Mayor Choi Dae-ho of Anyang Presents Vision for AI-Based Smart Compact City

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Yu Je-sung] At the policy address during the 307th Anyang City Council regular session held on the 20th, Mayor Choi Dae-ho of Anyang presented the direction for 2026 city administration, stating, "As we enter the final year of the eighth civilian-elected administration, I will create tangible results that citizens can feel and build a Anyang with greater growth and development."

Mayor Choi mentioned achievements including the groundbreaking of Indeokwon's 'IntenseSquare' and the Bakdal Smart City project being designated as the project implementer by Anyang City following the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Defense.

He also introduced as major policy achievements the fact that Seoul National University's Gwanak Arboretum changed its name to 'Seoul National University Anyang Arboretum' after 58 years and was opened to citizens on a regular basis.

Anyang City's 2026 budget totals 1.864 trillion won, a 5.95% increase from the previous year.

The city focused on future core investment projects such as railroads and urban development, advancement of smart cities in response to the artificial intelligence (AI) era, stabilization of livelihood and support for socially vulnerable groups, emphasizing sustainable future growth and continuity of key projects.

In his address, Mayor Choi presented five key visions for 2026 city administration: ▲Creating an AI-based smart compact city ▲Recovery of livelihood economy ▲Building a solid safety net ▲Supporting youth dreams and challenges ▲Creating a culture and eco-friendly green city.

Leading the Future as an AI-Based Smart Compact City

The city aims to realize a 'K-AI City' by systematically introducing artificial intelligence across public services and strengthening the foundation for discovering AI-specialized projects.

The city will expand daytime operation routes of the successfully operating autonomous bus 'Juyaro,' lead the future mobility era through operation of level 4 autonomous vehicles without driver seats and pilot operation of robottaxis.

Additionally, the city will launch 'alternative facility basic and detailed design service' for the realization of the AI-based smart convergence complex 'Bakdal Smart City' and steadily pursue Indeokwon's 'IntenseSquare,' which will develop into a quadruple station area.

The city will continue to pursue extension of Seoul's Western Line to Anyang area, extension of the Wiryeseoul-Gwacheon Line to Anyang area, underground conversion of the Gyeongbu Line Anyang section, and additional KTX-eum stops at Anyang Station to strengthen urban competitiveness.

Livelihood and Regional Economy Revitalization...Creating a City Good for Business

The city will operate the 'Job Center,' a one-stop employment support system, to provide practical job opportunities to various groups.

Additionally, to revitalize depressed alley markets, the city will support the issuance of local currency 'Anyang Love Pay' and operation of the public delivery app 'Delivery Express.'

In addition to the 'SME Development Fund Loan Interest Subsidy Project' to ease financial burden on small and medium-sized enterprises, the city will also promote 'startup company equipment investment interest reduction' to support stable growth of startups.

The city plans to discover digital content companies with excellent technical capabilities and growth potential, and support commercialization costs such as prototype manufacturing and technology advancement to strengthen AI industry fostering.

Building a Safety Net with Solid Foundations

To enable elderly and disabled citizens requiring care to continue comfortable lives in their residential areas, the city will establish an integrated medical, long-term care, and care support system based on Aging In Place (AIP).

Additionally, through the 'Living Social Infrastructure (SOC) Facility Creation and Utilization Review Service,' the city will establish a sustainable age-friendly urban environment.

The city will continue to promote birth-friendly policies including educational welfare for youth, family care allowances to address childcare gaps in dual-income households, support for infertile families, and healthy pregnancy and childbirth programs.

A City Nurturing Youth Dreams and Challenges...Continuing Diverse Youth Policies

The city will operate diverse programs at the youth space 'Anyang Youth 1st Street,' which opened this year, and discover private facilities in the city as youth spaces to enable young people to demonstrate their capabilities near their residential areas.

The city will operate customized programs tailored to isolated and reclusive youth, helping them regain vitality and motivation in life and return to society.

The city will also continue to pursue various policies for youth housing stability including expansion of youth monthly rent support, supply of youth housing, and support for moving expenses and lease deposit loan interest.

Creating an Eco-Friendly Green City Full of Life and Culture

This year, the first group of citizen gardeners, who will play a key role in creating Anyang Stream's regional garden, was launched.

Next year, the city will receive approval from Gyeonggi Province as a regional garden and steadily pursue designation as a national garden.

Along with this, the city will spread garden culture throughout the city to provide citizens with affluent and leisurely healing spaces.

Furthermore, the 'Pyeongchon Library,' which will be reborn as a future-oriented complex cultural space, is about to open, and the 'Regional Literature Museum,' which will become the center hub of local culture, is being prepared without delay.

The city plans to enrich citizens' daily lives with diverse cultural and sports content including the 8th Anyang Public Art Project (APAP8) and the greater development of the civic team FC Anyang.

The city will also continue to promote policies to improve energy independence including renewable energy convergence support projects and solar facility installation support for single and multi-family housing.

Mayor Choi Dae-ho stated, "Despite difficult financial circumstances, we carefully reviewed the necessity and effectiveness of projects, adjusted project scale and investment timing, and compiled the budget through selective concentration," and added, "In 2026, we will steadily push forward so that major projects lead to visible results, and through change and innovation, we will enhance citizen happiness index and urban competitiveness."