartum care expenses, encouraging paternity leave with incentives, and supporting family care allowances. In 2025, the city plans to expand the Together Care Centers, build a Children's Hall and an English-specialized children's library by the first half of 2026, continue to promote the separation and establishment of the Hanam Education Support Office, and alleviate overcrowded classes by timely opening Misa Middle School 5 and Misa High School 4.

Mayor Lee said, "We will evenly expand living infrastructure by region."

Following the opening of the Deokpung Sports and Culture Center in the old town in January 2025, the Gam-il Complex Community Center is targeted for the first half of the year, and the Misa 3-dong Public Complex Office and Wirye Complex Sports Facilities are targeted for the second half, ensuring that residents of the old town, Gam-il, Wirye, and Misa can conveniently use living infrastructure.

Finally, Mayor Lee stated, "2025 will be a challenging year amid rapidly changing external environments. This year, I choose 'Mabuwichim (磨斧爲針)' as the four-character idiom guiding city administration in 2025. It means 'grinding an axe to make a needle,' signifying that no matter how difficult a task is, continuous effort will surely achieve it. Although there are many difficult challenges, building on the competitiveness Hanam City has demonstrated over the past two years, I will make this year a year of fruition for a 'leaping Hanam.'"