First official act: 'Constitutional City Declaration' anchors governance in democracy, transparency and fairness
Four district goals and 65 campaign pledges confirmed; policies to center residents' lives — covering birth rate, education, startups and urban renewal
Yeongdeungpo-gu has confirmed four district governance goals and 65 campaign pledges and begun full implementation, working toward the ninth-term vision of building the "Greatest Yeongdeungpo."
About 100 days into the new term, the district made its first official act a "Constitutional City Declaration," placing residents' sovereignty at the top of its agenda. It then adopted democracy, transparency and fairness as its governing philosophy, with communication with residents as the primary means of putting those values into practice.
To that end, the district opened a direct hotline to the district mayor, which has received 2,439 inquiries to date. Resident satisfaction has been high, as the district mayor personally follows up on calls. Most recently, when more than 120 members of a local housing association near Byeongmucheong Station filed complaints, the district held a meeting on Oct. 6 to hear their concerns directly. In November, it plans to conduct a fact-finding investigation involving lawyers, accountants and other specialists to identify solutions.
Alongside this, the district has expanded everyday infrastructure — breaking ground on the Eoulsup cultural rest area and children's playground, opening the Yeongdeungpo Third Sports Center, and establishing a job-creation café for people with disabilities — while also laying the groundwork for a startup special zone and pushing forward a project to eliminate prostitution districts.
Particularly notable was the district's demonstration of policy execution: it launched a low birth rate task force targeting a total fertility rate of 1.0, and set up a rapid urban renewal support team to accelerate redevelopment projects.
In addition, the district proposed regulatory reforms to curb the proliferation of data centers at the Seoul Metropolitan Government's council of district mayors, where the measure passed unanimously. It also petitioned the central government on a range of issues, including GTX route adjustments, railway underground relocation and support for the opening of the Sinansan Line, fulfilling its role as a vocal advocate for residents' concerns.
Building on this policy foundation, the district intends to faithfully carry out its four governance goals and 65 campaign pledges to complete the "Greatest Yeongdeungpo."
The four district governance goals are: human dignity and value, equal opportunity for all, strengthening grassroots democracy, and future-oriented district innovation. The district plans to take the core values of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea as its governing principles and put them into practice in residents' daily lives.
First, under the goal of human dignity and value, the district will pursue the "Yeongdeungpo Total Fertility Rate 1.0 Project." It also aims to promote multicultural social integration and improve access to sports and cultural parks along Dorimcheon and Anyangcheon, creating a city where everyone can live with peace of mind.
Second, the goal of equal opportunity for all focuses on expanding access to diverse opportunities in education and the economy. The district will work to narrow the education gap through a foundational thinking skills program and a Jiphyeonjeon initiative. It will also develop a K-culture belt that draws on the area's distinct character to cultivate a new industry, and broaden opportunities for new ventures and growth through the creation of a "Greatest Startup City," support for small businesses and the development of a globally connected commercial district.
Third, the district will work to strengthen grassroots democracy. It will hold a "minhoe" — a democratic festival in which residents directly propose and debate local issues to shape policy. Plans include activating resident self-governance and participatory budgeting systems to translate residents' voices into tangible policy.
Finally, in pursuit of future-oriented district innovation, the district will focus on urban renewal and improvements to the transportation environment. Swift and thorough urban redevelopment will be treated as a watershed for local growth, while expanded rail infrastructure and improved public transit will strengthen residents' right to mobility.
"The past 100 days were a time when I personally hit the pavement to tackle Yeongdeungpo's key issues," District Mayor Jo Yu-jin said. "Ultimately, communication is the answer. The residents are the owners of Yeongdeungpo, and the district mayor is their worker. I will continue to listen tirelessly to what residents want and reflect their wishes in district governance to build the Greatest Yeongdeungpo."
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