[New Year's Address] Mayor Kim Kyungil: "Racing Toward a Self-Sufficient City of One Million Like the Red Hare Horse"

Kim Kyungil, Mayor of Paju, Sets “Livelihood On, Basics Up” as Core Policy Direction
Building a “Leisure Hub” Where Culture and Ecology Thrive
Major Transformation in Economy and Transportation for a Self-Sufficient City of One Million
Citizens Are the Strength of Paju... Promising the Spirit of “Dongjugongje”

Kim Kyungil, Mayor of Paju City, delivered a message of hope to the 540,000 citizens of Paju as the city welcomes the new year of 2026, the Year of the Fire Horse (Byeongo Year), and signaled an unwavering commitment toward building “Paju, a self-sufficient city of one million residents.”

Kim Kyungil, Mayor of Paju City. Provided by Paju City

In his New Year’s address, Mayor Kim stated, “This year will be one of relentless progress, like the Red Hare horse that gallops a thousand li in a single day.” He set “Livelihood On (Warmth), Basics Up” as the city’s core policy direction and promised tangible changes that will improve citizens’ lives.

First, Mayor Kim presented the construction of “a leading city for Korea’s basic society” as his top priority.

He explained, “This year, Paju City will further solidify a virtuous cycle in the local economy by promoting the activation of local currency, establishing regional public institutions, and building a Paju-style win-win economic platform. In particular, we will expand ‘Paju-style basic policies’ that guarantee citizens’ fundamental rights across all aspects of daily life, through measures such as establishing a renewable energy production base to support the RE100 initiative for small and medium-sized enterprises, expanding youth transportation subsidies, and pushing forward the construction of a municipal nursing home.”

The strategy for “rapid advancement toward a self-sufficient city of one million residents” to secure future growth engines for the city was also detailed.

Mayor Kim said, “We will continue to pursue designation as an economic free zone and a peace economy special zone, and further accelerate the creation of the Paju Medical Cluster to secure future growth engines for rapid advancement toward a self-sufficient city of one million residents. We will also swiftly complete the long-awaited project of attracting a general hospital for Paju citizens, expedite the development of land returned by the US military, and strongly request the removal of military facility protection zones to eliminate barriers to urban growth.”

He continued, “We will make every effort to attract businesses and expand investment, focusing on supporting LG Display’s investment plans and the establishment of LG Uplus’s AI data center. We will also expand business expos and promptly complete the full relocation of the Gyeonggi Business and Science Accelerator to Paju, thereby completing the transformation into a business-friendly city.”

He further stated, “We will ensure the inclusion of Subway Line 3, the Tongil-ro Line, GTX-H Line, and the KTX Paju extension in the 5th National Rail Network Construction Plan, and, with the successful groundbreaking of the Seohae Line, establish Paju’s future rail network. We will also create a dense bus and taxi system centered around the GTX to build a people-centered public transportation system. By officially designating the city as a special education development zone and attracting an AI graduate school, we will nurture future talent. Through support for youth internships and startups, as well as the operation of public wedding halls, we will create a ‘youth-friendly city’ where young people can take root and grow.”

Mayor Kim also emphasized the construction of “a cultural and ecological leisure hub for the Seoul metropolitan area.”

He remarked, “The path toward a self-sufficient city of one million residents is a difficult journey that sometimes requires forging new roads, but it is a path we must take. With the spirit of ‘Dongjugongje’ (crossing the river in the same boat) together with 540,000 citizens, we will build ‘Paju, the city of opportunity.’”

Mayor Kim stated, “By establishing the Yulgok Cultural Promotion Institute and the Yulgok Cultural Belt to carry on the spirit of Yulgok Yi I, we will create tourism resources that combine history and culture. With the full-scale operation of the Paju Cultural Foundation and the creation of a cultural performance complex at GTX Unjeong Central Station, we will make culture a part of everyday life. We will also expand sports infrastructure such as indoor gyms, achieve entry into K League 2, and construct the Paju Dome Stadium to leap forward as a sports hub city. Furthermore, we will develop DMZ peace tourism into a global attraction for visitors from around the world.”

He pledged to strengthen the city’s ecotourism foundation by establishing the Imjingang National Garden, the Gongneungcheon Ecological Trail, and the National Gamaksan Natural Recreation Forest, completing “Paju, a cultural and ecological leisure city where everyone wants to stay.”

In the field of sports, he also expressed his ambition to make Paju a true “sports hub city” through entry into K League 2 and the construction of the Paju Dome Stadium.

Mayor Kim concluded, “The future of Paju becomes even stronger when citizens participate and support us. I will always stand with citizens to create a Paju that everyone is happy with and proud of.”