Pledge Fulfillment Rate of 90.24%, Rated as the Nation's Top Local Government ...
Balanced Growth Across Future Industries, Welfare, Culture, and Tourism Spurs Leap Toward a Well-Balanced City
Gongju City in South Chungcheong Province is accelerating its leap toward the future, building on the achievements of the past three years under the municipal philosophy of "Strong Gongju, Happy Citizens" as it marks the third anniversary of the 8th popularly elected administration.
According to a comprehensive report by Asia Economy on July 10, Gongju City has faithfully fulfilled its promises to citizens, achieving a 90.24% pledge implementation rate since the launch of the 8th administration. The city has also been recognized as the top local government in the nation for productivity and secured 477.8 billion won in public contest funding, receiving some of the highest evaluations nationwide.
In particular, Gongju has promoted the concentration of public institutions by attracting the Korea Food Safety Management Certification Institute and the Livestock Environment Management Institute to the Donghyeon District adjacent to Sejong City, while also steadily establishing the foundation for future industries by creating a food safety R&D cluster.
Furthermore, the city has achieved tangible results in revitalizing the local economy by attracting 90 companies and 973.5 billion won in investments.
Advanced industries and high-quality companies are also rapidly moving into areas such as the Namgongju General Industrial Complex, Songseon·Donghyeon District, and Ssangsin District. The establishment of a drone testbed and the introduction of drone delivery services are positioning Gongju as a hub for future industries.
Significant changes are also being observed in the quality of life for citizens. The number of Gongju Citizen Membership subscribers has surpassed 240,000, and the city has become a new model for population policy by ranking first in living population among areas in South Chungcheong experiencing population decline.
In addition, the city has significantly strengthened its safety infrastructure by installing additional CCTV cameras, expanding citizen safety insurance, and building an integrated disaster safety platform.
Based on its splendid Baekje cultural heritage, Gongju is establishing the Baekje Culture Village and Baekje Culture Center, solidifying its status as a culturally distinctive city. The Baekje Cultural Festival, Seokjangni Paleolithic Festival, and Winter Gongju Chestnut Festival have all grown into prestigious events that attract hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.
Notably, as the only city in the Chungcheong region designated as a specialized night tourism city, Gongju plans to invest 3.8 billion won by 2027 to establish a unique Gongju-style night tourism brand.
Under the policy of "Gongju City takes responsibility for children from age 0 to 18," the city is implementing tailored policies for children and youth, such as providing high school uniform purchase subsidies, free meals for all grades, support for gym uniforms, and overseas experiential learning. The city is also expanding educational infrastructure, including a youth training center and a career education center.
Additionally, Gongju is leading the response to an aging society by installing 236 smart senior centers, the first in South Chungcheong Province, operating the nation's first brain exercise school, and providing emergency patient transport cost support. Efforts are also being made to improve the treatment of childcare and welfare workers.
Other effective policies include expanding housing infrastructure with youth shared housing and youth rural housing projects, as well as providing marriage incentives, youth internships, and the production of youth statistics, all of which are providing practical support for young people's lives.
The city plans to make the final year of the 8th administration a "time of completion," focusing on wrapping up major pledges and making every effort to expand the foundation for future growth.
Large-scale projects to promote balanced urban development, such as the creation of the Geumgang National Garden, construction of the Second Geumgang Bridge, and the Songseon·Donghyeon Urban Development Project, are being pursued.
The city is also accelerating the establishment of the Baekje Culture Village and Baekje Culture Center to further solidify its identity as a city of history and culture, with the aim of transforming Gongju into a "completed city" where culture, industry, and a high quality of life coexist.
Mayor Choi Wancheol stated, "Gongju has already begun to change, and the remaining year will be a time to share the fruits of these efforts with our citizens. I will continue to listen to the voices of citizens in the field and fulfill the promised future of Gongju."
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