Kim Donggu, Director of Hangang River Basin Environmental Office, and Shin Jinsu, President of Korea Environment Preservation Association
Williamson County Judge and Taylor City Mayor from Texas, USA, Also Included
Yongin City in Gyeonggi Province announced on the 12th that it has selected four Koreans and foreigners who contributed to the development of city administration and the activation of international exchange as 'Honorary Citizens of Yongin Special City.'
The individuals selected as honorary citizens this time are ▲ Kim Dong-gu, Director of the Hangang River Basin Environmental Office ▲ Shin Jin-su, President of the Korea Environment Preservation Association ▲ Bill Gravel, Williamson County Judge of Texas, USA ▲ Dwayne Ariola, Mayor of Taylor City, Williamson County, Texas, USA.
Kim Dong-gu (right), Commissioner of the Han River Basin Environmental Office, is receiving the Honorary Citizen Certificate of Yongin Special City. Photo by Yongin City
Director Kim and President Shin were selected as honorary citizens for their contributions to the lifting of the Gyeongan Stream waterfront area designation in Pogok-eup and Mohyeon-eup, Cheoin-gu, and Yurim-dong. Previously, the city had been promoting the lifting of the waterfront area designation for 3.728㎢ in this area, which had been subject to overlapping regulations such as military facility protection zones and waterfront areas for 25 years. In this process, President Shin, who was then the Director of Water Management Policy at the Ministry of Environment, and Director Kim actively cooperated to ease unreasonable regulations, ultimately achieving the lifting of the waterfront area designation in November last year.
Judge Gravel and Mayor Ariola were recognized for their efforts to promote friendly cooperation between the two cities and for widely publicizing Yongin City locally by installing a 'Yongin Boulevard (Blvd)' sign in Taylor City. Williamson County also declared the day of the mayor's visit last month on the 9th as 'Yongin City Day.'
Lee Sang-il (center), mayor of Yongin City, who visited the United States last month, is taking a commemorative photo with Bill Gravel (right), Williamson County Judge, in front of the honorary road sign "Yongin-si Daero." Provided by Yongin City
Meanwhile, Williamson County is a region that includes 27 cities such as Taylor City, where Samsung Electronics is constructing a semiconductor foundry production facility with an investment of approximately 54.5 trillion KRW, aiming for completion in 2030.
Those selected as honorary citizens of Yongin Special City receive administrative benefits equivalent to those of Yongin citizens and attend city-hosted events as guests.
Mayor Lee said, "We have welcomed those who have greatly contributed to the development of Yongin and the enhancement of its international status as honorary citizens," adding, "We will do our best to work together with all city officials so that those selected as honorary citizens can proudly cherish their honorary citizen certificates."
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