From District and City Council Member to Two-Term District Mayor
‘I-Mom Taxi’ Responds to Low Birth Rates
Lifelong Learning Achievements Such as ‘One Neighborhood, One University’
At the New Year's gathering in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, the Arirang of the mini orchestra ensemble Moa (Miracle of Art, M.O.A) resounded. The performers on stage that day were six young adults who had graduated from Seoul Dream Tree Village Chorok Kkumteo in Eunpyeong-gu, including those preparing for independence and those with extended protection.
The person who put them on stage was Kim Mikyung, the mayor of Eunpyeong-gu. In September 2022, Mayor Kim opened the Eunpyeong Independence Preparation Youth Center in Jingwan-dong. This was to help young adults in blind spots prepare a foundation for independence and get ready for the future.
Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong District (photo), said in an interview with Asia Economy, "The goal is to enhance the value of Eunpyeong District through an economic virtuous cycle linking culture and tourism resources." Provided by Eunpyeong District.
When I met Mayor Kim in her office on the 6th, she said, "When I see young adults preparing for independence who say they want to study to find their dreams and find their smiles, or when I see the backs of residents climbing the cypress forest trail, I think I made the right choice to be mayor."
Mayor Kim pointed out Bongsan (烽山) Cypress Forest as a healing space and place of recovery that Eunpyeong can be proud of. The cypress forest on the low mountain with an elevation of 209 meters is a space she has devoted herself to since her time as a Seoul city council member. Over the past 10 years, she has steadily planted cypress trees, and now 13,400 'youth' trees have grown to form a cypress tree cluster.
Cypress trees, which are especially effective for atopic dermatitis, are a species that grows in southern regions, but this is the only place in Seoul where a large cluster has been created. Mayor Kim explained, "So far, we have completed construction of a 5.2 km barrier-free forest trail, and by next year, the entire 9.8 km section will be completed," adding, "It will become a notable attraction not only for local residents but also for all of Seoul."
Mayor Kim has solidly built her legislative experience through two terms as a district council member and two terms as a city council member. She is also one of the rare mayors in Seoul’s 25 autonomous districts to be re-elected. Having lived in Eunpyeong-gu for over 50 years, she has been involved in local politics and administration for more than 20 years. Achievements have appeared in childcare and lifelong education sectors, and long-standing projects have been steadily put on track.
The ‘I-Mom Taxi,’ originally from Eunpyeong-gu and now spread throughout Seoul, is a policy embodying Eunpyeong’s know-how in responding to low birth rates. Mayor Kim said, "The project supporting transportation services via dedicated taxis for pregnant women and families with infants and young children when going to hospitals received particularly positive responses from residents," adding, "We are planning follow-up I-Mom brand projects such as I-Mom counseling centers to respond to low birth rates, which will be launched soon."
The ‘One Neighborhood, One University’ and ‘Our Neighborhood Learning Center’ initiatives, which Mayor Kim has devoted herself to, received the ‘UNESCO Learning City Award’ at the end of last year. She said, "We overcame the limitation of having only one university in the district by having neighborhood resident councils collaborate with various universities in Seoul to operate original and specialized lifelong learning curricula," adding, "The number of universities wanting to work with Eunpyeong-gu is increasing, and this year we are considering expanding the project to two or three universities per neighborhood."
Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, was recognized by UNESCO for its lifelong learning achievements such as 'One Neighborhood, One University' and received the 'UNESCO Learning City Award' last December. On the day of the award ceremony, a state of emergency occurred in Korea, and Kim Mi-kyung, the mayor of Eunpyeong-gu (third from the left in the photo), returned from Saudi Arabia six hours after departure. Provided by Eunpyeong-gu.
Mayor Kim identified the preparation of an alternative route for the Shinbundang Line and the establishment of Sinsa Intersection Station on the Goyang Eunpyeong Line as one of the key tasks for this year. With the opening of the Metropolitan Area Express Train (GTX)-A Line at Yeonsinnae Station at the end of last year, the Eunpyeong-gu area has emerged as a core of northwest Seoul’s development. However, the Shinbundang Line northwest extension project failed to pass the preliminary feasibility study last year, and Gyeonggi Province released a basic plan for the Goyang Eunpyeong Line excluding Sinsa Intersection Station, which are issues that need to be resolved.
She stated, "Fortunately, Seoul City is preparing an alternative route, and our district is closely consulting with the city to reflect transportation demand such as the National Korean Literature Museum, which will be completed in two years with the Shinbundang Line northwest extension," adding a firm stance regarding Gyeonggi Province’s exclusion of Sinsa Intersection Station, "We will explore all possible measures to respond."
Mayor Kim emphasized, "Attracting large corporations to the Seoul Innovation Park site in Bulgwang-dong, relocating Sampyo headquarters through the residential complex development project on the Sampyo site near Susaek Station, along with Eunpyeong-gu’s cultural and tourism resources, will create a virtuous economic cycle and enhance Eunpyeong’s value," adding, "We are striving to build economic and cultural infrastructure where good jobs are created and people can continue to stay."
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