Hanam mayor vows to make city 'best economic hub in Greater Seoul'

The 37th Hanam Citizens' Day ceremony and the 2026 Iseongsanseong Cultural Festival wrapped up to strong public turnout, drawing more than 21,000 visitors over two days.

Hanam held the 37th Citizens' Day ceremony Saturday at the lawn plaza of Misa Lake Park, where Mayor Lee Hyeon-jae expressed gratitude to residents for their contributions to the city's development and shared key achievements alongside a vision for the future. The city then hosted the 2026 Iseongsanseong Cultural Festival from Saturday through Sunday at Misa Lake Park and the Iseongsanseong fortress area, offering a range of programs celebrating Hanam's history and culture.

The Citizens' Day ceremony on Saturday was designed to foster civic pride and honor residents who have contributed to the community. The program opened with introductions of distinguished guests, followed by the national ceremony, a reading of the Citizens' Charter, an awards presentation, a commemorative address and congratulatory video messages from key guests. Five citizen representatives read the charter together, reaffirming the meaning of the occasion.

A total of 67 residents and contributors were recognized that day with honors including the Gyeonggi Province Citizens' Award, Hanam City Commendations, Letters of Appreciation, the Hanam City Council Speaker's Commendation and a National Assembly member's commendation, in recognition of their service to the community and local administration.

In the arts and culture category, Jang Hak-bong, chief executive of the Children's Culture Foundation, received the Gyeonggi Province Citizens' Award, while Jeon Hong-jun, chief executive of Attract Co., received a Letter of Appreciation. Actor Park Bo-kyung was also recognized for contributions as a Hanam City honorary ambassador.

In his commemorative address, Mayor Lee looked back on four years of listening to residents firsthand and incorporating their voices into city policy, highlighting major achievements and outlining the direction of his administration going forward.

Hanam earned top marks in the national civil service evaluation for four consecutive years, became the first city in the country to win the Presidential Award two years running, and ranked in the top 10 among Greater Seoul cities in "livability" assessments for three consecutive years.

Lee said the city would push ahead with completing a five-line subway network, supporting the opening of a new district education office, expanding educational infrastructure, broadening welfare services and improving living conditions in both new towns and older neighborhoods.

For his second elected term, Lee said the city's ambition goes beyond being merely "livable" — the goal is to make Hanam a city where residents genuinely prosper. Building on four years of work that attracted 13 companies and more than 1 trillion won ($723 million) in investment, the city plans to pursue a target of 10 trillion won in total investment.

Plans also include developing a K-culture complex and a five-star hotel, establishing an AI innovation cluster in the Gyosan district, attracting high-quality businesses and advancing the Camp Colburn redevelopment project — all aimed at building a city where employment and economic growth go hand in hand.

"My administrative goal for the next four years is to build a city where every resident can say with pride that they live in Hanam," Lee said. "Together with our citizens, I will make Hanam the best city in Greater Seoul — a thriving hub of jobs and economic vitality."

At 7 p.m. Saturday, a celebratory concert for the Iseongsanseong Cultural Festival followed at the same venue. Singers Shin Yu and Yoon Jong-shin, along with artist BIBI, took the stage in succession to enthusiastic applause from the crowd.

The Iseongsanseong Cultural Festival ran from Saturday through Sunday under the theme "Hanam's History, Knocking on the Future," spanning Misa Lake Park and the Iseongsanseong fortress area. The program blended tradition and modernity, history and the arts to bring Hanam's heritage closer to residents and visitors alike.

A multimedia performance centered on the "yogo," an ancient percussion instrument unearthed at Iseongsanseong, drew strong interest, as did a history concert by Korean history lecturer Choe Tae-seong. A random-play dance event hosted by popular dancer "Kani" as a special MC brought together teenagers and adults for a K-pop challenge, generating considerable excitement.

Family-oriented programs also proved popular. Children engaged directly with Hanam's history and culture through hands-on activities including making eco-friendly yogo drums, simulated artifact excavations and Baekje armor experiences. A "Hanam Travel Bus" guided tour of local historical sites and attractions, led by professional docents, was also on offer.

Throughout the festival, steady streams of residents and visitors filled Misa Lake Park and the Iseongsanseong area, soaking in the festive atmosphere.

"This was a meaningful occasion to reflect on Hanam's long history together with our citizens and to connect the past, present and future," Lee said. "We will continue to develop the Iseongsanseong Cultural Festival into Hanam's signature cultural tourism brand, so that the city can grow into a new center of K-culture — a place where history and culture truly live and breathe."