Mayor Yook Donghan: "2026 Will Be the Year of 'Seungse Deungbi'... Urban Leap Becomes Tangible"

Chuncheon Announces 2026 Municipal Direction
City Administration to Focus on Urban Transformation, Growth, and Vibrant Daily Life
Pursuing the 6+1 Strategy: Growth in Six Key Areas and Becoming a Leading AI City
Mayor Yook: "We Will Continue to Fulfill Our Duties with Steadfast Principles and a Spirit of Listening"

Chuncheon City in Gangwon Province (Mayor Yook Donghan) has chosen "Seungse Deungbi" (Riding the Momentum, Soaring High) as its key municipal keyword, aiming to concretely present the fruits of urban transformation to its citizens in 2026.

Yook Donghan, mayor of Chuncheon, is announcing the 2026 municipal administration direction and key tasks at the city hall briefing room on the 6th. Provided by Chuncheon City

On January 6, Mayor Yook Donghan of Chuncheon announced the direction and key tasks for the 2026 municipal administration at the city hall briefing room. The city plans to make 2026 a year of transformation, where the changes that have been pursued over the past four years are tangibly experienced in citizens' daily lives, based on the strategies and major initiatives implemented so far.

This year, Chuncheon's four-character motto is "Seungse Deungbi" (乘勢騰飛), which means to build on the current momentum and achieve a great leap forward. The goal is to connect the city's accumulated strengths and administrative achievements from the past four years to a full-fledged phase of "leap and fruition" starting in 2026. Chuncheon will operate its administration this year along two main pillars: active urban transformation and growth, and fostering a warm, vibrant daily life for its citizens.

The city plans to swiftly complete government administrative procedures and begin major projects to visibly showcase the changing city to its citizens. At the same time, it will strengthen its responsibility for ensuring the basics of daily life, such as safety, livelihoods, welfare, and care for its residents.

During the 8th popularly elected administration, Chuncheon has laid the groundwork for city operations by securing a record amount of national funding, establishing an emergency medical system, and being designated as a Special Education Development Zone and Gangwon R&D Special Zone. The city has also established a foundation for mid- to long-term growth by being selected for the Corporate Innovation Park, completing a preliminary feasibility study for the Chuncheon Station area development, and being chosen as an Urban Regeneration Innovation District.

Additionally, the city has promoted improvements in transportation infrastructure through the confirmed extension of GTX-B to Chuncheon, the advancement of the second Gyeongchun Expressway, securing national funds for the Soyang 8th Bridge and Seomyeon Bridge, and the expansion of Soyang-ro 3-ga. Industrial and cultural foundations have also been gradually strengthened, including the selection of the city as a specialized cluster for the national advanced bio-strategy industry, attracting the World Taekwondo Federation headquarters, creating the Lakeside Provincial Garden, and being selected for the Food Tech Research Support Center.

Based on these achievements, Chuncheon has proposed the "6+1 Future City Transformation Strategy" as the main direction for its 2026 administration. The plan focuses on six key areas: education; local economy and advanced industries; culture and tourism; urban construction; health and welfare; and environment and agriculture. In addition, a major transformation strategy to establish Chuncheon as a leading AI city will be added to enhance the city's competitiveness.

In education, the city aims to create an environment where both the city and its citizens grow together through the power of education. This will be achieved by utilizing five major educational governance bodies: the Chuncheon City Education City Committee, the University City Policy (Working) Council, the University Cooperation Council, the Education Development Operations Committee, and the Education Administration Council. The city will also expedite the construction of the Northern Public Library and expand reading culture facilities.

In the areas of local economy and advanced industries, the city will continuously develop measures to support the local economy, aiming to protect citizens' livelihoods. Support for local small and medium-sized enterprises will be strengthened, and the Gangwon R&D Special Zone, designated last year, will be leveraged to advance the bioindustry centered on R&D. The city also plans to expand business space, which has reached saturation, by developing the Geodu General Industrial Complex and to enhance the competitiveness of aging industrial complexes through digital and eco-friendly transformation.

The city will also accelerate the long-awaited construction of the Municipal Art Museum. The project will proceed step by step, starting with a preliminary evaluation application and moving through major administrative procedures such as investment review. The Lakeside Provincial Garden will begin construction, and the National Garden Material Center will be completed this year, enhancing the city's cultural appeal for both citizens and visitors by expanding tourism content that encourages longer stays.

In particular, major urban construction projects that have been a focus-such as the Corporate Innovation Park, Chuncheon Station area development, and the former Camp Page Urban Regeneration Innovation District-will enter full-scale implementation starting in 2026. Chuncheon plans to ensure the smooth progress of these large-scale urban projects while simultaneously expanding the metropolitan transportation network and upgrading water and sewage infrastructure.

Yook Donghan, mayor of Chuncheon, is announcing the 2026 municipal administration direction and key tasks at the city hall briefing room on the 6th. Provided by Chuncheon City

Key transportation network expansion projects, including the Soyang 8th Bridge, Seomyeon Bridge, the second Gyeongchun Expressway, and the GTX-B Chuncheon extension, will also proceed according to phased administrative procedures. The Soyang 8th Bridge will undergo a renewed feasibility study, the Seomyeon Bridge will move to the compensation stage after design completion, and the second Gyeongchun Expressway and GTX-B Chuncheon extension will continue with national planning and subsequent steps, gradually improving transportation conditions.

Policies on care, health, environment, and agriculture, which are closely linked to citizens' daily lives, will be further strengthened. The city will expand customized welfare infrastructure by building the Southeastern Complex Welfare Center, the Lifelong Education Center for the Disabled, and the Youth Complex Culture Center. The construction of a new public health center and the enhancement of public health services will ensure the continued well-being and welfare of citizens.

At the same time, Chuncheon will gradually implement an AI transformation across industry, education, and administration, aiming to expand administrative services that citizens can tangibly experience and to further strengthen future industrial competitiveness.

Mayor Yook Donghan stated, "Chuncheon has embraced change with a new look every year, but our administration will continue to focus on the field, principles, and listening, as always. We will ride the momentum and soar high so that, just as Chuncheon's spring flowers bloom after overcoming the cold winter, this year will be a fruitful one for our city."