The new blueprint for the 9th popularly elected Uijeongbu City is clearly reflected in the slogan, ‘With the will of the citizens, a new Uijeongbu.’ The transition committee carefully reviewed 123 proposals received through a citizen contest and declared its determination to go beyond simple slogans and implement a participatory administration in which citizens take ownership of city administration. The five major city policies that support this encompass the core tasks of modern cities: jobs, transportation, welfare, education, and economy. This can be interpreted as an intention to systematically implement the promises made by President-elect Kim Won-ki, from fostering high-tech industries to strengthening care. In the end, this slogan can be said to be a symbolic milestone that demonstrates the 9th popularly elected administration's firm philosophy of moving away from administrative convenience and designing the future of the city through communication and cooperation with citizens.

Administrative change begins not only with grand discourse but also with small changes in the daily lives of citizens. Uijeongbu City has decided to dramatically reduce weekday lodging fees at Sapae Mountain log cabins by up to 50% to guarantee citizens' right to rest. This is an attempt to go beyond simple price discounts and increase the actual sense of welfare by returning natural recreational resources near the city center to citizens. In addition, the early completion of the restoration project for Chudong Neighborhood Park, which was damaged due to extreme rain, and the significant expansion of safety infrastructure clearly demonstrate the city's efforts to strengthen disaster response capabilities. This series of measures is evaluated as a practical step that embodies the city administration value of ‘citizen happiness’ by creating an environment where citizens can safely and rationally enjoy public facilities in their daily lives.

But before discussing the rosy future, the financial report card facing Uijeongbu City is very heavy and severe. The financial independence rate disclosed by the transition committee is 19.4%, one of the lowest in the country, which means that the city's own financial resources are extremely limited. In a weak structure that relies on national and provincial subsidies for more than half of total revenue, matching project costs that increase every year are acting as a decisive factor in depleting the city's available financial resources. In particular, the financial shortage, which is expected to continue for the next few years, is the biggest obstacle that the 9th popularly elected government must overcome. In the end, the transition committee is deeply aware that promises that are not supported by financial conditions are like castles built on sand, and a complete review of large-scale projects appears to be an essential measure for survival, not an option.

In order to overcome this crisis, the 9th popularly elected government is expected to draw its sword by launching a strong ‘Financial Innovation TF’ immediately after its inauguration. The process of reexamining projects that require a huge amount of capital, such as the Millak-Gosan road or the construction of various sports facilities, from scratch can be a somewhat painful process for citizens. However, the most urgent task for the next city administration is to eliminate unnecessary and urgent projects and restore financial soundness in order to avoid passing on debt to future generations. As we conclude the past four years of legislative activities and welcome the new 10th National Assembly, Uijeongbu City must quickly establish a roadmap for financial normalization through close cooperation between the executive branch and the National Assembly. Only bold restructuring and efficient budget allocation will provide a strong foundation to support the ‘new Uijeongbu’ that citizens truly desire.