Hanam Declares 2026 as the "First Year of Great Transformation"
Finalizes Roadmap for 3 Trillion Won AI Cluster and Subway 5-Line Era
"Golden Time" for the Next 100 Years: Harmonizing Work, Residence, and Leisure
Hanam Aims to Become the Best Self-Sufficient City in the Metropolitan Area
Hanam City in Gyeonggi Province has declared 2026 as the "golden time" and "first year of a great transformation" that will lay the foundation for the next 100 years, embarking on a comprehensive overhaul. The city has finalized a roadmap to build the best self-sufficient city in the Seoul metropolitan area, harmonizing work, residence, and leisure, and is now moving into full-scale implementation.
According to a public opinion survey conducted by the Korea Social Opinion Institute (KSOI) from the 2nd to the 4th among 700 residents of Hanam City, 77.5% of Hanam citizens expressed satisfaction with administrative services. Provided by Hanam City
With massive projects such as the "Subway 5-Line" initiative, the creation of the "K-Culture Complex" (K-Star World), the attraction of a "five-star hotel," and the establishment of a "3 trillion won AI cluster," Hanam is making a bold move to transform itself from a mere residential suburb into an "economic hub" leading business, tourism, and transportation.
77.5% of Citizens Satisfied with City Administration... "Transportation and Economic Revitalization Are Key to Future Growth"
The vision for Hanam City's great transformation carries special significance as it was designed using citizens' voices as a guidepost. According to a public opinion survey conducted by the Korea Social Opinion Institute (KSOI) from January 2 to 4 among 700 Hanam residents (with a sampling error of ±3.7% at a 95% confidence level), 77.5% of Hanam citizens expressed satisfaction with administrative services, with "convenience of using civil complaint facilities (31.9%)" receiving particularly high marks. The city plans to build on this trust by further strengthening demand-centered communication systems, such as "real-time video conferences with heads of related agencies."
At the same time, the city will significantly expand its cultural and welfare infrastructure to realize a "quality daily life" that citizens can truly experience. For example, Misa Lake Park will become a landmark with the replacement of its aging musical fountain and the installation of a state-of-the-art water screen. The city also plans to complete construction of the Dangjeong Neighborhood Park Park Golf Course (July), the Wirye Complex Sports Facility (April), and the Misa 3-dong Public Complex Office (April) without delay. In terms of welfare safety nets, the scope of senior public transportation subsidies will be expanded to include special transportation and voucher taxis, and the honor allowance for national merit recipients will be raised from 170,000 won to 200,000 won. In addition, free flu vaccinations for citizens under 65 will be gradually expanded to promote universal health improvement.
Hanam City has also closely analyzed citizens' demands for key drivers of Hanam's mid- to long-term development. Notably, the survey identified the most urgent tasks for Hanam as seen by its citizens. The results show that "expansion of transportation infrastructure (36.2%)" was the top priority, followed by "economic and job revitalization (26.5%)." In the field of education, there was a high demand for "talent development and career exploration support (34.0%)." The city's 2026 roadmap can thus be described as a "citizen-responsive" vision that fully reflects these aspirations in its policies.
"Realizing the 30-Minute Era to Seoul"... Establishing Railway Sovereignty with 'Subway 5-Line'
The first major goal set by Hanam City is to realize the "30-minute era to Seoul" by establishing transportation sovereignty. The city is taking bold steps to usher in the era of the Subway 5-Line. For the Wirye-Sinsa Line, which has been stagnant for 17 years, the city is in intensive discussions with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and other relevant agencies to ensure that the "Hanam extension" is included in the 5th Metropolitan Area Transportation Implementation Plan as soon as the preliminary feasibility study is passed.
For Subway Line 3, the city is pursuing the connection of the tentative Shindeokpung Station and the Meeting Plaza Transfer Center, as well as the installation of entrances reflecting residents' opinions. For Line 9, the city is holding intensive negotiations with relevant agencies to open the Gangil-Misa section ahead of schedule. For Line 5, which records an annual deficit of 23 billion won, management efficiency will be maximized by outsourcing operations to private professional firms in parallel. Furthermore, the city is mobilizing all administrative resources to ensure that the GTX-D and F lines are included in the 5th National Rail Network Plan in the first half of the year.
Interconnected Transportation Network Breaking Down Regional Boundaries... Full-Scale Implementation of Customized Transportation Solutions for Five Major Zones
Following the railway network, the city will also launch full-scale efforts to establish an interconnected transportation network linking the five major zones and to implement customized solutions for each area. To overcome the limitations of individual systems by zone, the city will expand arterial road networks connecting the entire urban area. This includes the creation of a new east-west route linking Gangdong-Gambuk, Choi-Gyosan-Cheonhyeon-dong, and the active pursuit of a north-south route connecting Wirye, Gam-il, Gyosan, and the original downtown in collaboration with the Ministry of Land and LH. Starting from the new school year in March, dedicated school buses for students in Wirye, Gam-il, and Misa will be operated, and the introduction of major hub circular buses is also under consideration.
Tailored solutions for each zone are also specific. In Wirye, the city will expand the access road to the apartment complex near North Wirye Ilsang 9 Block (from three to five lanes) and increase the number of Tok buses. In the original downtown, the city will implement the Hwangsan Intersection Traffic System Improvement Project. For National Route 43, the city plans to propose an expansion of the Hanam IC to Eungogae section to the Ministry of Land and LH. In Misa, a new connection road to Misa IC will be constructed to supplement Seondong Bridge, and the expansion of Olympic-daero will be carried out in a timely manner. In Gam-il, the city will review the reorganization of bus routes following the opening of Bangadari-gil and resolve public transportation inconveniences by concentrating and increasing bus services at key stations such as Olympic Park Station. In Gyosan, the city will request cooperation from the Ministry of Land and LH to improve the incomplete structure of Hanam IC before residents move in.
The scene during the groundbreaking ceremony of Wirye Complex Sports Facility. Provided by Hanam City
Securing Economic Priming... Breaking Through Regulations to Become a Center for Jobs and Tourism
Hanam City plans to transform itself from a mere residential suburb into an "economic hub" leading business and tourism. To accelerate the creation of the K-Culture Complex (K-Star World), a public invitation for private businesses will be held in February.
For Camp Colbern, which has been left idle for 19 years, the city will select a preferred bidder and establish an SPC in February to develop it as a hub for advanced industries. The "five-star hotel," to be operated by the world-renowned brand operator Parnas (planned operator), will be established as a mecca for business tourism with convention infrastructure.
Additionally, the city is pursuing the attraction of a 3 trillion won AI cluster in the Gyosan district and plans to foster unicorn companies by utilizing the local government's recommendation authority in the future. Yonsei Hanam Hospital, the city's first general hospital (scheduled for completion in 2027), will serve as a key medical hub with 11 essential departments, including pediatrics. The H2 Project for revitalizing the original downtown will complete its business feasibility analysis this year.
Educational Independence and Increased Investment in Future Generations... Creating a Child-Friendly Environment
The city is also accelerating efforts toward educational independence and increased investment for future generations. Administrative resources are being focused on opening the "Hanam Office of Education" within the year, with a temporary office already prepared. The opening of Hanhol Middle School (March 2026) and the construction of the tentatively named Misa 4 High School (2027) are progressing smoothly. For Namhan High School, an autonomous public high school, a total of 1.5 billion won will be invested over five years, including city and education office budgets, to develop it into a prestigious local school.
Thematic spaces will also be expanded. All new elementary school students will receive an admission support grant of 100,000 won, and the children's library scheduled for completion in October will feature an English-specialized reading room and a local video media center. The children's center, scheduled to open in 2027, will be developed into a top-tier experiential space in partnership with KidZania, and the children's traffic park opening in March is expected to lay the foundation for a culture of safety.
Lee Hyunjae, Mayor of Hanam, emphasized, "The voices of citizens confirmed through the survey are a valuable guidepost for designing the next 100 years," adding, "We will do our utmost to create the best city in the metropolitan area, where citizens can feel change and pride in their daily lives, harmonizing work, residence, and leisure."
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