[New Year's Address] Jung Won-oh, Seongdong-gu Mayor: "Creating a Sustainable Ecological City, Building a Harmonious Environment and Life in Seongdong"

Dear residents of Seongdong-gu,

The new year of 2025, the Year of the Snake (Eulsa Year, 乙巳年), has dawned.

Happy New Year.

As we welcome the Year of the Snake, a symbol of wisdom and renewal, I wish hope and happiness fill every household of our residents.

Just as the snake sheds its old skin and transforms anew, Seongdong-gu will continue to grow and leap forward toward a better tomorrow this year.

Last year, Seongdong-gu created significant changes together with its residents. Prioritizing the safety and happiness of all residents, we combined advanced technology with the value of inclusion to build a city for everyone ? a smart inclusive city, Seongdong.

A home is not just a space but the foundation of life. Seongdong-gu has worked to improve housing rights to preserve the meaning that a home holds.

The Seongdong-type public shuttle bus, introduced for the first time nationwide, expanded residents’ daily living areas by connecting places without public transportation.

Through the Comprehensive Welfare Counseling Center and the Everyone’s First Floor Project, we enhanced inclusive accessibility, and by creating garden cities, we expanded spaces where nature is part of everyday life.

The integrated senior care system, built with a 10-year outlook, has become a foundation enabling seniors to spend their dignified and vibrant later years without leaving their familiar communities.

Smart rest areas and crosswalks gained global recognition as OECD innovation cases and were selected for the UK Green Apple Awards.

Seongsu-dong, reborn through urban regeneration, has established itself as an attractive area leading global trends.

This change did not stop at Seongsu-dong.

Last year, many cities at home and abroad visited us to learn from Seongdong’s changes and innovations.

The happy changes created by Seongdong are leading transformations beyond Seoul, across South Korea, and further to the world.

All these achievements are thanks to the trust and cooperation of our residents.

As 90.5% of residents responded in last year’s survey that they trust Seongdong-gu’s administration, these precious results were made possible by your continuous interest and participation. Thank you sincerely.

Dear residents of Seongdong-gu,

Last year, our society faced a serious crisis of democracy. The question, “Are we truly living in an era of democracy?” weighed heavily on our hearts.

However, our citizens wisely overcame this crisis with mature civic consciousness and the power of solidarity. Moments of confusion and doubt were transformed into opportunities of trust and hope.

That hope is not a mere wish but a desperate determination shared by all of us to move toward a better society and a pledge for the future of the Republic of Korea that we build together.

Seongdong-gu will always stand close to its residents and fulfill its role unwaveringly amid winds of change.

We will care for people’s livelihoods, communicate with residents, and work together to create a happier future.

Ten years ago, residents hesitated when asked, “Do you consider yourself happy?” Now, they confidently answer, “Yes.”

This change is a proud achievement that Seongdong-gu has built together. Yet behind this change, there are still neighbors waiting for our warm and caring hands.

True happiness is only complete when everyone shares it together.

Just as a tree grows taller the deeper its roots, when we firmly support the lowest parts of society, our entire community can grow higher.

Inclusion that reaches out to those in greatest need will be true inclusion that benefits us all.

The Year of the Snake 2025!

Seongdong-gu will create a future where everyone is happy by achieving balanced development in transportation, housing, and the city overall through “Greater Inclusion Embracing Innovation,” centered on residents’ communication and participation.

True innovation goes beyond slightly improving existing shortcomings; it boldly breaks old frameworks and sets new standards.

Through innovation, Seongdong will create an environment where no one is left out and become a city where all neighbors live together and share happiness.

First, we will complete a smart city leading the future beyond existing limits.

We will enhance residents’ access to the city center and provide a more convenient daily life through the Seongdong-type public facility shuttle bus available to everyone.

Using AI-based smart chatbots and robots for civil service responses, we will provide faster and more accurate public services.

We will respond to daily crises through crowd management systems and life safety insurance, and proactively address emergencies by establishing fire prevention systems for electric vehicle charging facilities in public parking lots.

The Seongsu IT Promotion District will expand to the semi-industrial area of Seongsu-dong, adding design and media industries to the existing strengths of IT and R&D industries, creating a converged future-oriented industrial ecosystem.

Second, we will firmly build a happy city where everyone shares warmth by extending caring hands to the most vulnerable in society.

Through customized housing environment improvement projects, we will raise residents’ minimum housing standards, and by linking Seongdong-type integrated senior care with home medical care through the Hyo Sarang program, we will support seniors’ comfortable later years.

We will help stabilize the lives of those in difficulty and provide opportunities for asset formation to build a foundation for dreaming of a better future.

By increasing job support for seniors and people with disabilities, we will encourage social activities, and through issuing Seongdong Love gift certificates and fostering specialized markets, we will contribute to the recovery and stability of the local economy.

Third, we will create a sustainable ecological city where environment and life harmonize.

We will implement a daily garden city accessible to all by creating gardens throughout living areas and provide spaces for rest and communication.

We will continuously maintain aging sewer pipes to prevent flooding and sinkhole damage, ensuring a pleasant and safe urban environment.

Based on lessons and achievements from ongoing urban regeneration and gentrification prevention policies,

we will uphold principles of sustainable growth and carry them into the future.

Fourth, we will take one step closer to residents and add small happiness to daily life.

We will enrich residents’ lives by adding culture through diverse year-round festivals and operating life sports classes and the Reading Hall Humanities Academy.

Through resident-participatory smart living labs, we will solve daily inconveniences and further enhance convenience by expanding smart smoking booths and temperature-controlled chairs.

We will continue to make Seongdong a city great for raising children by expanding public and national daycare centers and improving the child-to-teacher ratio in daycare centers.

By broadening resident participation and communication, we will incorporate residents’ voices into policies and build trust with residents through transparent and proactive administration.

Dear residents,

China’s great writer Lu Xun (魯迅) said, “Hope is like a path on the earth. When one person walks on it first and many follow, it becomes a road.”

This means hope is not simply waiting but something we create together by walking forward.

Over the past 10 years, by moving forward tirelessly with you and paving the path of hope, we have borne the fruit called today’s Seongdong.

Now, Seongdong aims to complete its achievements with greater inclusion and innovation and create a better tomorrow together.

This year will be a year when the changes we make together feel even closer to the daily lives of all residents.

We will always be by your side to support you this year as well.

Wishing your homes a year filled with peace and joy,

Happy New Year. Thank you.

January 1, 2025

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu