Mayor Seong Suseok of Icheon: "Preparing for the Next 100 Years with Semiconductor Research Complex and Station Area Development"

[100 Days in Office Interview] Seong Suseok, Mayor of Icheon
Pushing Forward a 150,000-pyeong Semiconductor Research Complex
Building an Ecosystem for Research, Testing, and Startups
Launching a "Three Major Station Renaissance" in Bubal, Icheon, and Sindun with an Advanced Transportation Network
Establishing a Growth Base in the Southern Region by Attracting a Race Park; Expanding Investment in Education and Care
Promoting the Establishment of Icheon City Development Corporation; Preventing Unplanned Development and Returning 100% of Development Profits to Citizens

"We will ensure that the growth of the semiconductor industry transforms the daily lives of our citizens."

On the 100th day of his inauguration on October 6, Seong Suseok, Mayor of Icheon City, Gyeonggi Province, stated, "I will create a city that goes beyond being home to corporate production facilities, by attracting research institutions and startup companies, retaining young people, and making it a place where families do not leave because of their children's education."

Seong Suseok, mayor of Icheon City, Gyeonggi Province, on the 6th marking his 100th day in office, stated, "We will create a city that goes beyond being just a place with corporate manufacturing facilities to one where research institutes and startup companies gather, youth settle down, and families do not leave because of their children's education." Provided by Icheon City

The two pillars of Mayor Seong’s future growth strategy are the construction of the "150,000 pyeong Semiconductor Research Complex," which is his No. 1 pledge, and the development of three major station areas: Bubal, Icheon, and Sindun. The plan is to expand the foundations of semiconductor research, testing, and startup support, and to foster the station areas as hubs where industry, residential life, and culture converge. By attracting a race park, his aim is to establish a new economic base in the southern part of the city, and to strengthen public development capacity by establishing a city development corporation.

Under the ninth popularly elected administration, Icheon City has set its policy vision as "Dongshim Donghaeng (with one mind and one path), Opening the Future of Icheon Together with Citizens." The city is focusing on a total of 106 tasks, including 79 pledged projects and an additional 27 implementation tasks. Including previous investment, the total project volume is projected at KRW 1.4595 trillion by 2030. We asked Mayor Seong Suseok about his strategy to prepare Icheon for the next 100 years and the core priorities to improve citizens’ lives.

-It has been 100 days since your inauguration. How have you set the direction for Icheon's administration?

▲"Dongshim Donghaeng" means moving forward by looking in the same direction as the citizens. I want to build a city where children's dreams grow, young people have opportunities, family lives are secure, and where rural areas and the local economy are revitalized together.

No matter how much the city grows, it is not enough if citizens' daily lives do not improve. We will ensure that policies on industry, transportation, education, and welfare bring about tangible changes citizens can feel. We plan to pursue our pledges by securing both national and provincial funding as well as private investment, to ease the city’s financial burden.

-There are concerns that investment in Icheon may decrease due to the development of the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster. What is your response strategy?

▲I take citizens’ concerns very seriously. Icheon must establish a new role for itself. Building the 150,000-pyeong semiconductor research complex, which was my primary pledge, is the starting point.

We aim to create an ecosystem where research and development, as well as companies in materials, parts, and equipment, and fabless companies specializing in semiconductor design, can grow alongside production facilities. We are considering sites such as the Bubal station area and hubs connecting the Yongin cluster and SK hynix Icheon as location alternatives. The goal is for the industrial bases of the two regions to complement each other.

We are consulting with relevant institutions to attract research/testing organizations and semiconductor-focused graduate schools. We are also pursuing the establishment of ICON, the Icheon New Industry Promotion Institute, which will support collaboration among companies, research institutes, and universities. The plan includes supporting the entire process by which young startups develop and commercialize technologies.

Seong Soo-seok, Mayor of Icheon City, is explaining the city administration plan to improve citizens' transportation convenience, including the modernization of the old terminal, increase in metropolitan buses, and expansion of village buses. Provided by Icheon City

-What are the unique visions for each of the three major station area developments?

▲It is important to leverage the unique characteristics of each area—Bubal, Icheon, and Sindun. For Bubal station, the aim is to nurture a multifunctional hub that combines research and development as well as residential and commercial features, making use of railway accessibility and the semiconductor industry base.

The Icheon station area, close to City Hall, will focus on enhancing administrative, cultural, and residential functions, while the Sindun Ceramics Village station area will be developed as a residential space that utilizes the resources of ceramic arts, culture, and tourism. Our plan is not only to construct new buildings around the stations, but also to provide jobs, lifestyle facilities, and transportation together.

We will also expand the road network to support this development. This includes widening national and provincial highways, constructing roads connecting east-west and north-south routes, and improving traffic bottlenecks in built-up areas. Public transportation services will be strengthened as well, including metropolitan buses, "Ddokbus" (city buses), and "Happy Taxi" services.

-How far has the process for establishing the city development corporation that will lead development projects progressed?

▲We are preparing for a launch in December 2027. There is a need for a public development entity that specializes in station area development and small-scale industrial complexes.

If established, the city development corporation will allow the city to take the lead in steering development and create a system where the proceeds from development are reinvested into the region. It will also play a key role in reducing haphazard development and systematically providing the infrastructure that citizens need.

We are thoroughly reviewing the business feasibility and financial stability. We will examine options such as taking over existing delegated projects, restructuring commissioned projects, and securing revenue sources to formulate a viable establishment plan.

-Even in a semiconductor-focused city, agriculture remains a key industry. How do you plan to increase farm household incomes?

▲Agriculture is both the root of Icheon and a future industry. In addition to supporting production costs, we need to improve the distribution structure and guarantee stable market channels.

We plan to build a state-of-the-art agricultural and livestock distribution center so that producers get fair prices and consumers can purchase agricultural products at reasonable costs. We will also increase income channels for farmers by attracting the Metropolitan Area Flower Distribution Center.

We will expand the scope of "opportunity income" for farmers and fishermen, as well as provide eco-friendly certification and consulting support, and secure public food channels such as supply to schools and military units. By establishing a Rural Regeneration Support Center, we will also strive to improve both living conditions and community activities in rural areas.

-You have stated that you will double the education support budget. What is the focus of this initiative?

▲The focus is on ensuring that families do not have to leave Icheon for their children's education. We will renovate aging school facilities and support learning equipment and customized educational programs.

By utilizing the characteristics of the region, where the semiconductor and information technology industries are advanced, we plan to strengthen education in artificial intelligence and software. By attracting a specialized graduate school for semiconductors, we will create a foundation for developing high-level technical talent in cooperation with enterprises, and we are also considering the possibility of bringing in a science high school and an international school.

We will expand both career/academic counseling and scholarship programs, so that children can learn and plan their future in Icheon.

-There is a high demand for pediatric care at night and on holidays. What are your plans for medical care and welfare services?

▲When a child falls ill late at night or on holidays, parents’ anxiety increases. We will establish the "Icheon-type Dalbit Children's Hospital" to reduce gaps in pediatric care. We also plan to enhance public care, so as to ease the burden on caregivers.

Welfare services need to be connected throughout all stages of life. For adolescents and young adults, we will strengthen support in education, housing, and independence. For middle-aged and elderly citizens, we will expand support for health management, employment, and caregiving. We aim to ensure that citizens can receive the support they need at whatever stage of life they face difficulties.

Seong Su-seok, mayor of Icheon (left), is taking a commemorative photo with officials after delivering a proposal for attracting the Horse Racing Park to Icheon during a visit to the Korea Racing Authority. Provided by the City of Icheon

-Why are you actively seeking to attract the race park?

▲To establish a new growth base for the local economy and promote balanced development in the southern region. We envision a multifunctional leisure complex that combines racing with experiential, cultural, sports, and tourism elements.

If the attraction is successful, it will create jobs in both construction and operation, and visitor spending will boost local businesses and the agriculture and livestock sectors. It is also expected to increase tax revenue. The specific effects will depend on the project scale and operating model, but we intend to reinvest any revenues generated into citizens’ education, welfare, and infrastructure.

-What are Icheon's strengths in competing against other municipalities to attract the race park?

▲The advantages include the metropolitan transportation network, availability of land, and the need for balanced development in the southern region. Accessibility can be leveraged via the Jungbu, Yeongdong, and Gwangju-Wonju Expressways, national highways, and the Jungbu Inland Railway.

However, highlighting convenient transportation alone is not enough. We must present specific data on the environmental conditions and transportation capacity of candidate sites, and the feasibility of project implementation. We will concentrate on gathering citizen and city council opinions and substantiating the site’s competitiveness with data and implementation plans.

-What is your strategy for making Icheon a destination where tourists stay?

▲The goal is to connect ceramic arts, festivals, and waterfront spaces. We are working to reorganize the Icheon Cultural Foundation into a Cultural Tourism Foundation for the integrated management of tourism resources.

We will strengthen the programs at the Rice Culture Festival, Ceramic Festival, Janghowon Haetsare Peach Festival, and Sansuyu Flower Festival, and develop associated tourism packages. By connecting major sites such as Yes Park and Seolbong Park, we aim to establish a base for experiential tourism where visitors can eat, stay, and enjoy themselves.

We will also support cultural spaces and community arts programs in the townships and villages. Bringing in tourists is important, but so is creating an environment where citizens can enjoy culture in their daily lives.

Seong Sooseok, mayor of Icheon, visits a construction site to discuss the progress of the construction and onsite safety management measures with the parties involved. Provided by the city of Icheon

-How would you like to be remembered by Icheon’s 230,000 citizens?

▲I would like to be remembered as a mayor who turned promises into tangible results. The past 100 days have been a time to listen to the voices of citizens and lay the groundwork for new advancement. Now we must begin putting these plans into action, step by step.

I will make changes visible to citizens by building the semiconductor research complex, expanding the transportation network, improving education and welfare, and supporting farmers and small business owners. The mayor has the responsibility to make the lives of citizens more comfortable and prosperous. I will remain attentive to even the small inconveniences on the ground and maintain my commitment to being a diligent servant of the people.

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