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'Suwon Needs Change' — Will Lead the Future

Hearing from Suwon Mayor Preliminary Candidate: Lee Jung-hwa (Grand National Party)Prioritizing 'Regional Economic Revitalization and Job Creation'Conflict Between East and West Regions… Balanced Development and Social Integration Urgent3,000 Civil Servants Must Recognize Themselves as 'Service Industry Workers'

Lee Jung-hwa (58), Grand National Party preliminary candidate, has put forward the slogan 'Regional Integration Through Communication.' His determination to change the fixed belief that change does not suit a seasoned public official also appears evident. He, who seeks to transform from a high-ranking administrator at Suwon City to a CEO leading the entire city administration, has presented a roadmap to make 'Suwon,' the provincial capital of Gyeonggi Province, into 'a city where citizens are happy.'

● Regional Economic Revitalization and Social Integration Are Urgent Priorities

He identified 'regional economic revitalization and job creation' as the most urgent task for Suwon City to address. He emphasized that as the relocation of major corporations such as SK and Samsung LED has accelerated recently, the regional economy has contracted, and there are concerns that Suwon could deteriorate into a satellite city of Seoul. Referring to the reality that many residents have economic bases in Seoul and other areas, commuting long distances, he pointed out that improving this situation is urgent.

He also raised conflict and discord between the east and west regions as problems. He explained that a place of pride and civic spirit is sliding into conflicts between classes, bound by specific school and regional ties amid development egoism. Therefore, he argued that measures to address this must be prepared above all else. He stated, "There is an urgent need for 'change' to breathe new vitality into all aspects of Suwon's stalled and sluggish city administration," and added, "Furthermore, reasonable and fair integration can accommodate expectations for genuine change."


● Emphasis on Administrative Organization Reform and Communication with Citizens

He diagnosed that smooth communication with citizens must be a prerequisite for solving these problems. To this end, he first raised administrative organization reform for the city. Drawing from his experience in over 30 years of public service, he promised to improve contradictions in Suwon City's administrative organization one by one. In particular, he stated, "3,000 civil servants must develop the awareness that 'civil servants are service industry workers.'"

He also identified the integration of Suwon, Hwaseong, and Osan administrative districts as a pressing task that can no longer be delayed. He pointed out that Suwon City's failure to take a leading role while many residents show support for the integration is a 'mistake.' He emphasized, "In this integration discussion, Suwon City should have taken the initiative to convince and help understand those who expressed opposition."

In particular, he implicitly expressed his regret, stating, "Residents in the relevant areas, without receiving accurate information, are being sacrificed by group egoism from political forces claiming vested interests, and the basic purpose of integration is adrift." Furthermore, he declared his resolve, "I will form a 'Civic Integration Promotion Committee' (tentative name) and work together with the public and private sectors to actively promote integration."

● Promising Balanced Regional Development

▲ Lee Jung-hwa, Grand National Party preliminary candidate for Suwon Mayor, visits Pajang Market in Jangan-gu and hands over his business card to a merchant to appeal for support.

To improve unbalanced development plans between east and west, he put forward the pledge, "I will attract private capital to the convenient transportation area of western Suwon and construct a large-scale exhibition and convention center at the level of Busan's BEXCO." He repeatedly emphasized that special consideration for western Suwon, which relatively lacks cultural spaces, is absolutely necessary.

For 'development' together, he identified convenient transportation environment as a core focus. The city has invested enormous budgets in light rail projects, elevated road projects, city bus route reorganization, and bicycle path expansion, but he raised a question mark about whether the effects are proportional. He stated, "We must boldly abandon the automobile-oriented transportation policies of the past and change to pedestrian- and bicycle-oriented transportation policies," and added, "I will promote transportation policies tailored to Suwon's long-term vision within the basic ideology of low-carbon green growth."

He also mentioned redevelopment projects in the old downtown area. As the city has grown into a large metropolitan area and population has increased rapidly, he views that rearrangement of residential space is necessary. Accordingly, he proposed developing the area inside Hwaseong Fortress, the representative landmark of the old downtown, with 'harmony between tradition and modernity' as the basic theme.

※ Preliminary Candidate Lee Jung-hwa's Profile

▲Samil Technical High School
▲Ajou University Executive Management Program Completion
▲Former Chief of Paldal-gu Office, Suwon City
▲President of Suwon Policy Forum

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