Mayor Lee Donghwan: "I Will Not Beg for Peace... Choosing 'Noisy Innovation' Over Quiet Stagnation"

Lee Donghwan, Mayor of Goyang, Holds Successful "K-City Innovation" Event
Book Concert Draws 2,000 Citizens and Political Leaders
Achievements Spotlighted, Including the Transformation of Goyang Sports Complex into a "Sanctuary of K-Performance"
"Upholding the City's Core Principles with a 100-Year Vision, Not Expediency"

On February 28, Lee Donghwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City, held a publication celebration for his book "K-City Innovation" at the Goyang Flower Exhibition Hall in Ilsan Lake Park, declaring his commitment to "bold innovation" for the next 100 years of Goyang's future.

Lee Donghwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City, held a publication celebration for his book "K-City Innovation" on February 28 at the Goyang Flower Exhibition Hall in Ilsan Lake Park.

This event was a book concert celebrating the publication of his latest book, following his previous work "Lee Donghwan's K-City Story," and drew a crowd of some 2,000 attendees, including citizens and prominent figures from government and politics.

The venue was filled with notable guests such as Kim Moonsoo, the 21st Presidential candidate, Lee Jaeoh, Chairman of the Memorial Foundation for Democratization Movements, Chung Woottack, former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Won Yucheol, former National Assembly member, Kim Sungsoo, former National Assembly member, and Jeong Moonsik, Head of the Goyang-si (Jeong) Party Association of the People Power Party. In addition, Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General, as well as representatives such as Ahn Cheolsoo, Kim Eunhye, and Kim Daesik of the National Assembly, Bernadia, Secretary General of UCLG ASPAC, Dorjikhands Togmid, Vice Prime Minister of Mongolia, Fred Jung, Mayor of Fullerton, USA, and Jonathan Van Rooij, sent their congratulations through video messages.

In his address, Mayor Lee referenced Washington D.C., a planned city designed by French architect and urban planner Pierre Charles L'Enfant. He described Washington as both a textbook and symbol of modern urban design, highlighting its wide, straight grid roads that cut across the city. Mayor Lee stated, "Urban governance should not resort to expediency that sacrifices the future for the present but must adhere to the principle of establishing a 100-year plan, even if it requires persistence."

He was particularly critical of short-sighted administrative practices of the past. "Irresponsible administration that allowed villa complexes with no access roads and sold land reserved for businesses, such as the Kintex site, for apartments and officetels, halted Goyang's growth," he said, emphasizing the importance of steadfastly upholding the city's core principles in pursuit of a "100-year plan."

Lee Donghwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City, is holding a publication celebration for his book "K-City Innovation" on February 28 at the Goyang Flower Exhibition Hall in Ilsan Lake Park.

As an example of introducing "management" to the city as an urban planner, Mayor Lee cited the Goyang Sports Complex. Despite a budget of 130 billion won and an annual maintenance cost of 2.5 billion won, the underutilized facility was once like an "isolated island." He explained the process of transforming it into a "sanctuary of K-performance" that excites world stars and fans, which was met with applause.

He also shared achievements such as Goyang being selected as the first candidate site for an economic free zone in northern Gyeonggi Province; attracting anchor companies including LG HelloVision; and breaking ground on the long-awaited anchor hotel project after 20 years, thus rebuilding a collapsed economic foundation. Regarding the recent focus on artificial intelligence, he asserted, "ChatGPT is only the beginning. If a city fails to prepare for this massive transformation, it will fall behind," stressing the urgency of administrative innovation.

Additionally, he restored the neglected Changneungcheon and Gongneungcheon streams, created 50 urban forests, and rigorously improved the city's landscape regulations to restore its visual identity. Since Mayor Lee took office in the eighth popularly elected administration, Goyang Special City has achieved a total of 338 awards, demonstrating continued success across the administration.

Mayor Lee also reflected on the political challenges faced during his term. He spoke candidly about the difficulties of being known as "the mayor with the most obstacles in Korea" due to budget cuts for public welfare and failed organizational reforms but expressed gratitude, saying, "The only strength that allowed me to endure the lonely and intense path of innovation was the support of the citizens."

On February 28, Lee Donghwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City, held a publication celebration for his book 'K-City Innovation' at the Goyang Flower Exhibition Hall in Ilsan Lake Park.

Mayor Lee declared, "'K-City' is both the fruit of my affection and contemplation for Goyang and its unique identity," adding, "When the dreams of Lee Donghwan, the urban planner, join hands with the citizens, it will create a pathway, and that pathway will again become the map of Goyang."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.