[Special Report] Dongducheon City's 2026 Policy: Renewing Dongducheon and Empowering Citizens
Changes in Dongducheon have already begun. All eyes are on Dongducheon's progress in 2026, when these changes will be realized in the lives of its citizens.
[Break News Dongducheon=Reporter Kim Wan-young] The year of 2026, the Year of the Horse, has dawned. The Year of the Horse has long been considered a symbol of powerful leaps, unwavering progress, and the vitality of moving toward a vast field. It signifies a year of building trust through unwavering forward momentum, rather than simply racing forward.
Dongducheon City is also taking a new step forward in this spirit. The city's slogan, "Renewing Dongducheon and Empowering Citizens!" is no longer a mere slogan. It has become a driving force and a standard for city administration, expanding into a practical language that creates change in the daily lives of its citizens.
Dongducheon in 2026 is no longer a year of "preparing for hope." It is a year where hope becomes reality, not just words, and where it is realized not just in plans but in the daily lives of its citizens. Dongducheon will continue its unwavering progress, ensuring that citizens experience change and have confidence in the future across all areas of city management, from economy and welfare, education and space, to culture and tourism.
Under this administrative guiding principle, the city has clearly outlined its overall direction and vision for 2026, centered on five administrative goals: ▲ An economic city where opportunities expand ▲ A welfare city where citizens enjoy comfortable daily lives ▲ An educational city preparing for the future ▲ A city infused with new vitality ▲ A cultural and tourism city imbued with leisure and vitality.
▲ An economic city where opportunities expand
Dongducheon has chosen a strategy of broadening opportunities throughout the city, rather than limiting its economy to specific industries or social classes. National industrial complexes will be transformed into more flexible and open structures to adapt to the changing industrial landscape, while traditional markets will improve accessibility and living conditions, reestablishing their position as "centers of the living economy where people gather."
Furthermore, to ensure that young people's ideas continue to flourish and grow, the foundations that connect startups from inception to commercialization, exchange, and sales channels will be strengthened. Dongducheon's economic vision is not simply about expanding support, but about creating an urban ecosystem where everyone can challenge and expand. We anticipate Dongducheon becoming an economic city where opportunities expand for all citizens by 2026.
▲ A Welfare City for a Comfortable Daily Life
Dongducheon's welfare system is not a system that operates only in moments of need, but rather a safety net that operates naturally, like air, throughout everyday life. Housing, care, medical care, and living support are seamlessly connected, ensuring that citizens are not isolated at any stage of their lives.
The goal is to "minimize blind spots" by providing a stable housing foundation for young people and newlyweds, and providing close, life-oriented care for the elderly and vulnerable. The key is to organize the system in a way that citizens can experience, without complicating it. Dongducheon City is creating a city where citizens can enjoy life, not just endure it, through welfare.
▲ An Educational City Preparing for the Future
Dongducheon views education as a city's competitive edge, transcending current achievements and opening up future possibilities. In an educational environment where schools, communities, and families are connected, children experience not only learning but also experience, recovery, and growth. Learning opportunities are not limited to specific age groups or social classes, but are expanded as a fundamental part of the city, accessible to all.
Through education policies that encompass talent development based on public education, career and academic advancement support, and emotional and character development, Dongducheon is laying the foundation for a "city where children can be raised well." The education Dongducheon is preparing for is the most reliable future strategy for the city's next generation.
▲ A City Infused with New Vitality
Cities are not spaces for rapid movement; they thrive when they linger and connect. Dongducheon is reshaping its fabric by weaving transportation, pedestrian traffic, housing, and living spaces into a single flow. Old spaces are being revitalized with new functions, disconnected paths are being reconnected with people-centered routes, and changes that consider both safety and convenience are enhancing the city's fundamental strength.
Strengthening connectivity and improving accessibility to urban areas is not simply a matter of redevelopment; it is a transformation that transforms everyday movement patterns. The spatial changes Dongducheon is creating go beyond simply reshaping its appearance; they aim to transform the very lifestyles of its citizens into more convenient and sustainable ones.
▲ A Cultural and Tourism City Embracing Leisure and Vitality
Dongducheon's culture and tourism are not merely content to be consumed, but rather a reflection of the city's natural, everyday experiences. Mountains, rivers, parks, and forests are expanding into leisure spaces where relaxation and experience coexist, adding leisure and vitality to citizens' days. The foundations of culture, sports, and the arts are not confined to a single location, but are permeating every corner of the city, becoming not just "things to enjoy," but rather a "living rhythm of the city." This strategy is not limited to visitors from afar; it is aligned with the goal of enhancing the quality of life for residents.
Dongducheon is moving toward becoming a city where everyday life and tourism seamlessly connect, fostering a city identity where leisure and vitality coexist.
Through this, Dongducheon City is meticulously implementing its slogan, "Renew Dongducheon, Empower Citizens!" across five pillars: economy, welfare, education, space, and culture and tourism. By doing so, it is making 2026 a year where hope becomes reality. The city's operational direction, which prioritizes citizen experience over grandiose rhetoric and action over declaration, further illuminates the city's future.
Dongducheon's transformation has already begun. All eyes will be on Dongducheon's progress in 2026, when this transformation will be fully realized in the lives of its citizens.
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