Interview Former Guri Mayor Park Young-soon Expresses Will to Run for Mayor in the 9th Elected Term

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Um In-yong] Former Guri Mayor Park Young-soon announced pledges to mark the 2026 Year of the Red Horse and expressed his will to run for mayor of Guri in the 9th elected term to be held in June.

Former Mayor Park characterized the current administration as marked by 'trial and error' and 'overall catastrophe,' and expressed his determination for a 'Major Renovation of Guri City' to reclaim the lost decade.

At the beginning of his second pledge announcement, former Mayor Park criticized recent major policy failures in Guri City, including the failure to have the GTX-B Galmarae Station stop and the failure of the Sanodong Logistics Complex preliminary feasibility study.

Regarding the GTX-B Galmarae Station stop, despite being a promise made by the mayor, lawmakers, and the president, the notification of impossibility from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is nothing short of revealing the incompetence of the mayor and lawmakers. He urged them to apologize immediately and present responsible solutions.

Regarding the Sanodong Logistics Complex project in particular, he stated, "The very idea of building a large-scale logistics complex near Dongguneung, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is nonsensical, and this collapse is a predetermined disaster," and criticized it as "a representative case of wasteful administration, with the relocation of Guri Agricultural and Fisheries Wholesale Market falling through as a result of such policy misjudgment."

Defining the past 10 years as a period of 'reckless administration by inexperienced rookie mayors,' former Mayor Park diagnosed that while successor mayors reversed core policies of the previous Mayor Park Young-soon under the pretext of political disputes, Guri City has fallen into becoming a bedroom city ranking at the bottom of Gyeonggi Province's GRDP (regional gross domestic product), resulting in the complete collapse of the local economy. He emphasized, "Only Park Young-soon can revive Guri City through seasoned experience, proven expertise, and strong implementation power."

The following is a Q&A; session.

▲Regarding the '7 Major Self-Sufficient City Pledges' for Guri's development, what are your plans for Topyeong District 2 and Sanodong development, which are pressing local issues?

- Topyeong District 2 is conceived as designating an advanced urban industrial complex of over 100,000 pyeong through attracting K-content Korean Wave Hubs and MICE industries, while attracting K-pop arenas, K-content and hotels, convention centers, etc., thereby creating tens of thousands of jobs.

With the district designation completed in December of last year and the district plan to be established this year, in order to realize the self-sufficient city that is the aspiration of our city, the designation of an 'advanced urban industrial complex' is absolutely necessary when establishing the district plan. This is because an 'advanced urban industrial complex' in which land prices are supplied at construction cost (or below cost) is essential to attracting businesses.

Therefore, we aim to designate an advanced urban industrial complex in Topyeong District 2 (over 100,000 pyeong) and attract MICE industries including K-pop performance venues (arenas), K-content industries, hotels, and convention centers, not only securing municipal tax revenue for Guri City but also providing tens of thousands of employment opportunities to residents.

Additionally, we plan to propose to relevant local governments and the central government to create an 'East Han River Cultural Industry Belt' connecting Guri City with five cities below Paldang Dam (Namyangju, Hanam, Gangdong, Gwangjin, and Songpa), enabling them to serve as dual pillars of the Korean economy alongside the semiconductor national industrial complexes in Yongin and Pyeongtaek.

We absolutely pledge to ensure that the last land of hope in Topyeong Plain will not unfortunately end up with large-scale apartment complexes and knowledge industry centers, thereby becoming just another bedroom city (new town).

Additionally, the independent development of Sanodong and relocation complex construction will be implemented by changing the logistics complex plan to a public housing district through consultation with LH, securing Guri City's independent development areas, and creating large-scale relocation residential complexes for residents of the old downtown redevelopment.

▲Do you have plans to activate Galmarae New Town and the Guri Agricultural and Fisheries Wholesale Market?

- We plan to substantially expand Galmarae New Town infrastructure. Through creative financing methods such as municipal land sales, we will realize the GTX-B Galmarae Station stop, and create a 'prestigious academy district' through newly establishing one each of middle and high schools (specialized high schools) and providing 50% rent discounts.

Additionally, we will attract a 'complex tourist shopping mall' to the Guri Agricultural and Fisheries Wholesale Market site, modernizing the wholesale market by placing it underground, while attracting the largest complex shopping mall and residential-commercial complex in the Seoul metropolitan area on the ground level, transforming it into the largest commercial district in northeast Seoul.

To be specific, we will modernize the Guri Agricultural and Fisheries Wholesale Market facilities and place them underground, while on the 70,000 pyeong site above ground (wholesale market 58,000 pyeong + comprehensive distribution market 12,000 pyeong), we will attract the largest complex tourist shopping mall in the Seoul metropolitan area, larger than Jamsil Lotte World (65,200 pyeong) or Hanam Starfield (35,700 pyeong).

We will connect it underground to the Dongguneung Station on Line 8 (and eventually with a transfer to Line 6), and through residential-commercial development utilizing a 1,200% floor area ratio on the comprehensive distribution market site, which is a general commercial district, we will also increase profitability.

Through the substantial tax revenue secured from this project, we will dramatically increase Guri City's fiscal self-reliance and greatly contribute to improving citizens' welfare.

▲What is your three-stage strategy for Guri City's incorporation into Seoul?

- Rather than unconditional slogans, we have created a realistic roadmap that proceeds with establishing a self-sufficient city base, then persuading Gyeonggi Province and Seoul, followed by legislative action.

Currently, 'Guri City's incorporation into Seoul' is practically impossible. The reason is that for 'incorporation into Seoul,' the Ministry of the Interior and Safety must currently initiate special legislation, which requires the consent (approval) of Gyeonggi Province (assembly) and Seoul (assembly). While the result of this local election will determine this, I understand that Gyeonggi Province currently has a negative stance, and even if a government bill were submitted to the National Assembly, given the current political landscape where the Democratic Party opposes it, passage through the National Assembly cannot be expected.

Therefore, we plan to pursue the following '3-stage 'Seoul Incorporation' Strategy.

First, the stage of government approval must be preceded by establishing concrete policies to realize Guri City as a self-sufficient city. After obtaining government approval for the designation of the 'Guri Advanced Urban Industrial Complex' in Topyeong District 2 public housing and the basic plan for a K-content Korean Wave Hub city, we will move to the second stage where, following the local elections, we will persuade Gyeonggi Province and Seoul to obtain their consent, followed by legislation, submission to the National Assembly, and passage.

▲What about substantially expanding the rail network?

- We will complete a dense rail network including GTX-B (Galmarae), GTX-D (Topyeong), Line 6 extension (Dongguneung), Byeolnae Line new stations (Sutek and Topyeong), and Inchang Station establishment on the Gyeongui-Jungang Line.

Specifically, this includes the GTX-B line Galmarae station stop, GTX-D line connection to Topyeong K-content Korean Wave Hub City, Line 6 Dongguneung Station connection, establishment of two new stations on the Byeolnae Line—Sutek Station (Sutek District 2 redevelopment) and Topyeong Station (Topyeong Korean Wave Hub City)—establishment of Inchang Station (behind Inchang Elementary School) on the Gyeongui-Jungang Line, and Myeonmok Line Galmarae Station and Sanodong connection.

Additionally, to raise educational, cultural, and welfare infrastructure to a higher level, we have already devised 18 detailed tasks to enhance citizens' quality of life, including attracting private schools and specialized high schools, building a Second Arts Center and Second Patriots/Senior Citizens Hall, reconstructing the Guri City Sports Complex, making nationwide e-sports competitions an annual event, and creating a par-golf course on the Han River banks.

▲What would you like to say to the citizens?

Although ten years have passed since I stepped down mid-term from my position as the 6th elected mayor, I cannot bear to merely watch Guri remain stalled, so with the heart of a relief pitcher, I have decided to take the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning. This election is a watershed moment that determines whether Guri will forever decline into a 'bedroom city' of the Seoul metropolitan area or will soar as a self-sufficient city," and "Park Young-soon, who has proven himself through action, will burn my last spark and certainly achieve the 'Miracle on the Banks of Guri's Han River.'"