Korea’s First UNESCO Creative City

Icheon City, showing top-notch administrative efficiency in local government assessment, has established and implemented people-oriented policies such as enhancing an around-the-clock medical system and holding festivals to raise region-reputation. At the hub of such performances and policies is Mayor Joh Byung–don. BusinessKorea had an opportunity to conduct an exclusive interview with the mayor who has made strenuous efforts to raise the city’s competitiveness since taking office 19 months ago.

Recently, Icheon City was selected as one of the most productive local governments in Korea by the Ministry of Public Administration and Security (MOPAS) and the Korea Productivity Center. Could you please say a few words about the award?

Icheon City received a number of noteworthy awards last year from the central government, its branches, and media organizations, etc. The award is particularly significant at it was given at the first national-level productivity evaluation on November 14. The ministry conducted a three-stage screening process of over 230 local self-governing bodies around the country, with the results highlighting our excellence in areas such as organization and personnel management, fiscal soundness, budget planning and execution, and public-private cooperation.

I believe that by winning the most prestigious prize in local government assessments, Icheon City attested to its top-notch administrative efficiency. Thanks to the award, we will be exempt from upcoming audits by the MOPAS and Gyeonggi Province, and will also receive some incentive points when applying for national projects, such as the construction of a bike lane network.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my gratitude to all public officials and citizens of the city who have striven to work together.

In the same year, we took second spot among 31 participants in the town- and county-level appraisal carried out by Gyeonggi Province, resulting in a cash prize of 50 million won. Furthermore, the Icheon City Waterworks Office received the highest grade in a nationwide evaluation of local public enterprises. I think this is particularly meaningful at a time when more than a few of its peers are coming under tightening oversight and increasing pressure to improve management.

It has been 18 months since you took office as mayor. Please summarize your accomplishments in public administration along with the city’s mid to long-term roadmap and vision.

First of all, Icheon was designated Korea’s first UNESCO Creative City, allowing it to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with metropolises around the world. The idea of the international project is to promote urban growth by means of creative cultural assets, with only 29 cities in 19 countries, such as Berlin, Lyon, Montreal and Edinburgh so far being able to put their names on the list.

The UNESCO headquarters and representatives of global NGOs that participated in the screening acknowledged Icheon’s potential in becoming the cultural capital of Korea building on its valuable assets like the ceramics industry. I feel that all eyes are on us now, anticipating our future efforts and our contribution to the cherished culture of the entire human race.

We have also further improved our around-the-clock medical system during the past 18 months by introducing a new emergency care center. Before this, there had been no general hospital in our city, with patients in a critical condition being forced to go to Seoul or Bundang. Such risks are no longer an issue.

Meanwhile, we also held our four flagship festivals, including the Icheon Ceramics Festival, with great success, as well as hosting large-scale cultural and sports events such as the 10th National Lifelong Learning Festival and the 22nd Gyeonggido Sports for All Festival. All of these have strengthened our region’s reputation and standing on the national level.

When it comes to municipal administration, we have adhered to the policy principle of people-orientedness and welfare sharing. We have expanded our Muhan Dolbom welfare service network in the southern region of the city and sponsored many broken families through the support of 72 partner agencies.

The list goes on in terms of public governance, education, social infrastructure establishment, etc. The construction of the South Icheon Interchange was finally given the green light in August 2011, while housing development projects in the Majang and Jungni Districts will kick off this year after administrative procedures are complete.

In the long-term, Icheon is aiming to become a self-sufficient city that is home to a population of at least 350,000. It is striving to refine its brand image to that end, while endeavoring to provide companies with a better business environment in order to promote for job creation. Of course, this does not mean that we neglect environmental preservation. We are attempting to turn the city into a huge garden in which people and nature can thrive together in harmony.

Icheon City is now pursuing enhancing cultural diversity and sustainable growth following the designation in 2010 as a UNESCO Creative City. What are your specific plans and policies in regards to this?

The efforts are summarized in our 2020 Master Plan, in which we have set cultural content as the keyword of our urban growth strategy. It is in this context that we are operating a ceramics industrial complex to become a region-specialized cluster, one that will help the industry grow.

Furthermore, a startup incubation center for cultural content development has been opened through the cooperation between the local government and research institutes. It is currently supporting ceramic artists in various ways. Cultural infrastructure like the Icheon Ceramic Art Village and Icheon Cerapia are also invigorating the city’s cultural industry.

Down the road, Icheon is planning to further strengthen collaboration networks with our peers around the world. As is well known, the philosophy of UNESCO Creative City is to share good examples of creative urban growth and seek the development of the culture industry by building on inter-city networks. As a leading global city, we will be fully committed to this cause.

It is said that the priority for an economic boom in the region lies in nurturing exemplary, promising small businesses. Can you tell us of some successful cases in this regards, as well as your long-term strategy for it?

We have launched diverse backup programs designed to help enterprises operate more efficiently. We have an independent department in e City Hall for this purpose, with every 7th or higher-grade public official in a sisterhood relationship with a local company. These businesses have suggested hundreds of improvements in regards to industry-public cooperation each year. For example, leading semiconductor material manufacturer LG Siltron signed an MOU with us in the second half of 2010 for facility expansion worth 360 billion won.

As far as small to mid-size enterprises are concerned, we have built small-scale industrial estates in the region to assist them systematically with their business activities. We will continue to introduce various measures for business attraction and job creation, with extensive administrative support provided to those hoping to move to Icheon.

Attraction of foreign as well as domestic investment cannot be left out in a discussion on regional growth. What preparations are you making to appeal to more investors?

Icheon City is implementing various administrative support measures for investment attraction. One such example is the Task Force Team created by Gyeonggi Province, Korea Land Housing Corporation and Korea Electric Power Corporation.

For the convenience of foreign companies looking to invest in the city, we have designated foreign investment zones in compliance with the Foreign Investment Promotion Act. We bear part of the infrastructure establishment costs so that they can have higher access to their facilities from highways and subways. Also in place, according to the Restriction of Tax Reduction and Exemption Act, are tax benefits regarding land acquisition, registration and transfer.

Furthermore, we offer employment insurance and training subsidies in cash to those hiring more than 20 workers in accordance with Gyeonggi Province’s Investment Incentive System. We also provide assistance in setting up road signs along expressways and national highways.

What is your plan and resolution for the remaining two and a half years in office?

The remaining term will be of great significance for me because projects that have begun since July 2006, when I first took office, will begin to render results. Many of these are long-term projects designed to prepare for the day when Icheon becomes a planned city housing 350,000 residents. Icheon City officials, including myself, have made strenuous efforts to build relevant facilities and road networks, as well as developing tourism resources for all-season sightseeing in Icheon.

We have striven to further refine our social safety nets and emergency management systems so that no household in our region has difficulty making a living and overcoming the current economic recession. Various sports and cultural facilities have been built for a healthier lifestyle and more harmonious relationship.

During the remaining 30 months, I will remain loyal to my promise to Icheon citizens, rounding off what I have begun. At the end of my term, I would like to be remembered as a man of my word. My endeavors will continue until then.