'Triple Harmony Administration'
Balancing Daily Life, Development, and Safety
On July 2, Dongjak District in Seoul announced that Mayor Park Ilha officially began the fourth year of the 8th local government term with an employee appreciation event on July 1.
Mayor Park prepared a coffee truck event to thank the employees who contributed to making Dongjak the "city with the highest happiness index." He expressed his thoughts, saying, "The most rewarding achievement over the past three years has been resolving 1,093 cases of residents' daily inconveniences, such as removing utility poles and installing road heating systems."
On the 1st, Park Ilha, mayor of Dongjak District, encouraged the hard work of employees with a coffee truck event, marking the start of the fourth year of the 8th local government term. Provided by Dongjak District.
In fact, the district recently ranked first in nine categories in the "Seoul Survey Urban Policy Index," including happiness index, pride in being a Seoul citizen, nighttime walking safety, satisfaction with public transportation (bus), satisfaction with residential walking environments, presence of social support networks, educational opportunities, employment opportunities, and neighborhood satisfaction (exercise). Additionally, Dongjak ranked among the top in 12 other categories.
In the field of senior citizen policies, Dongjak stood out with the first-ever "Filial Piety Call Center" in Seoul, as well as a package of ten filial piety services, including daily life support, taxi and laundry services, oriental medicine, shingles vaccinations, long-term care managers, congratulatory gifts for longevity, and rental of party supplies and banquet tables. The "Public Silvertown" project, currently being promoted to strengthen public care, is also expected to create a sensation.
The district is also making significant investments in the future of the so-called "Sampo Generation" youth. Beginning with the innovative "10,000 Won Housing" policy, Dongjak provides support for monthly rent, meal expenses, cultural activity fees, language and certification exam fees, and congratulatory funds for certificate acquisition. Unique childcare and care initiatives, such as the first-ever evening meal lunchboxes at daycare centers and the creation of English and math-themed playgrounds, have resulted in an increase in the total fertility rate for two consecutive years.
In addition, Dongjak has been leading the revitalization of small businesses and the local economy by implementing "interest-free special guarantee loans" since 2023, as part of its plan to raise a total fund of 100 billion KRW over four years. In the first half of this year, the number of "alley-type shopping districts" was expanded to nine, further contributing to the activation of neighborhood commercial areas. Through the "Employment Support Center," which was launched in 2023 as the first job support facility for all generations among Seoul's districts, Dongjak has helped 4,514 job seekers over three years and created 59,591 jobs.
The district has also demonstrated strong capabilities in urban development. According to the district, 72% of the 780,000-pyeong development projects currently underway within Dongjak have either been newly initiated or resumed during the 8th local government term.
The "Namhyeong Station North Area Development Project," the first Dongjak-style development project, received significant attention for its "speed" and "direction," as it shortened the process of designating a maintenance area?which previously took three to four years?to just one and a half years.
Looking ahead, the district plans to create high-end apartments by implementing "zero heating and cooling costs," establishing daily routes connecting the complex with Namhyeong Station, and incorporating community-specialized facilities such as a sky garden, welcome lounge, and a middle-class senior town.
Furthermore, after establishing the first-ever "Urban Development and Management Guidelines" among local governments in 2023, Dongjak announced last month the "Dongjak-style Development Project Management Plan," which includes the early creation of relocation complexes for original residents within maintenance areas, improvements to appraisal processes, protection measures for rental income earners, and the introduction of a "trust-based" method characterized by expertise, transparency, and speed. This is expected to establish a new paradigm for maintenance projects.
Meanwhile, to strengthen disaster prevention infrastructure, the district is currently implementing practical measures such as operating three flood control field offices, providing free installation of flood prevention facilities for 4,424 households, and developing and distributing openable security windows.
In the mid- to long-term, Dongjak is accelerating the construction of the "Dorimcheon Deep Drainage Tunnel" (scheduled for completion in 2030) and the "Isu-Gwacheon Complex Tunnel" (scheduled for early commencement in 2025), which are permanent flood prevention measures for the Sadang and Sindaebang areas. As a result, the district ranked first in both "natural disaster preparedness" and "social safety" in the 2024 Statistics Korea survey.
Mayor Park Ilha stated, "In the fourth year, I plan to visit major project sites in all 15 neighborhoods this month to hold resident briefings and conduct on-site inspections. Imagining Dongjak's future ten years from now, I will work together with residents to create the happiest city in the world and shape the future of Dongjak."
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