A Slogan Chosen by the People:
"My Pride, Our Jungnang" Reflects
the Community Spirit and Confidence
of Jungnang Residents
When you visit Jungnang-gu Office, the slogan "My Pride, Our Jungnang" immediately catches your eye.
This is because Ryoo Kyunggi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, selected "My Pride, Our Jungnang" as the final slogan for the 8th popularly elected administration, aiming to boost the pride of Jungnang residents with a logo that embodies this spirit.
The district held a public contest to find a logo that could enhance residents' pride and best represent Jungnang, with the goal of elevating the district's image and promoting effective public relations. After conducting a resident survey and expert evaluations, "My Pride, Our Jungnang" was chosen as the final selection.
Notably, the winning entry ranked first in a preference survey in which 11,088 residents participated, further underscoring the significance of actively reflecting residents' opinions.
The selected slogan sculptures are installed throughout Jungnang-gu. From May 16 to 18, many of these installations will be displayed along the Jungnangcheon embankment and at the district entrances for the Seoul Rose Festival.
The core philosophy behind "My Pride, Our Jungnang" is encapsulated in the phrase "Geunjayeolwonjarai," which comes from the Analects of Confucius and means, "If you bring joy to those close to you, even those far away will come."
Jungnang-gu was separated from Dongdaemun-gu in 1988 and became known relatively late. For a long time, it was developed primarily as a "bed town," making it a place that people rarely visited or paid attention to from outside. The district remains relatively unknown externally, and due to a lack of industrial and commercial areas-a byproduct of Seoul's development process-Jungnang-gu has a low fiscal self-sufficiency rate.
However, it is unreasonable to expect outsiders to recognize and value us highly if we ourselves rate ourselves poorly first.
The standards for what makes a city livable are gradually changing. In addition to the term "station area," the concept of a "forest area" has emerged, reflecting a growing emphasis on features that make people want to stay in a city.
Some people cite "having good neighbors" as the top condition for a great place to live. In Jungnang-gu, mountains, forests, and parks are close to home. There is a rose park stretching over 5 kilometers along Jungnangcheon, as well as clean riverside trails and well-developed green spaces. Public transportation, including subways and buses, is well connected, and traditional markets and local commercial districts are active, making daily life convenient.
In addition, the district boasts a strong public education environment, ongoing expansion of urban infrastructure, and excellent historical and cultural resources such as the Jungnang Seoul Rose Festival and the Mangwoo Historical and Cultural Park, making it a city that residents can truly be proud of.
The phrase "My Pride" was deemed fitting to capture this renewed status and sense of pride.
Jungnang residents also possess a stronger sense of community than those in any other district in Seoul. High levels of resident participation and civic engagement have been the driving force behind Jungnang-gu's progress.
This is why "Our Jungnang" resonates deeply with residents. "Our" goes beyond just you and me, signifying a city where our community lives and thrives together.
Ultimately, "My Pride, Our Jungnang" is a concise phrase that embodies both the fundamental pride necessary for a happy life and the spirit of community living together. Residents preferred "My Pride, Our Jungnang" over the previous administration's slogan, recognizing its stronger message, and it was officially adopted as the slogan for the 8th administration.
When Jungnang residents gather and shout the slogan together, their confidence grows. It is now being proclaimed everywhere, and if I do not say it first, the residents do. The word "pride" cannot be fabricated out of nothing; it comes naturally when there is something to be truly proud of. I continue to witness firsthand that the perception of Jungnang-gu as a truly proud city-in education, welfare, culture, and governance-is spreading among residents.
Last year, new sculptures were installed at the boundaries of Jungnang-gu, and existing ones were refurbished so that the phrase "My Pride, Our Jungnang" would be more visible. I hope that when residents see these sculptures as they leave or enter the district, they will feel a growing sense of pride in being Jungnang-gu residents and in living in Jungnang.
Website description: "My Pride" reflects the pride in Jungnang-gu as an educational and cultural city with a promising future, transforming into a sustainable and happy city. "Our Jungnang" expresses the will to create a harmonious, happy, and warm community together, and is the new slogan for the 8th administration.
Ryoo Kyunggi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, stated, "Jungnang-gu is a place where you can experience beautiful nature nearby and boasts a rich history and cultural assets. The slogan logo is especially meaningful because residents participated directly in its selection, and, as its meaning expresses, I will do my best to ensure Jungnang-gu continues to develop and become a source of pride for its residents."
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