Hanam Mayor Lee Hyun-jae has declared 2025 the "inaugural year of the eastern metropolitan economic center." The city plans to transform from a bedroom community into a "live-work-play" city through major development projects including five subway lines and a 3 trillion won AI cluster.
"We will make Hanam a transportation hub of the eastern metropolitan area and an innovative city connected in all directions," Lee said at a press conference on Wednesday, outlining concrete plans for five subway lines.
For the Wirye-Sinsa Line, which has been stalled for 17 years, the city will submit a petition to the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to pass the preliminary feasibility study.
"Wirye New Town residents have contributed 547 billion won for railway projects including the Wirye-Sinsa Line and Wirye Tram, yet they still have no rail service," Lee said. "This is no longer something residents should have to endure."
The city is urging Gyeonggi Province to expedite contractor selection for Lines 3 and 9. For Line 5, which runs an annual operating deficit of 23 billion won, the city will pursue joint operation between Seoul Metro and private companies.
Hanam will also build a transportation network connecting five districts: the old downtown, Misa, Wirye, Gamil, and Gyosan. A new east-west arterial road will be constructed, and a dedicated school bus service connecting Wirye, Gamil, and Misa will launch in March.
Large-scale development projects are central to the economic transformation. The city will attract a 3 trillion won AI cluster to the Gyosan district and open Yonsei Hanam Hospital in 2027. A five-star hotel operated by Parnas and K-Star World, a K-culture complex, are also in progress. For Camp Colbern, which has seen little progress for 19 years, the city will select a preferred negotiator in February.
Educational infrastructure will be significantly expanded. The city is pursuing establishment of a Hanam Education Support Office within the year, and Hanhol Middle School will open in March. Namhan High School was selected as an autonomous public high school and will receive 1.5 billion won over five years. Elementary school students will receive 100,000 won each, a children's library will be completed in October, and a children's center in partnership with KidZania is scheduled to open in 2027.
Living and cultural infrastructure will also be enhanced. The musical fountain at Misa Lake Park will be replaced and a water screen installed to create a new landmark. A park golf course at Dangjeong Neighborhood Park will open in July, and the Wirye sports complex and Misa 3-dong public complex will be completed in April. Veterans' honorary allowances will increase from 170,000 won to 200,000 won per month, and free flu vaccinations will be gradually expanded to those under 65.
"Hanam is steadily moving toward its goal of becoming an eastern metropolitan economic center where high-tech industry and culture-tourism coexist," Lee said. "I will work until the end to create a Hanam where citizens feel change in their daily lives and that we can proudly pass on to future generations."