Mayor Kim Donggeun: "'Heungseon Re-Start Project' Brings New Vitality to Uijeongbu's Old Downtown"

Sharing the Vision for Heungseon:
Mayor Kim Donggeun Unveils Concrete Strategies for Urban Transformation
Emphasizing Future Value and Urban Regeneration
with the "Heungseon Re-Start Project"

On August 13, Uijeongbu City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kim Donggeun) held the "Future Value Sharing Plus+ Day" event at Uijeongbu Culture Station Eum, with more than 120 citizens and city employees in attendance.

Kim Donggeun, mayor of Uijeongbu, is explaining the 'Heungseon Re-Start Project' at the 'Future Value Sharing Plus+ Day' event on the 13th. Provided by Uijeongbu City

During the event, Mayor Kim Donggeun personally presented a concrete implementation strategy for transforming the city's urban structure and shared the future vision for the Heungseon district, which forms the foundation of the city, with the citizens.

The event venue, Uijeongbu Culture Station Eum, is a symbolic space for urban cultural regeneration, having transformed the old Uijeongbu Station into a cultural venue. This aligns with the purpose of the event. Mayor Kim emphasized the harmony between the old and the new, as well as the future value that emerges from the center of urban change, using this space as a backdrop.

The Heungseon district, centered around Uijeongbu Station, serves as a core axis of the city with several key functions: it is the largest transportation hub in northern metropolitan Seoul, has a resident population of 218,000, ranks first in youth floating population, and contributes 44% to the city's tax revenue. However, the area is experiencing a decline in function due to structural aging and complex issues related to transportation, housing, and commercial districts. In addition, changes in the external environment, such as the opening of the GTX-C line, are raising concerns about intensified competition between regions and the potential loss of the district's central functions.

In response, Mayor Kim explained, "The 'Heungseon Re-Start Project' is a practical implementation strategy aimed at revitalizing the old downtown Heungseon district, which is the heart of Uijeongbu, and enhancing the city's competitiveness."

Through this project, the city has proposed three major strategies: "Rebuild"-urban space reorganization and innovation to reconnect fragmented areas and restore central functions; "Revive"-strengthening living infrastructure by improving pedestrian, transportation, and public facilities; and "Reform"-transforming the local economic structure into an economic ecosystem where advanced industries and commercial districts coexist.

Kim Donggeun, mayor of Uijeongbu, is awarding commendations to meritorious citizens at the 'Future Value Sharing Plus+ Day' event on the 13th and taking a commemorative photo together. Provided by Uijeongbu City

Mayor Kim Donggeun stated, "The vitality of a city begins not with its appearance but in the daily lives of its citizens. We will focus all our policy capabilities on revitalizing the stagnant downtown, ensuring that the changes starting in Heungseon lead to a new leap forward for all of Uijeongbu."

Meanwhile, at the event, awards were presented to 37 citizens, including those who contributed to the promotion of the Hometown Love Donation Program. The Uijeongbu City Choir delivered moving performances of "Beautiful Country" and "Oh Happy Day," deeply impressing the attendees.