Bucheon elected chair city of Korea Healthy Cities Partnership

Bucheon has been elected the next chair city of the Korea Healthy Cities Partnership (KHCP), a network of more than 100 local governments across the country.

The city was confirmed as the 11th chair city at the KHCP's 2026 autumn general assembly, held Thursday at Lotte Hotel & Resort in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province.

Bucheon will lead the partnership for two years beginning in 2027 and will also host the organization's autumn general assembly that year.

About 300 people attended the assembly, including heads of member local governments, academic committee members and other officials, who shared achievements in public health policy and discussed future areas of cooperation.

Bucheon Mayor Jo Yong-ik presented the city's policy accomplishments since it joined the partnership in 2007.

Jo unveiled the city's vision for its healthy-city initiative, which he called "Bucheon's Healthy L.I.F.E."

The vision expands the concept of a healthy city beyond medicine and public health to encompass the full range of municipal affairs — including employment, education, residential environment, culture and care services — with the aim of improving both physical and mental health while closing gaps in the welfare safety net.

At the assembly, the city received the Innovation Award at the 2026 Korea Healthy Cities Awards for its "Whole-Village Bucheon" project, a community care initiative launched in 2023.

The project is a proactive welfare model that combines AI technology with community networks to address the challenges of a super-aged society.

It delivers tailored services through neighborhood shops called "On Stores" that help identify households in crisis, a resident volunteer group called "Village Geniuses," AI-assisted welfare guidance and cognitive health screenings, and integrated care programs run in partnership with universities and pharmaceutical organizations.

Bucheon has built a track record in sustainable public health policy, winning the Korea Healthy Cities Award for seven consecutive years and the Alliance for Healthy Cities award four consecutive times.

"A healthy city is one that weaves the value of health into every aspect of residents' daily lives," Mayor Jo said. "As the 11th chair city, we will share the policy expertise and best practices we have accumulated with local governments across the country, strengthen solidarity among member cities, and take the lead in building a sustainable healthy-city environment."