First Inaugural Address: A Historic Mandate to Drive Change
Pursuing '15-Minute City' and 'Green Smart City'
Frequent Use of Words: Fairness, Freedom, Inclusion, Integration
Gadeokdo New Airport as a Future Issue, Instant Cooperation
Busan Mayor Park Hyung-jun is taking the oath at the inauguration ceremony held at Busan City Hall on the morning of the 8th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] “I will hold on to the historic mandate of the citizens to correct a wavering nation and bring about new changes in Busan.”
Park Hyung-jun, the mayor of Busan, who officially began his schedule on the 8th after the April 7 by-election, emphasized the significance of judging the administration from the very start of his inaugural speech.
The phrases “historic mandate” and “the solemn weight of history,” which appear in the opening of the inauguration speech of a local government head, clearly reveal Mayor Park’s stance in the recent by-election.
In his inaugural speech, Mayor Park said, “Over the past six months, I have met countless citizens and heard their wishes and hopes,” and added, “I will gather 3.4 million wishes and hopes and fulfill my responsibilities and mission.”
The term “freedom” was also frequently mentioned in Mayor Park’s speech.
“Busan should be a city where individual freedom is freely exercised. This individual freedom is not isolated freedom. That freedom must support each other’s freedom. That freedom deepens as we care for one another. That freedom becomes more beautiful as freedom and responsibility coexist. A free Busan becomes more abundant as it cultivates a communal Busan.”
He poured out the word “freedom,” often emphasized in conservative politics, and stressed, “Busan City will act as a lubricant so that Busan can harmonize individual freedom and a warm community.”
He expressed his intention to “move toward a Busan where individuals and communities, freedom and responsibility are harmonized.”
He also presented the direction for leading Busan during his term as his inaugural statement.
“I will make Busan a city of quality of life. A city of quality of life is one where jobs, housing, leisure, learning, culture, and welfare are all balanced. Above all, a city of quality of life must respond to the universal civilizational condition called climate change. The values of carbon neutrality and eco-friendliness must be integrated. This ecological value does not exclude science and technology but rather actively utilizes scientific and technological achievements. We must establish a green smart city as our vision.”
He put forward “green smart city” as Busan’s vision.
To invigorate a free and creative market economy, Mayor Park said he would make people feel, “Wow, it’s really good to do business in Busan,” “New startup opportunities are opening,” “This is a city that values science, technology, and research and development,” and “They are devoted to nurturing talent.”
Mayor Park also said he would lead Busan as a happy city where people want to be born, based on two pillars: a “city advanced in quality of life” and a “city advanced economically.”
He declared that he would carry out city administration to realize the values of “fairness” and “trust,” meaning fair governance and administration that values communication and empathy.
Mayor Park also shared his views on the youth in his inaugural speech.
“If the youth leave, Busan’s future leaves with them. Every year, 12,000 young people leave Busan. This is because there are no good jobs and the city is losing its appeal for young people to want to live here. We will focus policies on making Busan a city where young people do not have to leave, a city where young people return, and a city that is good for young people to live in.”
With the youth in mind, he pledged to fully implement industry-academia cooperation, solve youth housing problems, create a Busan that is good for raising children, and develop an attractive youth culture.
Mayor Park also promised to create a “15-minute city.”
This means creating a living area where all daily activities are possible within 15 minutes. The plan is to divide Busan into 50 living zones and provide public facilities necessary for daily life.
He explained the goal of enabling anyone in Busan to reach the city center within 15 minutes through a multi-layered transportation system, including the eco-friendly advanced future transportation technology called Urban Loop.
Along with this geographical realization, he envisions pursuing a green smart city suitable for the carbon-neutral era.
He also added the idea of significantly expanding sports facilities within the 15-minute city to create joy, vitality, and rich social relationships.
He mentioned the advancement of welfare quality, the enhancement of care systems, and safe living. He also expressed the view that policy sensitivity must be maximized to create a happy city.
Mayor Park said in his inaugural speech that he would shift from passive “permit and approval administration” to “active administration” and “planning administration,” calling this a “bold challenge.”
He promised that if there is no illegality or corruption, and if problems arise while public officials take on this “bold challenge,” the mayor of Busan will act as a shield.
Mayor Park pledged to be a mayor who communicates well and introduced “inclusion” and “integration” as his political philosophy.
Conscious of the COVID-19 situation, he said he would make every effort to secure vaccines and prevent COVID-19 from spreading into a fourth wave.
To this end, he said he would immediately implement a COVID-19 crisis response emergency meeting, stating, “Every week, related parties and experts will find alternatives and decide and execute policies through consensus on the most urgent and important issues related to COVID-19 prevention, economy, and welfare.”
At the end of his inaugural speech, Mayor Park mentioned the “Gadeokdo New Airport,” which has been embroiled in economic and political controversy, and said he would resolve this key issue that will determine Busan’s future through bipartisan cooperation.
He also said, “I will not blindly reject something just because it was promoted by the previous mayor. Although my term is only one year and three months, I will gather and mobilize all of Busan’s past, present, and resources.”
Although these are his thoughts expressed in the inaugural speech, the “great citizens of Busan” are watching from the start of his term to see whether he will struggle for new changes during his short term or create a wave of innovation.
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