Seocho-gu District Mayor Jeon Seong-su unveils five future visions — a vibrant economy city, premium residential city, everyday culture city, green welfare city and future promise city — pledging to govern with total dedication and keep every campaign pledge.
Seocho-gu District Mayor Jeon Seong-su said in his inauguration address for his ninth elected term that "if the past four years powerfully opened 'Seocho's Golden Era 1,' the next four years will be the time to complete 'Seocho's Golden Era 2,'" pledging to lead the district's new leap forward through what he called "wholehearted governance" — putting his entire heart into every decision.
Jeon said Seocho-gu recorded the highest voter turnout in Seoul in the local elections, achieving the best turnout rate in the district's history. "This is the result of our residents demonstrating their mature civic consciousness — Seocho's greatest asset — and a testament to their aspirations and pride for the future," he said. Rather than resting on achievements such as the No. 1 national brand reputation ranking, top scores in Seoul for the social safety index, lifestyle satisfaction index, campaign pledge fulfillment evaluation and voter turnout, he said he would continue to raise the value of Seocho as a livable city through trustworthy governance that keeps its promises.
"Facing the strong support you have shown me, I feel the weight of an even greater responsibility," Jeon said. "I will be a district mayor who opens the path from the front, listens from the lowest place, and takes responsibility until the very end. I will repay you through Jeon Seong-su's signature 'wholehearted governance,' with every ounce of my heart."
On his first day back at work after the local elections, Jeon signed the "Reconstruction Rapid Support Team Operation Plan" as his first official act, signaling his strong commitment to reconstruction projects. He said he would "go directly to reconstruction sites, clear bottlenecks, smooth out delays and remove obstacles," adding that he would listen to voices on the ground and push projects forward "beyond speed — at full throttle."
He then presented five future visions to guide the district's ninth elected term: a vibrant economy city, a premium residential city, an everyday culture city, a green welfare city and a future promise city.
Under the first vision, Jeon said he would develop a global AICT belt in the Yangjae and Naegok areas, maximizing synergies between the Yangjae AI Special Zone and the ICT Promotion District to create a vibrant economy city that nurtures AI talent and fosters startups and unicorn companies. For the premium residential city vision, he pledged to break through administrative bottlenecks in reconstruction and secure shared community facilities through public contributions. On the everyday culture city front, he said he would build a tourism corridor linking Chem Street at Gangnam Station with the Express Bus Terminal and Sevit tourism special zones, complete the Seocho Culture Belt, and develop a cultural complex on the former Defense Intelligence Agency site.
In addition, Jeon said he would steadily advance the green welfare city vision — covering public transit subsidies and shingles vaccination support for residents 65 and older, integrated operation of the Seoripul Bus service, and smart childcare infrastructure — as well as the future promise city vision, which includes underground routing of the Gyeongbu arterial road and Banpo-daero and mixed-use redevelopment of the Seoul Express Bus Terminal area.
"Seocho's future is built by the strongest united team," Jeon said. "We will work as one team with the Seoul Metropolitan Government to realize key policies and pending projects with speed and accountability, and we will strengthen cooperation with the Seocho-gu Council to continue resident-centered, rational decision-making." He pledged to "listen wholeheartedly, work wholeheartedly, and run a district government that watches over residents' lives up close and delivers on its promises."
Inauguration Address — Seocho-gu District Mayor Jeon Seong-su
To the 420,000 residents of Seocho-gu whom I respect and love,
Seocho has written new history. You, the great residents of Seocho-gu, achieved the highest voter turnout in Seoul — the best in the history of our local elections. This is the result of your mature civic consciousness, Seocho's greatest asset, and a testament to the aspirations and pride you hold for the future.
Seocho has already proven its strength and distinction through a range of indicators: No. 1 in the country among basic local governments for brand reputation, No. 1 in Seoul for the social safety index for four consecutive years, No. 1 in Seoul for the lifestyle satisfaction index, No. 1 in Seoul for campaign pledge fulfillment, and No. 1 in Seoul for voter turnout — a brilliant sweep of five top rankings achieved together.
I will not be complacent with today's top rankings. Through trustworthy governance that keeps its promises, I will work with you, our residents, to further elevate the value of Seocho as a city worth living in.
Respected residents of Seocho-gu,
Facing the strong support you have shown me, I feel the weight of an even greater responsibility. At this critical juncture that will determine Seocho's future, I will devote myself wholeheartedly to fulfilling the mission you have entrusted to me. I will uphold Seocho's pride solely by honoring your will. I will be a district mayor who opens the path from the front, listens from the lowest place, and takes responsibility until the very end. I will repay you through Jeon Seong-su's signature "wholehearted governance," with every ounce of my heart.
On June 4, my first day back at work, I signed the "Reconstruction Rapid Support Team Operation Plan" as my first official act, pressing the accelerator on reconstruction — our most pressing issue. Together with the capable public servants of Seocho-gu, I will go directly to reconstruction sites, clear bottlenecks, smooth out delays and remove obstacles. I will listen to voices on the ground and push forward beyond speed — at full throttle.
We are now on the threshold of a great transformation of Seocho. I will establish a global AI industry hub and complete the Banpo-daero Culture Belt. I plan to strengthen a people-centered pedestrian and public transit network and reorganize parks and green spaces into multipurpose leisure and cultural venues. I will also develop the area around Yangjae Station into a mixed-use urban center and transform the Gangnam-daero corridor and large underutilized sites into future-oriented mixed-use hubs. I will build Seocho-style premium residential complexes and everyday infrastructure to create a city where everyone grows together.
Dear residents of Seocho-gu,
If the past four years powerfully opened "Seocho's Golden Era 1," the next four years will be the time to complete "Seocho's Golden Era 2." I will give it concrete shape through five future visions.
The first is a vibrant economy city. I will develop a global AICT belt in the Yangjae and Naegok areas, maximizing synergies between the Yangjae AI Special Zone and the ICT Promotion District to connect AI talent development with the nurturing of startups and unicorn companies.
The second is a premium residential city. Speed is the lifeblood of reconstruction. I will break through administrative bottlenecks and turn residents' long wait into tangible results. By securing shared community facilities through reconstruction public contributions, I will create a Seocho-style premium residential city where surrounding neighborhoods also benefit.
The third is an everyday culture city. I will build a tourism corridor linking Chem Street at Gangnam Station all the way to the Express Bus Terminal and Sevit tourism special zones, and complete the Seocho Culture Belt connecting the Seoul Arts Center, Seoripul Park and Sevit Island. I will develop a cultural complex on the former Defense Intelligence Agency site and pursue the construction of a district art museum, literature hall and small theater, completing a Seocho where everyday life becomes art.
The fourth is a green welfare city. I will provide public transit subsidies and shingles vaccination support for residents 65 and older. The Seocho filial-piety, culture and sports shuttle bus service will be integrated and operated as the "Seoripul Bus," providing robust mobility support for seniors and others. For childcare, I will build smart infrastructure to create a Seocho where parents feel at ease and children are happy.
The fifth is a future promise city. By routing the Gyeongbu arterial road underground, I will reconnect the divided east and west and transform the surface into a people-centered space. Vehicle traffic on Banpo-daero will be diverted underground to ease congestion, while the surface will be remade into a pedestrian-centered cultural and arts street. The Seoul Express Bus Terminal area will be developed through a mixed-use project to create a hub where transportation, business, residential, tourism and commercial functions come together.
Seocho's future is built by the strongest united team. Working as one team with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, I will realize key policies and pending projects with speed and accountability. I will also strengthen cooperation with the Seocho-gu Council. By grounding policy in thorough communication and advance consultation, I will raise the quality of our decisions, and through mutual respect and trust, continue resident-centered, rational decision-making. In its ninth elected term, Seocho-gu will move forward together toward one goal and one direction, built on cooperation and trust.
Dear residents of Seocho-gu,
Countless steps have accumulated along the path we have walked together. Each of those steps has made today's Seocho, and now we stand at a new starting line. Today's achievements are not a place to rest, but a door opening to a greater tomorrow. I will be the one who lights the way before that door. To go further, I will listen most closely from right beside you. Even when the wind blows, I will not lose my direction; even when the rain falls, I will not stop walking.
In this election, I received a great gift — Seoul's highest voter turnout and vote share. I believe this is not support for one person, but your expectations for Seocho's future. Carrying that weight deep in my heart, I stand here today, Tuesday, June 30. I will never forget the face of each person I met during the campaign, the words you shared with me, and the hopes and wishes held within them. I believe that listening and remembering with all one's heart is precisely what "wholehearted governance" means.
I will listen wholeheartedly, work wholeheartedly, and repay you wholeheartedly. I will watch over residents' lives up close and run a district government that delivers on its promises. I will walk hand in hand with all 420,000 residents of Seocho-gu. Seocho's tomorrow will be stronger and brighter. Thank you.
July 1, 2026
Seocho-gu District Mayor Jeon Seong-su
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
