City shares governance direction at 9th elected-term milestone
Four pillars: citizen health, humanities, balanced growth, garden city
Pocheon marked the 100th day of its 9th elected municipal term Thursday, holding a press briefing to review key achievements from the previous term and share the city's governance direction going forward.
The briefing outlined major policy priorities aimed at realizing the 9th term's governing vision — "Pride Pocheon: A Humanities City Where My Life Is Happy" — building on accomplishments made with residents during the 8th term.
The city said it will pursue change that residents can feel in their daily lives through four core strategies: a citizen-happiness health city, a dignified humanities city, a balanced-growth economy city, and a garden city worth living in.
Highlights from the 8th term included selection as a pilot district for an education development special zone, the creation of the Dureun Dureun education and cultural complex, the groundbreaking of the entire Okjeong–Pocheon metropolitan railway line, the establishment of the Gyeonggi Defense Venture Center, the nationwide-leading installation of Korea Educational Broadcasting System self-directed learning centers, and the revitalization of tourism along the Hantangang River.
The city also pointed to achievements in areas closely tied to residents' daily lives, including community dialogue sessions across all 14 eup, myeon and dong units, expanded parking, improved livestock environmental conditions, completion of the Areum community sports center, the creation of the Heukhyangi barefoot trail and park golf course, and the opening of the Gyeonggi Pocheon Public Postpartum Care Center — the first of its kind in northern Gyeonggi Province.
In the 9th term, the city said it will focus its administrative capacity on improving residents' quality of life and strengthening the foundation for future growth, building on these achievements.
Under the citizen-happiness health city pillar, the city plans to develop a 24-hour regional emergency medical system, an AI-based health management program for senior residents, expanded support for long-term care and dementia treatment, enhanced community sports infrastructure, and an integrated medical and care service.
Under the dignified humanities city pillar, the city will seek designation as an education innovation leading region and strengthen its childcare and parenting system centered on the "Pocheon Aebom 365" program. It also plans to close educational gaps between areas, provide tailored career and college guidance, cultivate talent linked to future industries, and expand humanities and lifelong education — with the goal of building a city where learning leads to growth and settlement.
Under the balanced-growth economy city pillar, the city will pursue the creation of an advanced defense industry innovation cluster, the development of a K-AI drone industry base, smart agriculture and livestock infrastructure, and stronger support for small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners. Alongside this, the city plans to upgrade the Hantangang River tourism hub, develop transit-oriented areas in the urban districts of Soheul, Seondan and Pocheon, expand the metropolitan transport network, and seek designation as a peace economy special zone — all aimed at securing new growth engines for Pocheon.
Under the garden city worth living in pillar, the city will work to enhance the standing of the Hantangang UNESCO Global Geopark, develop Cheongseongsan and Taebong Park, create the Pocheoncheon Blueway, build a walkable five-minute neighborhood garden network, and spread a garden culture in everyday life. The overarching aim is to connect the value of nature to residents' lives and the city's competitiveness.
Over the first 100 days of the 9th term, the city also laid the groundwork for change. It reorganized its structure to better address future challenges — including establishing a new AI policy officer post — and finalized implementation plans for 148 campaign pledges. The city said it will continue listening to residents beyond those pledges, incorporating better solutions into governance, and concentrating its efforts on projects residents need and policies that serve Pocheon's future, guided by sound fiscal judgment.
"The first 100 days of the 9th term were a time to once again place residents' voices at the center of city governance and lay the groundwork for the changes ahead," Pocheon Mayor Baek Young-hyun said. "I will strengthen our capacity for execution so that each policy does not remain a mere plan but translates into real change in residents' daily lives."
"We will steadily advance policies that transform both residents' lives and Pocheon's future — spanning health and care, education, future industries, balanced development and the garden city vision — and complete 'Pride Pocheon: A Humanities City Where My Life Is Happy' together with our citizens," Baek added.
pjh@heraldcorp.com
