Innovation Led by Management Experts... Favorable Winds of Change in Hampyeong-gun

Rapid Organizational Stabilization... Realizing 'Administrative Innovation'

An Era of 400 Billion Won Main Budget... Securing Momentum for Local Issue Implementation

Sang-ik Lee, Hampyeong County Governor

[Hampyeong=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] Lee Sang-ik, Hampyeong County Governor who took office through the April 15, 2020 by-election following the fall of the previous governor, has marked his first anniversary in office.

Governor Lee, a former ‘Management CEO,’ has achieved meaningful results during his one-year tenure.

With the slogan ‘A New Leap, Hopeful Hampyeong,’ Governor Lee’s creative and innovative administration that residents can feel has sparked voices saying that a wind of change is blowing through Hampyeong County.

Despite more than a year of administrative vacuum before the by-election last year and the chaotic situation both inside and outside due to the COVID-19 issue, the county administration has been rapidly stabilized since Governor Lee’s inauguration, according to evaluations.

During the past year, Governor Lee laid the foundation for various pending projects such as the promotion of residential complexes for workers in the Bitgreen Industrial Complex and the development of the industrial complex’s hinterland, designation of the ‘Livestock Specialized Industry Investment Leading Zone,’ and the early relocation of the National Institute of Animal Science’s Livestock Resource Development Department.

Achievements in the cultural tourism sector are also notable.

The opening of the ‘Drive-in Theater,’ which became the signal flare for the ‘4.4.8 Hampyeong Tourism Project’ (a tourism project where visitors spend 4 hours at the sea, 4 hours in the forest, and 8 hours at accommodations in Hampyeong), attracted attention and interest.

At the drive-in theater, equipped with the best facilities in the country, the nation’s first ‘non-face-to-face dialogue with residents’ was held, receiving nationwide praise as a safe and creative event.

This year, for the first time since its establishment, the county’s main budget exceeded 400 billion won, and after being designated as a ‘Special Disaster Area’ by the government due to massive damage caused by heavy rains, 80% of the recovery costs were supported by national funds.

Governor Lee has also been steadily implementing campaign promises such as the ‘abolition of the governor’s official residence’ and ‘dialogues with residents.’

In particular, during his tenure, Governor Lee returned the entire amount of his salary, about 190 million won, to be donated as scholarships for local talents, demonstrating a model of public service officials who abandon authoritarianism and approach county administration with integrity and a spirit of service.

Governor Lee Sang-ik said, “As the head of Hampyeong County, representing about 30,000 residents and 600 public officials was not easy, but the time spent with the residents was a series of rewarding moments,” adding, “It is regrettable that events such as the Butterfly Festival and the National Chrysanthemum Exhibition could not be held due to COVID-19, but I believe our ability to respond to infectious disease crises has firmly taken root.”

He continued, “I have been running breathlessly to fulfill the promises made to the residents one by one over the past year,” and stated, “During the remaining term, I will do my utmost to ensure that the promises made to the residents and the county’s core pending issues are carried out without any setbacks.”