Kim Un-nam, Goyang City Council Chair, Urges Early Installation of Crosswalk at KINTEX
Bucheon City Council Closes 290th Special Session…Handles 26 Items Including Supplementary Budget
Kim Kyung-sook Lowers Public-Housing Requirement in Anyang Station Area from 75% to 50%
Hanam City Council Approves Livelihood Supplementary Budget of 30.5 Billion Won
Choi Hoon-jong Criticizes Hanam for Showpiece Projects That Overlook Livelihood Issues
Kim Un-nam, Goyang City Council Chair, Urges Early Installation of Crosswalk at KINTEX
▲Kim Un-nam, chair of the Goyang Special City Council (right), met with KINTEX President Lee Min-woo on April 29 to request the early installation of a crosswalk under the KINTEX circular overpass. Photo courtesy of Goyang Special City Council.
Goyang=Energy Economy Reporter Kang Geun-ju — On April 29, Kim Un-nam, chair of the Goyang Special City Council, met with KINTEX President Lee Min-woo in his office and emphasized the need to expedite installation of a crosswalk beneath the KINTEX circular overpass.
The meeting followed the recent approval by the Traffic Safety Facilities Review Committee to install a crosswalk in that section. Officials met to review follow-up steps and to set the direction for project implementation.
The area is adjacent to large apartment complexes and dense commercial facilities near KINTEX. Since the opening of GTX KINTEX Station, pedestrian demand has surged, prompting ongoing complaints about walking conditions and safety.
Officials currently plan to install the crosswalk in conjunction with the KINTEX auxiliary parking lot project, with installation originally scheduled after the parking lot’s completion.
Kim said, \"Now that the crosswalk plan has passed review, early installation is essential.\" He proposed that if the project schedule is advanced so the crosswalk is included during the parking-lot planning stage, residents’ inconveniences could be resolved more quickly.
He added, \"With pedestrian demand rising sharply since the GTX KINTEX Station opened, delays in installing the crosswalk will only extend residents’ inconvenience and safety concerns. Administrative procedures should be operated flexibly, and cooperation among relevant agencies should be strengthened to enable early installation.\"
Kim said he will continue consultations with relevant agencies to keep the crosswalk project on track and will press for policy support to enhance citizen safety and pedestrian convenience.
Bucheon City Council Closes 290th Special Session…Handles 26 Items Including Supplementary Budget
▲Kim Byung-jeon, chair of the Bucheon City Council, declares the closing of the 290th special session. Photo courtesy of Bucheon City Council.
Bucheon=Energy Economy Reporter Kang Geun-ju — On April 30, the Bucheon City Council held the third plenary session of its 290th special meeting, processed the submitted agenda and concluded its 10-day schedule. The council approved a total of 26 items during the plenary session.
▷ Budget and Accounts Special Committee: 1 item The first supplementary budget for 2026 (approved as proposed)
▷ Council Operations Committee: 2 items Appointment of Bucheon city audit committee members and partial amendment to the related ordinance (approved as proposed, sponsored by Councilmember Jang Sung-chul); Partial amendment to Bucheon City Council local government employee work rules (approved as proposed, committee proposal)
▷ Finance and Culture Committee: 5 items Basic ordinance to realize Bucheon’s social welfare objectives (approved as proposed, sponsored by Councilmember Yoon Dan-bi); Partial amendment to the ordinance on establishing and operating the Bucheon Sustainable Development Council (approved with amendments, sponsored by Councilmember Song Hye-sook); Partial amendment to the Bucheon tax reduction ordinance (approved as proposed); 2026 first-period ad hoc plan for public asset management (approved as proposed); Approval for reconsignment of Jinmal Chaekhyanggi Small Library (approved as proposed)
▲Third plenary session of the Bucheon City Council’s 290th special meeting. Photo courtesy of Bucheon City Council.
▷ Administrative Welfare Committee: 8 items Partial amendment to the Bucheon ordinance on honoring and supporting national veterans (approved as proposed, sponsored by Councilmember Kwak Nae-kyung); Ordinance to reduce the gender pay gap in Bucheon (approved with amendments, sponsored by Councilmember Lee Jong-moon); Repeal of the Bucheon traffic information center installation and operation ordinance (approved as proposed); Partial amendment to the Bucheon local government employee staffing ordinance (approved with amendments); Partial amendment to the ordinance on citizen awards (approved as proposed); Partial amendment to the Bucheon awards ordinance (approved as proposed); Partial amendment to the Bucheon childcare ordinance (approved as proposed); Approval for private consignment operation of five public daycare centers, including Okgil Daycare (approved as proposed)
▷ Urban and Transportation Committee: 10 items
Partial amendment to the Bucheon building management ordinance (approved as proposed, sponsored by Councilmember Choi Eun); Partial amendment to the Bucheon multiunit housing basic ordinance (approved with amendments, sponsored by Councilmember Lim Eun-bun); Partial amendment to the ordinance promoting local construction industry activation (approved as proposed); Partial amendment to the parking lot installation and management ordinance (approved as proposed); Opinion in favor of Bucheon urban management plan zoning changes (adopted); Opinion in favor of establishing a special redevelopment plan and designating Eunah Village’s aging-plan area as a special maintenance and lead district (adopted); Opinions in favor of establishing and designating redevelopment plans for multiple reconstruction districts (Sosa-bon 3-2 and several Goean districts) (all adopted)
▲Councilmember Yoon Dan-bi asks supplemental questions during the 290th special session. Photo courtesy of Bucheon City Council.
During the plenary session, Vice Mayor Nam Dong-kyung answered follow-up questions about the administrative queries raised at the first plenary session on the 21st.
Councilmember Yoon Dan-bi participated in the supplemental questioning, engaging in a direct Q&A with Vice Mayor Nam and relevant officials. After that exchange, the council completed its scheduled business.
The Bucheon City Council plans to hold the 291st special session for four days from June 16 to 19 to consider ordinance bills and other agenda items.
Kim Kyung-sook Lowers Public-Housing Requirement in Anyang Station Area from 75% to 50%
▲Councilmember Kim Kyung-sook of the Anyang City Council. Photo courtesy of Anyang City Council.
Anyang=Energy Economy Reporter Kang Geun-ju — The partial amendment to Anyang’s ordinance on urban and residential environment maintenance, sponsored by Councilmember Kim Kyung-sook, won final approval at the second plenary of the 310th special session.
Under the revision, the required share of public-housing-sized units tied to additional floor-area-ratio tiers for station-area redevelopment projects has been relaxed from 75% to 50%.
The amendment aims to address structural issues that undermine project feasibility during station-area redevelopment and to accelerate meaningful progress in redevelopment and reconstruction projects.
Councilmember Kim said she proposed the amendment to reasonably relax the construction ratio for public-housing-sized units applied to additional floor-area-ratio tiers, thereby improving project viability and increasing the likelihood of actual project advancement.
Officials expect the ordinance change to make redevelopment and reconstruction around station areas more economically viable and to have a positive effect on long-stalled projects.
On April 30, Councilmember Kim said, \"Urban renewal is not just development; it determines citizens’ housing rights and the city’s future. I will continue working to improve policies for balanced urban growth and downtown recovery.\"
Recognizing that the Middle East conflict has directly affected household finances and small-business livelihoods, the council called the special session to allocate funds quickly to ease citizens’ financial burdens.
The centerpiece of the supplementary budget is a high-fuel-price relief payment to ease pressure on low-income households. The council prioritized approximately KRW 21,300,000,000 (≈ $15.98 million) in cash-style support for vulnerable and low-income residents who have been hit hardest by soaring living costs.
The city will also try to revive the local economy by expanding local currency issuance, providing special guarantees for small and medium businesses, and supporting export logistics costs.
To help the transport sector hurt by high fuel prices, the council approved emergency fuel subsidies and allocated roughly KRW 5,000,000,000 (≈ $3.75 million) to public-transit support programs such as THE Gyeonggi Pass and the Climate Companion Card to reduce commuting costs for residents.
In his closing remarks, Chair Geum Gwang-yeon said, \"Because an external shock from the Middle East has translated directly into runaway grocery and fuel prices, the council acted decisively to hold a one-point session. I hope this livelihood supplementary budget brings relief to citizens and serves as a meaningful catalyst to revive weakened neighborhood businesses.\"
He urged the executive branch to mobilize administrative resources for swift and accurate disbursement, saying, \"Ensure the livelihood funds approved by the council reach citizens as quickly as possible.\"
▲Chair Geum Gwang-yeon (third from left) presented awards to three outstanding public servants for Q2 2026 during the first plenary of the 348th special session on April 29. Photo courtesy of Hanam City Council.
The council also presented commendations to model citizens and outstanding public servants who contributed to local development and public welfare in Q2 2026.
The model citizen awards went to six residents — Lee Eun-mi (Sinjang 1-dong), Jeong Soon-ok (Deokpung 2-dong), Jo Yun-hye (Deokpung 3-dong), Jang Sang-gyu (Deokpung 3-dong), Kim Eun-mi (Misa 3-dong), and Kim Su-jin (Gam-il dong) — in recognition of their neighborly service and community contributions.
The council also honored three outstanding public servants — Kwak Byung-chan (Planning and Coordination Division), Oh Su-min (Sports Promotion Division), and Kim Mi-hyung (Food Hygiene and Agriculture Division) — with chair’s commendations for their dedication and proactive public service.
Choi Hoon-jong Criticizes Hanam for Showpiece Projects That Overlook Livelihood Issues
▲Councilmember Choi Hoon-jong delivers a five-minute open statement at the 348th special session. Photo courtesy of Hanam City Council.
Hanam=Energy Economy Reporter Kang Geun-ju — In a five-minute open statement during the 348th special session, Councilmember Choi Hoon-jong offered a candid assessment of Hanam’s municipal management under the current eighth-term administration, urging the city to shift from flashy, showpiece projects to substantive administration that improves residents’ daily lives.
Choi described the past four years of municipal management as \"a rosy blueprint that lacks substance.\" He criticized large-scale developments, such as K-Star World, for heavy promotion that has not translated into concrete results, arguing that administrative legitimacy should be proven in citizens’ everyday experiences rather than in grand slogans.
He also criticized the city’s budget priorities, saying they have favored publicity-driven initiatives over vital infrastructure repairs tied directly to citizen safety. Choi called on the city to concentrate resources on urgent livelihood issues like transportation, education, and revitalizing the old downtown.
Pointing to stark disparities in living conditions between the new town and the old downtown, he called for balanced governance so that all residents, regardless of where they live, can enjoy safe and comfortable environments through fair and careful administration.
\"Administration exists to protect citizens’ peaceful daily lives, not to create flashy appearances,\" Choi said. \"Hanam should prioritize tangible improvements that residents can feel. I will continue my council work to drive a constructive change in the executive branch’s approach.\"
Kang Geun-ju, Reporter kkjoo0912@ekn.kr
