Distinguished and beloved citizens of Osan,
And public officials!
A hopeful new year of 2025, the Year of the Snake (乙巳年), has dawned.
As we stand at the threshold of a new beginning in 2025, I pray that happiness and good health will abound in every household of our citizens.
However, even amid the joy of welcoming the new year, we wish to share in the profound sorrow of the Jeju Air disaster that occurred on December 29 of last year. I extend my deepest condolences to all those who lost precious lives in this accident.
To the bereaved families who have lost beloved family members and friends to this sudden tragedy, I offer sincere words of comfort, and I earnestly pray for the swift recovery of the injured.
Furthermore, I express my deep gratitude and respect to all those dedicated to recovery efforts.
Last year, our city ran forward with vigor to create a new future together with its citizens amid internal and external challenges.
I extend my sincere gratitude to our citizens for their interest and support during these difficult times, and to our public officials for faithfully fulfilling their duties.
Over the past two years and six months, both I and our public officials have experienced firsthand that if we do not give up on seemingly impossible tasks and continue to challenge ourselves, paths will eventually open. We have also achieved good results in various sectors.
The most representative examples are the designation of Segyo 3 District as a public housing development zone and the extension of the GTX-C line to Osan.
Through the designation of Segyo 3 District, we have created an opportunity for balanced urban development. If we fully leverage the geographical advantages of our location in the semiconductor cluster, connecting with broader transportation networks such as GTX and KTX, then "a city of 500,000 people achieving economic self-sufficiency with a budget of 1 trillion won" will surely become reality in the not-too-distant future.
We have also made all-out efforts to build future advanced industrial complexes and create jobs. With the allocation of a new lot of approximately 40,000 pyeong for the development of the Gigot General Industrial Complex, we plan to create a future advanced industrial complex linked with the Sema and Gajang industrial zones.
Following the establishment of an R&D center for Idemitsu Kosan, a representative petrochemical company of Japan, in Osan, the R&D center of Applied Materials, one of the world's leading semiconductor companies, is currently being built in Gajang-dong.
For the construction of transportation networks connecting all directions, the Gyeongbu Railway Horizontal Crossing Road, which will dramatically improve the east-west traffic flow of our city, began construction at the end of last year. The long-cherished city bus route to Seoul Station has been newly established, and the Gimpo Airport bus route, which was suspended due to COVID-19, has resumed operations.
The Osan Urban Development Corporation, one of the key projects of the 8th civilian government, is finally scheduled to launch this year. With the establishment of the urban corporation, we have created the foundation for securing public benefits in various development projects, customized development tailored to local needs, and local economic development through profit generation and local reinvestment.
With the mindset of being the number one salesman operating Osan, along with public officials, we have secured 110 billion won in national funds across 229 projects from the launch of the 8th civilian government until now.
Daewon-dong and Sinjang-dong, which required division due to population concentration and increased administrative demand, have been divided since January of last year, providing better administrative services to citizens.
Furthermore, the "O Happy Santa Market" has become established as a landmark festival for our city, and our representative festival, the Night Market Festival, was selected as a Gyeonggi tourism festival and successfully concluded last May with approximately 90,000 visitors.
We have worked to transform Osan Stream into an aquatic space where citizens can enjoy comfortable leisure while preserving the natural environment.
We have preserved aquatic vegetation to the maximum extent while addressing elements causing inconvenience related to citizen safety and security, and have planted seasonal flowers such as Korean poppy and cosmos along the riverbank. We have separated the mixed pedestrian and bicycle paths and opened a 2,500-pyeong park golf course near Osan Stream.
To improve urban aesthetics and enhance urban quality, we have implemented a landscape lighting installation support project for apartment complexes, beginning with 5 complexes and adding 4 more locations last year. We have also installed landscape lighting on 5 major crossings over Osan Stream, providing citizens with a safe walking space.
To avoid extreme heat during summer and provide children with pleasant and safe water play facilities, we have additionally installed three colored water play areas on Osan Stream, including the Osaeek Water Playground. To enhance public health, we have created a 17-km Osaeek Walking Trail encompassing Gapgol Mountain and Doksan Fortress, and have established barefoot clay paths in 3 locations including Wondong Neighborhood Park.
In the 2024 nationwide basic local government heads' pledge implementation evaluation announced by the Korea Manifesto Practice Headquarters, we achieved the highest rating. Our current pledge implementation rate stands at 62%.
Furthermore, in the city administration and policy satisfaction survey conducted last year, 82.7% of respondents expressed satisfaction. High satisfaction levels were recorded for the GTX-C line extension to Osan, the selection of Segyo 3 District as a public housing development zone, and the promotion of the Gyeongbu Railway Horizontal Crossing Road.
While these results can be seen as many citizens resonating with and supporting the major directions of the 8th civilian government's city administration, I will accept them as a desire to pursue policies with greater speed and innovation going forward, and will continue to unfold more trustworthy administration.
Respected citizens!
Public officials!
This year, I return to my original purpose, reflect on the time since the launch of the 8th civilian government, and dedicate myself to realizing "Change Together, Future City Osan." I will present the major directions of city administration for 2025.
First, I will lay the foundation for "a city of 500,000 people achieving economic self-sufficiency with a budget of 1 trillion won."
Near our city are located Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which are "K-semiconductor anchor enterprises," and our city is home to world-renowned semiconductor companies such as Lam Research Manufacturing Korea, LotVacuum, and PhiLOPtics.
An R&D center for Applied Materials, a global semiconductor equipment company, will be established in Gajang-dong, and our city has transportation networks connecting all directions, including the Gyeongbu Expressway and National Route 1.
Leveraging these geographical advantages, we are envisioning a new goal to grow as a key city in semiconductor supply chain components and to create a large-scale advanced industrial specialized complex linking the Sema, Gajang, and Gigot industrial zones with the Naesanmi-dong reserve military training site.
And as we have done thus far, through sales-oriented administration, we will lead efforts to attract advanced industrial companies by maximizing emphasis on geographical advantages such as being a center of the future smart K-semiconductor belt and a key hub for semiconductor supply chain cooperation.
We plan to develop Segyo 3 District as a self-sufficient connect city that supports semiconductor industry functions and connects semiconductor mega clusters. We will actively make recommendations to LH regarding deficiencies in the broader transportation networks and major SOC infrastructure present during the time of Segyo 1 and 2 districts.
Moreover, we will continue to actively recommend to LH that a 300,000-pyeong advanced techno valley be developed, establishing the foundation for Osan's future industrial development.
We also plan to develop the Unam Valley AI City as a hybrid complex equipped with residential, commercial, cultural, and advanced AI industrial functions, and to promote development of the Gyeseong Paper site located within the Osan Station Quad station area in cooperation with the Buyoung Group.
We plan to relocate the aging Osan General Sports Complex and develop it into a comprehensive sports town enabling large-scale sports events and competitions as well as citizens' leisure and sports activities. We also have plans to develop landmarks on the existing site through high-density comprehensive planning.
Additionally, the Segyo 1 Terminal site will be developed as a landmark representing northern Osan.
For a new leap forward, we must proactively establish transportation networks connecting all directions.
To resolve bottleneck phenomena around the IC, we are continuously consulting with relevant agencies on the development of a multi-level Osan IC on the Gyeongbu Expressway, underground conversion of the section from Wondong Intersection to Korea Electric Power Corporation Intersection for smooth traffic flow between Osan IC and the Gyeongbu Railway Horizontal Crossing Road, and underground conversion of Cheonil Intersection.
Currently, National Route 1 is being expanded to six lanes from Yangsan-dong, and a road connecting Segyo 1 District and Gigot-dong is being constructed. We will expeditiously complete administrative procedures to improve traffic convenience for citizens.
Furthermore, we are working to create new IC connections and access roads on the Hwaseong-Anseong Semiconductor Expressway to link with Segyo 2 and 3 districts, and to create a new Hi-Pass IC leading to the Unam Valley AI City to distribute traffic toward the Dongtan direction while including this in Segyo 3 comprehensive transportation improvement measures.
We are also actively consulting with relevant agencies regarding the creation of new Hi-Pass entry and exit roads near the Hwaseong Geumgok District IC and Osan Rest Area on the Seoul Outer Ring Expressway (Metropolitan Express Route 100).
We are planning to construct a complex cultural space above the area near Osan IC on the Gyeongbu Expressway and have made recommendations to Korea Expressway Corporation.
We are actively recommending to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport the confirmation of KTX stops at Osan Station departing from Suwon, and are making our best effort to promote railway construction projects including the prompt commencement of the GTX-C line and Dongtan urban rail transit (tram), passage of preliminary feasibility study for Bundang Line subway extension, and Byeongjeom-Gwanggyo Line extension to Segyo 3 District.
Second, I will further develop Osan as a complex cultural city where citizens can enjoy themselves.
To meet the cultural needs of residents in eastern Osan, which has been culturally neglected thus far, we plan to begin construction of the Busan-dong Community Cultural Center this year. Additionally, we are promoting design contests to establish a family library where families can comfortably read books in the grass plaza within the Miniature Village.
The Serang Reservoir Perimeter Trail Project will install deck roads, landscape lighting, and fountain facilities around Serang Reservoir to create a citizen healing space, and by connecting with nearby Doksan Fortress and Sema Plateau, it will become a representative tourist attraction of our city.
We will install landscape lighting at Dolmen Park to provide citizens with a beautiful and romantic atmosphere for walking and rest, and are planning to extend this into a light festival in the long term.
We currently operate 6 urban park water play areas where our children can safely enjoy water play while escaping summer heat. This year, we plan to add water play areas at 3 locations including Busan Children's Park so that water play can be enjoyed in all areas within the city, and we plan to create 7 additional barefoot clay paths so citizens can encounter spacious green areas in their daily lives.
We will actively continue communication and cooperation with local merchants so that our representative landmark festivals, the Night Market Festival and "O Happy Santa Market," can revitalize the local commercial districts and become recognized as events representing South Korea.
Third, I will further develop Osan as a welfare and health city where citizens can find comfort.
To support sound leisure and educational activities for our youth who will lead the future, we are planning to establish a youth training center. We will expand AI education to approximately 20 elementary, middle, and high schools to provide rational and progressive customized education aligned with the 4th industrial revolution and the AI era.
We will operate English camps featuring experiential activities and conversation-focused programs with native speakers during school breaks for elementary, middle, and high school students in our city, and will expand native speaker video English support to provide quality English education to our students and cultivate global talent.
As part of the Osan career and college counseling support project, we will expand the Osan entrance exam camp to actively strengthen customized career and college counseling capabilities.
We will provide 250,000 won in support for overnight experiential learning for 2nd-year middle school students to promote educational growth, and will support the purchase of hygiene products for youth aged 11 to 18 to help them grow in a healthy and equal environment.
Our city currently operates a Hall of Honor to commemorate the precious intentions of donors, and through donations from numerous companies and organizations, we provide substantial scholarships to academically excellent scholarship recipients, students with special talents in art and physical education, and others.
Going forward, we plan to further develop the Hall of Honor to become a substantive scholarship system different from existing scholarship programs.
Additionally, to create an environment for lifelong learning and cultivate potential educational resources, we plan to provide approximately 650 Osan citizens with up to 300,000 won in annual lifelong education encouragement funds.
Furthermore, to promote a culture of daily walking practice and form healthy living habits, we plan to operate a challenge in which citizens who reach a certain number of steps each month through a mobile walking app will receive mileage credited to local currency.
As difficulties increase for socially vulnerable populations these days, we will further strengthen and tighten the safety net for vulnerable groups.
We will provide free herpes zoster vaccination to seniors aged 65 and over with low incomes to protect their health and alleviate medical expenses.
To ease the economic burden of citizens who pay relatively higher costs due to the absence of cremation facilities in our city compared to neighboring areas, we will provide cremation incentives up to a maximum of 350,000 won. In the long term, we plan to jointly participate in the construction of comprehensive funeral service facilities in nearby cities to further reduce citizens' burden.
Additionally, we will pay greater attention to improving citizen welfare through childbirth support funds to overcome low birth rates, support for childcare center entrance expenses, customized job provision for the disabled and elderly, and treatment improvement support for field welfare workers.
Fourth, I will further develop Osan as an exemplary administrative city where citizens can find comfort.
To provide citizens with better administrative services, we are currently constructing the Namchon-dong Administrative Welfare Center with completion targeted for October this year. The Sinjang 2-dong Administrative Welfare Center, currently operating as a temporary office, is proceeding with design with a completion target of 2027.
Construction of the Daewon 2-dong Administrative Welfare Center will also proceed with relevant administrative procedures, including urban planning facility designation, within this year.
To create a pleasant urban environment, we will support the installation of night landscape lighting at 16 apartment complexes and will dramatically improve urban aesthetics by enhancing the landscape of city gateways and major roadsides.
Following the installation of 10 Sprout Stations—sheltered areas for school commutes within apartment complexes—last year, we will add 11 new stations this year to create a safe school commuting environment for infants and children.
We will promptly promote drainage improvement projects for Yangsan-dong Underpass and the lower road of Wondong Daewon Bridge, areas prone to flooding, during the first half of this year.
Through the establishment of an intelligent transportation system in Osan, we will realize intelligent traffic management and resolve traffic congestion. We will lead the construction of a smart city prioritizing citizen safety through the installation of the nation's most advanced AI intelligent CCTV.
Respected citizens! And public officials!
In the new year of 2025, whenever we make a new start, hope and worry intersect. However, as we have done thus far, together with our citizens and public officials, we will wisely and well overcome numerous challenges.
There is a phrase "露積成海" (nosecurity seonghae), meaning that dewdrops gather to form the sea—conveying that small efforts combine to achieve great dreams. If we gather the precious intentions of citizens who desire change and development in Osan and operate city administration as we did over the past two and a half years through creating numerous policies and projects, our Osan will be reborn as a core city of South Korea in the not-too-distant future.
Throughout this year, I ask for your unwavering interest and support.
I pray that this year of 을사 (the Year of the Snake) will be a year in which all citizens achieve greater growth and development through higher aspirations. May you receive much good fortune in the new year. Thank you.