Namyangju Policy Research Institute Opens, City’s Policy Think Tank Officially Launched

Namyangju City Opens Namyangju Policy Research Institute
To Support Municipal Administration and Regional Balanced Development
Mayor Cho Kwangdeok: "Will Become Namyangju's Policy Partner"

Namyangju City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Cho Kwangdeok) held the 'Opening Ceremony of the Namyangju Policy Research Institute' at the Namyangju Policy Research Institute on July 28, officially announcing the launch of a policy think tank to design the city's future.

Joo Gwangdeok, mayor of Namyangju, is delivering a greeting at the 'Namyangju City Policy Research Institute Opening Ceremony' held at the Namyangju City Policy Research Institute on the 28th. Photo by Namyangju City

The Namyangju Policy Research Institute is an organization that conducts scientific research on policies tailored to the city's characteristics, focusing on supporting municipal administration, balanced regional development, and future growth as its core directions.

Over 100 people attended the opening ceremony, including Mayor Cho Kwangdeok, city and provincial council members, heads of related organizations and groups, university professors, academic society presidents, and relevant public officials.

The event was organized to share the purpose of establishing the institute and to introduce its future operational direction. It began with the screening of the city's official promotional video, followed by a report on the institute's establishment process, welcoming and congratulatory remarks, and an introduction to the institute's organization.

In the subsequent discussion session, under the theme 'Imagining Namyangju at 30 and Namyangju at 50,' local youth and the institute's director engaged in a meaningful conversation exploring the city's future vision and policy challenges.

The second part of the event featured a symbolic ceremony unveiling the institute's CI plaque, and Mayor Cho handed over the institute's flag to the director. Attendees toured the institute's main facilities and expressed their expectations for its future roles and functions.

The Namyangju Policy Research Institute is located in Dasan-dong, occupying a 693-square-meter space within a knowledge industry center. Following the 2022 revision of the relevant law, which allowed large cities with populations over 500,000 to establish research institutes, the city established the institute through a series of administrative steps: enacting ordinances, formulating a master plan, benchmarking similar institutions, and obtaining approval from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

Facing rapid urban growth and a turning point in its industrial ecosystem, Namyangju City has been gradually building a foundation to strengthen its self-sufficiency functions. As a result, the demand for mid- to long-term policies has become increasingly complex and sophisticated.

The institute is the result of the city's long-term preparation and policy commitment, and it is expected to serve as a policy think tank supporting decision-making across all areas of municipal administration.

Mayor Cho Kwangdeok stated, "The Policy Research Institute is not just another organization, but a policy partner that will systematically design the future of our city. I hope it will establish itself as a think tank that carefully analyzes voices from the field and connects them to tangible changes in municipal administration."

In his remarks, inaugural director Kang Jesang said, "Based on our role as a bridge between citizens and administration, we will do our best to become a practical research institute that produces highly relevant research outcomes through data-driven policies and leads the city's future."