Eight major campaign pledges spanning democracy, urban renewal, startup zones and economic vitality
First official act of the 9th elected term: 'Yeongdeungpo Constitutional City Declaration'
Inauguration ceremony on July 1 draws 800 residents to share the district's new core vision
Yeongdeungpo-gu has launched its 9th elected-term administration under the vision of "Greatest Yeongdeungpo," District Mayor Cho Yu-jin said Tuesday.
The "Greatest Yeongdeungpo" vision aims to elevate the district's brand value by drawing on its history and proven strengths, with the goal of transforming it into a world-class city that transcends its national standing.
Yeongdeungpo has stood at the center of pivotal moments in modern Korean history. Immediately after liberation in 1945, it was the first place where members of the Korean Provisional Government set foot upon returning home. During the industrialization era, the district served as an engine of growth — home to countless factories and rail lines that drove the "Miracle on the Han River." It has also been a cradle of democracy as home to the National Assembly, and drew renewed attention in 2024 as a historic site where residents defended democratic values during the Dec. 3 emergency martial law crisis.
The 9th elected-term administration plans to build on these historical assets as a source of competitive advantage unique to Yeongdeungpo, treating the next decade as a watershed moment for a major leap forward and directing all administrative resources accordingly.
To that end, the district will pursue 32 core campaign pledges across eight areas: democracy, urban renewal, startup zones, economic vitality, cultural development, education innovation, international city-building and welfare administration.
Key pledges include declaring Yeongdeungpo South Korea's first constitutional city, providing fast-track support for redevelopment and reconstruction projects, offering tailored startup support for district residents, operating a "Greatest Yeongdeungpo" trademark for outstanding local products and services, pursuing a Yeouido financial special zone and a K-Global Center, and targeting a total fertility rate of 1.0.
District Mayor Cho is making the "Yeongdeungpo Constitutional City Declaration" her first official act in office. The declaration is intended to build a city where the values enshrined in the South Korean Constitution are realized across every area of district governance. The district will adopt the constitutional principles of human dignity and worth, freedom and equality, democracy and rule of law, and human rights and decentralization as the standards for its administration — pursuing governance defined by openness, fairness, diversity and transparency.
The district also plans to guarantee residents' right to information and participation in local governance, with civil servants fulfilling their responsibilities as servants of all residents under the principle that residents are the ultimate owners of the district administration. As part of this effort, the district will hold an annual civic assembly where residents directly select key policy issues, confirm public opinion and reflect it in governance — a process the district intends to develop into a democratic festival.
The governing philosophy of placing residents at the center of policy was also reflected in the inauguration ceremony itself. Held Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Yeongdeungpo Art Hall with about 800 residents in attendance, the event formally proclaimed the "Greatest Yeongdeungpo" vision and shared the administrative direction and core campaign pledges for the next four years, presenting a blueprint for the district's major leap forward.
"I will unite with 380,000 residents to build a Yeongdeungpo that runs again," District Mayor Cho said. "With the spirit of challenging ourselves toward the world's best, I will grow Yeongdeungpo into a city that represents South Korea."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
