Cheonan City is accelerating the implementation of its key projects for the second half of the year, following a review of 650 major tasks undertaken in the first half with the goal of sustainable growth. At the "First Half Major Task Progress Report Meeting" held on May 26, presided over by Acting Mayor Kim Seok-pil (Vice Mayor), the current status of various policy initiatives for Cheonan's future and plans for the second half were shared.
Enhancing Citizens' Quality of Life and Revitalizing the Local Economy
Cheonan City has pursued diverse policies to improve citizens' daily lives and foster future growth. Amidst challenging economic conditions, the city has particularly focused on supporting stable livelihoods for its citizens and strengthening the self-sufficiency of the local economy.
Support for Small Business Owners and Job Creation: To assist small business owners facing economic difficulties in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cheonan City expanded special guarantees for small businesses and provided business stabilization funds, offering practical assistance. Furthermore, through the Cheonan-style Youth Job Project, the city provided customized employment opportunities for local youth and implemented various support measures to alleviate the labor shortages faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This strategy is not merely about increasing job numbers but nurturing industries tailored to regional characteristics to achieve long-term employment stability. Policies to invigorate local SME support included providing funds for technology development, market expansion assistance, and smart factory construction support, thereby encouraging corporate competitiveness and injecting vitality into the local economy.
Securing New Future Growth Engines: Cheonan City is also concentrating on fostering future growth industries in line with the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Strengthening cooperation with global companies for smart city construction demonstrates Cheonan City's commitment to not only adopting smart technologies but also leading advanced technologies and creating related industrial ecosystems through partnerships with global firms. Specifically, the city plans to integrate smart technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and big data into urban infrastructure to make citizens' lives more convenient and safer. Additionally, strengthening the Cheonan-style startup incubation contributes to securing new growth engines for the local economy by identifying and supporting innovative early-stage startups. The push to create a future medical new industry cluster embodies Cheonan City's long-term vision to intensively develop advanced medical fields such as bio, medical devices, and digital healthcare, thereby securing future growth engines and creating quality jobs. This cluster is expected to support the entire cycle from research and development to clinical trials, production, and commercialization, developing Cheonan into a hub for the future medical industry.
Improving Citizen Convenience and Expanding Urban Infrastructure
Cheonan City has also dedicated efforts to create an environment where citizens can enjoy culture and leisure in their daily lives and move around conveniently.
Expansion of Culture and Leisure Spaces: The recently introduced night circulation tour bus connects Cheonan's night view attractions, offering new enjoyment to citizens and visitors, and is expected to contribute to the revitalization of the night economy. The completion of the Yu Gwan-sun Park Golf Course supports citizens' health promotion and leisure activities, while the creation of urban parks and walking trails contributes to providing a pleasant residential environment and enhancing citizens' quality of life. Particularly, by connecting with urban regeneration projects, the creation of parks and walking trails in old neighborhoods increases accessibility for residents and injects vitality into the city center.
Improvement of Transportation Infrastructure: The groundbreaking ceremony for the
Cheonan Station expansion and renovation project, a long-cherished wish of citizens, signifies a plan to transform Cheonan Station from a mere transportation hub into a complex cultural space, making it a new landmark for Cheonan. Concurrently, the groundbreaking for the Cheonan Station Area Investment Leading Zone project is expected to significantly contribute to revitalizing the local economy and creating jobs by developing the area around Cheonan Station into a complex urban space integrating commercial, business, residential, and cultural functions. Furthermore, the expanded operation of urban express bus routes and the smart parking information system project will play crucial roles in efficiently improving Cheonan City's transportation system, enhancing citizens' mobility convenience, and alleviating traffic congestion.
Care for the Socially Vulnerable and Welfare Enhancement: Cheonan City is also actively working to eliminate welfare blind spots to create a "Cheonan where we all live together." The expanded operation of "Dahamkke Dolbom Centers" (Together Care Centers) eases the childcare burden for dual-income households and supports children in spending safe after-school hours. The implementation of the "Our Neighborhood Senior Pedestrian Delivery" encourages social participation and income generation for seniors, yielding positive effects that vitalize the local community. The opening of the Cheonan City Integrated Care Center provides customized integrated care services for citizens with mobility difficulties, such as the elderly and disabled, helping them live dignified lives within the community. Moreover, the "Anshim Donghaeng Service" (Safe Companion Service) for vulnerable housing groups provides comprehensive support, including housing counseling, emergency housing assistance, and housing environment improvement, to ensure stable living conditions for citizens in precarious housing situations.
Cheonan's Transformation to Continue in the Second Half
Cheonan City's proactive policy implementation is expected to gain momentum in the second half of the year. In particular, the city plans to enhance Cheonan's status and stimulate the local economy through a variety of events that will heighten citizens' expectations.
Hosting Diverse Events: In June, the 2025 Cheonan K-Culture Expo will be held, showcasing Cheonan's stature as a central city of Hallyu culture. Additionally, the 77th Chungcheongnam-do Citizens' Sports Festival will contribute to the unity and health promotion of Cheonan citizens, and the Cheonan University Festival with Macseom Festival will be a cultural celebration for local university students and citizens to enjoy together. The "Ppangjiseunrye Ppangppang Day" (Bread Pilgrimage Bread-Bread Day) event is expected to promote Cheonan's unique bread culture and contribute to revitalizing local commercial districts. In the second half, large-scale events such as the 2025 Heungtaryeong Dance Festival and the Lee Bong-ju Marathon are scheduled, providing abundant sights and entertainment for tourists visiting Cheonan.
Expansion of Culture and Leisure Spaces and Creation of Future Growth Engines: The expansion of cultural facilities is also a key project for the second half. The opening of the Chwimukheon Calligraphy Hall will expand the cultural and artistic base of Cheonan, the completion of Cheonan Samgeori Park will provide citizens with a healing space in the city center, and the reopening of the Cheonan Museum will re-examine Cheonan's history and culture, enhancing citizens' pride. Investments in creating future growth engines will also continue. Additional funding for startup special guarantees will help alleviate the financial difficulties of promising startups, and the groundbreaking for the hub-type smart city creation will become a core project that solves urban problems and improves citizens' quality of life using advanced technologies. Along with this, the additional designation of alley-type commercial districts will promote the revitalization of local commercial areas, and the promotion of rural agreements will be a customized policy for balanced development of rural areas, injecting continuous vitality and new growth into the local economy.
Acting Mayor Kim Seok-pil emphasized that "all policies being pursued are crucial keys to building Cheonan's future" and urged "all departments to cooperate with each other and concentrate all their capabilities on task execution towards the single goal of creating a better living environment for citizens." These efforts by Cheonan City are expected to lead to tangible changes felt by citizens, serving as an important stepping stone for Cheonan's leap towards becoming a "city of sustainable growth."
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