Mayor Byungtaek Lim: "Completing the AI·Bio Capital... Building a K-Siheung City That Citizens Can Truly Feel"

[Interview] Byungtaek Lim, Mayor of Siheung, Gyeonggi Province

"Building a Bio Cluster Linking Baegot, Jeongwang, and Wolgot... Paving the Way for Siheung’s Next 100 Years"

"Groundbreaking for Baegot Seoul National University Hospital... Accelerating Completion of AI and Bio Industry Ecosystem"

"Integrating Turtle Island, Sihwa Lake, and Metropolitan Transport Networks... Establishing a Leading Growth Hub on the West Coast"

"Pursuing Designation as a Free Economic Zone and National Industrial Complex... Securing Future Growth Engines"

"Over the past eight years, I will transform the foundations of growth we have established into changes that citizens can truly feel. I will build a city where citizens feel pride, making it the AI·bio capital of Korea and a place to call home."

Byungtaek Lim, who made history by being elected unopposed in the 9th Nationwide Local Elections for Siheung Mayor, stated in an interview with The Asia Business Daily on the 23rd, "With the authority and responsibility entrusted by the citizens, I will surely complete 'K-Siheung City, the representative city of the Republic of Korea.'"

Mayor Lim identified the fostering of AI·bio industries as the core task for his ninth term. Following major milestones such as the designation of a national advanced bio-specialized complex, a 2.2 trillion won investment from Chong Kun Dang, the successful attraction of Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR), the groundbreaking of Siheung Baegot Seoul National University Hospital, and the establishment of a bio science high school, he intends to focus administrative resources on accelerating the completion of related projects. He said, "We will establish an ultra-large-scale bio cluster linking Baegot, Jeongwang, and Wolgot, push ahead without delay with the lifting of development restrictions in the Jeongwang-district, designation as a national industrial complex, and the construction of the Baegot Bridge, thus growing Siheung into the AI·bio hub of Korea."

The following is a Q&A with Mayor Lim.

Siheung Mayor Byeongtaek Lim stated in an interview with The Asia Business Daily on the 23rd, "With the authority and responsibility entrusted by the citizens, I will definitely accomplish 'K-Siheung City, the representative city of the Republic of Korea.'"

- What is the core philosophy behind the ninth democratically elected city administration?

"The ninth administration is about producing tangible changes that the 600,000 citizens can actually feel, based on the achievements and progress built over the past eight years. On the foundation of continuity and consistency in city governance, I will unwaveringly pursue the vision of Siheung’s development and citizen happiness. With the authority and responsibility entrusted by citizens, I will surely complete 'K-Siheung City, the representative city of the Republic of Korea.'"

- What is your key strategy for establishing an advanced AI·bio industrial city, and what are your main goals for your term?

"The core objective of the ninth administration is to lay the foundation for AI·bio industries that will define Siheung's future for the next 100 years. We will steadily build essential infrastructure such as Chong Kun Dang’s bio-pharmaceutical complex development research center, KTR Siheung Biomedical Research Center, and Siheung Baegot Seoul National University Hospital. We will also take proactive steps to attract leading bio companies, lift the development restrictions in Jeongwang-district, and secure designation as a national industrial complex. By constructing the Baegot Bridge, we aim to establish a large-scale bio hub connecting Baegot, Jeongwang, and Wolgot, thus transforming Siheung into Korea's representative AI·bio hub city."

- What are your strategies for establishing a Free Economic Zone and building an AI·bio industrial ecosystem?

"Designating a Free Economic Zone is a key task to complete the AI·bio industry ecosystem. Alongside the seamless construction of bio infrastructure, we will expand AI·bio convergence infrastructure to reinforce Siheung’s future growth engine. We plan to develop a physical AI dissemination center and the Banwol·Sihwa AX (AI Transformation) Hub to support AI conversion for the manufacturing sector, and foster industry-academia cooperation and corporate clustering centered around Seoul National University Siheung Campus. In particular, we are speeding up the 'Banwol·Sihwa AI Manufacturing Innovation Demonstration and AX Hub Establishment Project' to enhance AI competitiveness for local manufacturing companies. On the 20th, together with Gyeonggi-do, we held a Banwol·Sihwa AX symbiosis and cooperation declaration ceremony, which laid the groundwork for collaboration to create an AI industry ecosystem. Furthermore, we will concentrate administrative efforts on attracting the 'Global UN AI Hub,' which is part of the K-Moonshot Project from the Lee Jae-myung government. By simultaneously pursuing the designation of the Free Economic Zone and fostering the AI·bio industry, we aim to transform Siheung into the AI·bio capital of Korea, enabling citizens to feel the benefits through job creation and regional economic revitalization. I will dedicate the next four years to make these outcomes tangible for citizens."

Panoramic view of Turtle Island in Sihwa Lake. Provided by Siheung City

- What is your strategy to develop Turtle Island into the leading marine tourism destination in the metropolitan area?

"Our goal is to cultivate Turtle Island as a major West Coast destination for extended marine tourism stays. By building on attractions such as Siheung Wave Park, the Marine Ecology Science Center, and the Turtle Island Marina, we will add new tourist content like the nation’s largest-scale aquarium and a giant Ferris wheel, creating a site where visitors can stay longer and fully enjoy themselves. We currently operate a circular city tour double-decker bus linking Turtle Island and Oido, offer free tourist bicycle rentals, and have constructed an underground parking lot at Sihwa MTV Park No. 50 to improve convenience for tourists. In addition, we are enhancing accessibility with projects like the early start of the Second Metropolitan Circular Expressway. By combining both tourism content and transportation infrastructure, we will grow Turtle Island as the metropolitan area’s primary marine tourist hub, strengthening its competitive edge and contributing to the revitalization of the local economy."

- What are your mid- to long-term strategies to enhance the future value of Sihwa Lake?

"Sihwa Lake is the main growth engine that will lead Siheung for the next 100 years and form the central axis of West Coast development. Over time, we have enhanced its environmental and economic value through the designation of 'Sihwa Lake Day,' establishing a master plan for Sihwa Lake’s development strategy, and its selection as an UNESCO ecohydrological demonstration basin. Moving forward, we will nurture Sihwa Lake as the leading marine leisure base in the metropolitan area and the center of a West Coast megacity. In partnership with neighboring cities like Ansan and Hwaseong, we plan to form an ultra-large-scale K-marine tourism cluster integrating marine tourism, culture, and leisure industries, generating new growth engines based on interregional cooperation. We will continue to invest and expand collaboration so that Sihwa Lake goes beyond a regular tourist spot to become a key hub leading the development of Korea’s West Coast. We will do our utmost to ensure that the changes beginning at Sihwa Lake drive the growth not just of Siheung but of the entire West Coast region."

- What is your strategy for creating youth jobs through the fostering of AI·bio industries?

"We will cultivate the AI·bio industries as Siheung's new growth engine, building a virtuous cycle ecosystem where young people can learn, work, and settle locally. Centered around SNU Pharmaceutical Bio Manpower Training Center at Seoul National University Siheung Campus and the Siheung Bio Science High School scheduled to open in 2029, we will systematically nurture experts and establish a talent development system that connects education to employment. Through the opening of Siheung Baegot Seoul National University Hospital and attracting leading bio companies, we will offer high-quality jobs for young people. The construction of the hospital is expected to create approximately 142,000 jobs, and after opening, it is forecasted to bring in an additional 2.08 billion won in tax revenue over five years and more than 200 million won annually thereafter. By completing the AI·bio industrial ecosystem, we will ensure that Siheung becomes not 'a city that youth leave,' but 'a city where youth gather,' enabling young people to study, work, and build their futures right here in Siheung."

Perspective view of Siheung Baegot Seoul National University Hospital. Provided by Siheung City.

- What are your plans to establish a network of metropolitan railways such as GTX, Shinansan Line, Wolgot-Pangyo Line, and Gyeonggang Line, and your strategy for making Siheung a transportation hub?

"Elevating Siheung as the transportation hub of southwestern Gyeonggi Province is a core task of the ninth administration. By developing an extensive metropolitan railway network, we'll reduce commuting times for citizens and enhance city competitiveness by attracting businesses and people. The Shinansan Line's Maehwa Station is proceeding as planned, and construction of the Gyeonggang Line, including Janggok Station, is accelerating. Last year, the Wolgot-Baegot tram was incorporated into Gyeonggi-do's Second Urban Rail Network Construction Plan, which is expected to greatly improve public transit convenience for citizens. The Shinchun-Shillim Line, in particular, is a key metropolitan railway that will connect Siheung’s Shinchun Station with Shillim Station in Gwanak-gu, Seoul. Given its potential to dramatically enhance the southwestern Gyeonggi transportation environment, I visited the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in March to strongly advocate for its inclusion in the Fifth National Rail Network Plan, while also requesting Maehwa Station stops on the Gyeonggang (Wolgot-Pangyo) Line. We will continue working to have these lines reflected in national plans. Going forward, we will connect the expanded metropolitan railway network, roads, trams, and other transportation infrastructure in a seamless manner to bring about a real transformation in transportation, focusing administrative power and cooperating closely with the central government so that Siheung can establish itself as a core transit hub for the southwestern metropolitan area."

- What are your strategies for achieving a population of one million and ensuring balanced development by region?

"We will create the foundations for a city of one million residents through spatial innovation that utilizes each region’s unique characteristics. The city hall area will be developed as a high-density multi-purpose town blending administration, commerce, and culture. By attracting a racetrack that fuses K-pop and K-culture, we will create new leisure culture, connecting the closed salt field at Podong, Wolgot Station, and Sinhyeon Station area organically with the racetrack to develop them as new growth engines. In addition, the Maehwa District urban development project, which will add 10,000 homes to the Maehwa Station area alongside construction of the Shinansan Line’s Maehwa Station, will be swiftly carried out, and Siheung-Gwangmyeong’s third new city will be developed as a representative city for the southwest metropolitan region. In particular, we will attract leading anchor institutions to Siheung-Gwangmyeong Technovalley to get ready for a city of one million. The aging Jeongwang-dong area will be systematically redeveloped and reconstructed based on the 'Master Plan for Redevelopment of Old Planned Cities' to improve living environments and enhance urban competitiveness."

- What is the welfare policy that citizens will experience first during the ninth administration?

"The first change that citizens will experience in the ninth administration is the 'Siheung-type Integrated Care System.' With the new Integrated Care Division established in January, we now have a foundation for this initiative—so we will create a dense welfare network enabling anyone to receive healthcare and care services where they live. We will further expand the Care SOS Centers—installed in all neighborhoods for the first time in Gyeonggi-do in 2022—and the one-stop public health and wellness care services, so that citizens in need can receive services more quickly and conveniently. Our objective is to reduce welfare blind spots and deliver essential support close to where citizens live. In addition, we will strengthen tailored welfare for every stage of life, such as the child allowance, the youth living scholarship, customized elderly care services, the senior happiness check-in project, and personalized assistant services for people with disabilities, so that everyone can feel the security of a comprehensive welfare safety net."

Mayor Byungtaek Lim of Siheung City hosting the "Horse Racing Track Attraction Task Force Formation and Meeting" on February 27. Provided by Siheung City

- What is the most important task for Siheung’s next 40 years?

"The most crucial task is transforming the foundation for growth built over the past eight years into changes that citizens feel in their everyday lives. We will ensure that the achievements in AI·bio, transportation, and tourism—as leading drivers of future growth—are shared by all 600,000 citizens. By the end of my term, I will make certain that 'K-Siheung City, the representative city of the Republic of Korea,' stands as a source of pride for our citizens."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.