Hwaseong Mayor Jung Myung-geun: "We Will Create a New Hwaseong Together with Citizens"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Choi Ki-ho] At the '2023 Municipal Work Conference' held in the city hall's grand auditorium on January 2, Hwaseong Mayor Jung Myung-geun announced his New Year's pledges, stating, "We will create a new Hwaseong together with our citizens."

Mayor Jung said, "We will overcome 2023, a year that many say will be difficult, through thorough preparation and response," and declared, "I will pursue municipal administration that allows citizens to experience change and growth in their daily lives."

Reflecting on the past year, he explained, "The six consecutive years of ranking first nationally in local government comprehensive competitiveness—an achievement no other local government has accomplished—the achievement of regional gross domestic product of 81 trillion won, and the approval of the Shinansan Line Hyungnam extension project by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, are all fruits borne by citizens and public officials working together."

He then cited this year's goals as including 'solid livelihood, thorough safety management, balanced urban development, preparation for the launch of Hwaseong Special City, transportation infrastructure construction, comprehensive welfare networks, educational welfare, and fostering of future industries.'

Specifically, Mayor Jung outlined plans to pursue the following initiatives: △creating an economic ecosystem based on mutual prosperity and cooperation △establishing region-tailored development strategies through the Hwaseong Balanced Development Committee and the Hwaseong Municipal Research Institute △constructing an internal circulation road network for transportation infrastructure development △establishing 'Technopole,' an advanced technology institution for fostering future industries △hosting the 2023 Hwaseong Mobility Expo △promoting a botanical garden to enhance the quality of urban spaces.

Additionally, announcing the year's four-character idiom chosen by citizens as 'Hyeokgo Jeongsin' (革故鼎新), which means to repair the old and create the new, Mayor Jung emphasized, "We will take to heart the meaning of correcting what is old and creating what is new, and dedicate ourselves to building a future city of Hwaseong that goes beyond one million residents and where everyone wants to live."

Meanwhile, Mayor Jung held a '2023 New Year's Sunrise Festival' with citizens at Seobongsan Mountain in Bongdam-eup on January 1, and subsequently paid respects at the Monument to the Fallen.