[Interview] Dongdaemun-gu Mayor I Pil-hyung: "Leap to Dongdaemun Future City as '4N CITY'"

"4N CITY": Dongdaemun-gu’s Urban Strategy for Future Competitiveness
Mayor Lee Pil-hyung Presents the 2025 Administrative Direction Centered on Change, Innovation, and Sustainable Development

"Beyond being a livable city, we will leap forward as a future city"

Dongdaemun-gu Mayor Lee Pil-hyung introduced the district’s 2025 administrative direction centered on the urban strategy '4N CITY,' which embodies Dongdaemun-gu’s future vision, during an interview held on the 28th.

Mayor Lee expressed a strong determination, stating, "Through change, innovation, and sustainable development, we will transform Dongdaemun-gu into a city with global competitiveness."

■ What is Dongdaemun-gu’s urban vision, '4N CITY'?

'4N CITY' is Dongdaemun-gu’s urban strategy slogan derived from the first letters of 'NICE, NOW, NEW, NEXT.' Mayor Lee emphasized that this will lead balanced development encompassing both the present and future of Dongdaemun-gu.

NICE: Further improving the pleasant urban environment created so far, such as flower-filled and walkable streets

NOW: Maintaining and advancing ongoing achievements like carbon neutrality and smart city projects

NEW: Promoting key projects to enhance quality of life in education, culture, and welfare

NEXT: Establishing the foundation to leap forward as a future-oriented global city

■ The key project for 2025 is 'NEW CITY'

Among the 4N strategies, Mayor Lee is focusing especially on 'NEW CITY' as the priority task this year. It includes four core projects for change and innovation.

First, making the district a child-friendly educational city. In May, the 'Dongdaemun-gu Education Support Center' will open in Sinseol-dong. Equipped with classrooms, discussion rooms, and counseling spaces, students can receive direct consultations from experts on career paths and college admissions. Mayor Lee said, "We are also cooperating with Kyung Hee University. In the future, college entrance briefing sessions may be held here." He hopes the center will function as a networking hub with local universities and educational institutions.

Regarding the creation of a culturally rich city, he introduced a water sports experience education center to be established along Jungnangcheon Stream. Starting a pilot operation in May, any Dongdaemun-gu resident will be able to enjoy kayaking, paddle boats, water bicycles, and more. Mayor Lee stated, "We plan to make it not just a simple waterfront space but a new cultural experience landmark for citizens."

Additionally, to build a city that walks together with the vulnerable, a new meal support project to improve welfare for the elderly has begun. Since February this year, Dongdaemun-gu has been implementing a lunch support policy providing side dishes five days a week to senior centers. Mayor Lee said, "We aim to provide balanced meals while expanding social interaction among seniors," adding, "We will make senior centers the core of local welfare."

Furthermore, regarding the creation of a future city at the center of the northeastern region, Mayor Lee said development in the Cheongnyangni area, the heart of Dongdaemun-gu, is accelerating. Cheongnyangni has been selected as a candidate site for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s spatial innovation leading project, allowing development with regulatory relaxation benefits. He mentioned that once the 'Gyeongwon Line undergrounding' is officially announced, complex development utilizing the space above it for multipurpose cultural spaces is expected. Also, the 'Cheongnyang Market Mall' project, integrating nine traditional markets in Cheongnyangni, is being promoted. Plans include the '9bow Market' applying different themes to each market, the rooftop-connected passageway 'Cheongnyang Rooftop Road,' and 'Gyeongdong Market Street' featuring media art, transforming it into a world-class tourist market.

■ "Infrastructure in the first half, people-centered in the second half"

Reflecting on the past two years since his inauguration, Mayor Lee Pil-hyung said, "It has been a truly busy and fulfilling time," and concluded the interview by stating, "While the first half focused on hardware such as smart infrastructure and urban environment improvements, the second half will concentrate on software like education, culture, and welfare. We will do our best to implement policies that bring tangible changes and improve the quality of life for residents."