Yongin Mayor Lee Sangil: "I'll Work to Build a New School and Improve School Commute Safety in Yangji-eup"

Yongin City Holds First "Community Busking" Event Under Ninth Elected Administration
Discusses Local Issues with Gyeongnam Honorsville Descent Residents
Hears Calls for an Integrated Elementary and Middle School
Explores Special Education Classes and Measures Against Illegal Parking

Lee Sang-il, mayor of Yongin Special City, said on October 13, "I will do my utmost to find solutions to residents' concerns that have yet to be addressed."

Yongin Special City Mayor Lee Sangil holds a community busking event at Gyeongnam Honorsville Descent on the 13th. Photo provided by Yongin City.

That day, Mayor Lee held a "community busking" event with about 20 residents from complexes 1, 2 and 3 in the residents' meeting room at Gyeongnam Honorsville Descent Complex 1 in Yangji-eup, Cheoin-gu. They discussed local issues, including building a new school, school commute safety and illegal parking.

The event, the first community busking event held since the launch of the ninth popularly elected administration, was organized at the residents' request. The city explained solutions and plans for follow-up action regarding 16 suggestions submitted in advance on education, transportation, safety and other areas.

Mayor Lee said, "When I first visited here in December 2024, the area looked desolate because construction had not been completed even though the move-in date was approaching. On my fifth visit, I saw that a pleasant residential environment had been created. That's thanks to the city, residents and construction company working together to address the issues."

Residents called for a new school to accommodate the increase in students expected as nearby apartment complexes are developed.

The chair of the Complex 2 residents' representative council said, "Our apartment complex has 1,164 households, and the number of students will increase significantly once move-ins begin at nearby apartment complexes. We propose building an integrated elementary and middle school on the school site in front of our complex to prevent overcrowding at Yangji Elementary School."

Mayor Lee said, "Once the apartments under construction in Yangji-eup are completed, about 5,000 households will move in. I have been consistently calling for a small school to be built if establishing a standalone school proves difficult. School construction falls under the jurisdiction of the education office, but the city will also convey residents' requests." He also urged residents to directly ask the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education and the Yongin Office of Education to build a school and add classes.

Yongin Special City Mayor Lee Sangil poses for a commemorative photo with participants in the apartment community busking event at Gyeongnam Honorsville Descent on the 13th. Photo provided by Yongin City.

They also discussed operating a shuttle bus to improve safety for students traveling to Yangji Elementary School. The city said it would coordinate with the school to secure a designated pick-up and drop-off area on campus and consider supporting bus operations through its student commute support program if conditions allow. Mayor Lee urged officials to "work with the school to reach an amicable agreement so that a school bus can operate, and make efforts to resolve the issue as soon as possible."

One resident also raised concerns about the burden of commuting faced by students with disabilities when they move on to middle school. "My child attends a special education class at Yangji Elementary School, but there are no special education classes at nearby middle schools, so in two years my child will have to travel a long distance to school," the resident said.

In response, Mayor Lee said, "I believe breaking down barriers for people with disabilities is something we must all do together. Yongin has two special education schools, and we are also planning to establish one more." He added, "We will discuss with Yongdong Middle School the possibility of opening a special education class, and the city will also consider providing support if needed."

Regarding illegal parking at night around the complex, Mayor Lee stressed the need for measures that prioritize pedestrian safety. Residents said vehicles were being parked to avoid the operating hours of enforcement cameras, putting children and older adults at risk as they walked.

Mayor Lee said, "Illegal parking is not merely an inconvenience; it is a serious issue that threatens pedestrian safety. I ask city officials, residents and the construction company to communicate and seek a sensible solution together."

He also announced plans to strengthen quality control for apartment complexes. Mayor Lee said, "Using Gyeongnam Honorsville Descent as a starting point, we have established guidelines for systematically managing quality and defects from the construction phase through completion and beyond. We will carefully oversee everything from design to construction supervision to prevent serious defects and poor construction."

Yongin Special City Mayor Lee Sangil visits Gyeongnam Honorsville Descent on the 13th to inspect an area with frequent complaints about illegal parking. Provided by Yongin City.

He added, "Residents and the construction company worked together to create a pleasant apartment complex. We will continue to communicate actively with residents and make Yongin a better place to live."

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