[Interview] "The Residents Were Happy When I Ran Around" ... First Elected and Three-Term Incumbent 'Grassroots Pioneer' Oh Gyuseok, Busan Gijang County Governor

Starting Work at 5:10 AM, Leaving at 10:30 PM for 15 Years

"Diligent? It's so residents can quickly use it when needed"

A Living Witness to Korean Local Government History, the 'Inventor' Who Created the 'First'

Oh Gyuseok, Mayor of Busan Gijang County.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo, Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Trainee Reporter Hwang Doo-yeol] The person with the longest career as a basic local government head, from the first popularly elected county governor to three consecutive terms in the 5th, 6th, and 7th terms, is Oh Gyu-seok, the mayor of Busan's Gijang County.

Having served as county governor for nearly 15 years out of the total 26 years since the establishment of local governments, he is a living witness and the 'original' figure of grassroots democracy, the nickname for local autonomy in South Korea.

Mayor Oh is currently serving his final term until next year's local elections. Due to term limits, once he 'graduates' from the county governor position, he recently announced his candidacy for the 2024 National Assembly election.

Having served four terms as the head of a basic local government, he has written the longest history of Gijang, remembered since the start of popular elections.

It is rare even globally to see an administrator who comes out every day at 5:10 a.m. and leaves work at 10:30 p.m. He had to be diligent because he needed to be readily available, like being in the pockets of residents to be used whenever necessary. The people of Gijang all know how hard he has worked.

"For the residents," he has earned nicknames like 'stubborn' and 'persistent' by boldly confronting metropolitan governments, the central government, and even Japan without hesitation. Through a written interview, we looked back on Gijang's history from the first popularly elected term to the present with him.

Question: What were some of the projects you undertook during your first term as the first popularly elected basic local government head?

-From the beginning of my term in 1995, I devoted my professional skills to county administration services. I personally provided health consultations to marginalized residents such as low-income groups, seniors over 65, and the disabled, and operated a community clinic where I dispensed herbal medicine and performed acupuncture at my own expense. It was open from Monday to Saturday during lunchtime in the duty room, and by 1997, a total of 22,999 people had been served.

In August 1997, I established a traditional medicine clinic at the public health center, targeting low-income and elderly residents over 65, and in April 1997, introduced the nation's first video consultation system at the health center.

Question: As the first popularly elected county governor, you are known nationwide for many 'firsts' among local government heads. What were some of the initiatives and memorable projects?

In August 1997, I established the first-ever public service office for citizens in a local government nationwide. We also operated a mobile village civil service office.

I personally operated a night civil service patrol team; from October 1995, 12 teams with 36 members patrolled every night from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. to crack down on illegal nighttime garbage dumping, inspect high-crime areas, and conduct patrols.

We were the first nationwide to construct the Gijang County government office building in a development-restricted zone, with a total floor area of 9,603㎡, one basement floor, and nine above-ground floors. Construction began in January 1998 and the building opened in February 2002. In January 1997, due to population and administrative demand increases in Jeonggwan-myeon, a new Jeonggwan-myeon government office was also built.

Additionally, we published the first Gijang County newsletter, 'Gijang People,' in September 1995, and were the first local government to establish an internet homepage with our own web server.

In 1997, we operated a local autonomy university providing equal educational opportunities to residents, graduating 115 students from eight courses and 234 from foreign language courses.

We conducted field trips to properly understand the county's cultural heritage, with 275 participants, and opened an environmental academy with 263 graduates who became honorary environmental monitors. In May 1996, we also operated the nation's first women's liberal arts college.

In December 1995, we formed the Gijang County Education Development Council, organizing invited lectures, expo visits, and publishing the first issue of Gijang Education Culture.

To provide diverse experiences for youth, we started the Gijang Youth Training Center construction project in 1996, and to create an environment offering practical benefits to low-income groups, we built a comprehensive social welfare center in March 1998.

In June 1997, we were the first nationwide to screen outdoor traveling movies, allowing about 11,000 residents in towns and village halls to enjoy films.

That year, we promoted the construction of the Gijang Library in Dongbu-ri, Gijang-eup, and opened the Gijang Cultural Center in November 1997. The first Chaseong Cultural Festival was held in October 1995, and in April 1997, we held the nation's first seafood festival, the 'Gijang Anchovy Festival,' at Daebyeon Port.

In preparation for the Asian Games, we also promoted road network expansion. In 1996, we requested Busan City to widen the road between Gijang and Songjeong, expanded the Cheonggang-Daebyeon road, started urban planning roads in Dongbu-ri and Seobu-ri areas of Gijang-eup, and in 1997, to alleviate traffic congestion and expand tourist road networks, began construction of the coastal road from Sirang-ri in Gijang-eup to Samsung-ri in Ilgwang-myeon.

We also initiated the construction of an Asian Games auxiliary stadium with one basement and two above-ground floors covering 41,000 pyeong, and in 1997, promoted a sewage treatment plant and the Gijang County Sports Park in 1998.

Question: After serving as the first county governor, you entered politics, skipped the 2nd to 4th terms, and were called back by Gijang residents from the 5th term. How did you repay their trust?

-Among the projects from the 5th to 7th terms, the most memorable is the operation of the 'Nighttime County Governor's Office,' which never closes for citizen complaints 365 days a year.

Operating since July 8, 2010, the nighttime county governor's office served as a communication channel without time restrictions for citizens who found it difficult to visit during busy hours. As of November 10 this year, the cumulative number of visitors reached 23,734, with a total of 10,082 complaints handled.

Question: You are famous as a local government head who does not spend business promotion expenses. There are rumors you also did not spend on election costs. How was this 'frugal' administration possible?

-Since 2017, I have set the business promotion expenses to zero for six consecutive years. Although the annual limit for county governor business promotion expenses is 52.8 million KRW, I did not spend a single won. Also, since taking office in 2010, I have returned out-of-office travel expenses. I did not want to waste precious taxpayer money.

Moreover, in the 2014 and 2018 local elections, I spent the least election expenses among basic local government heads. For the 7th term election, I spent about 32.13 million KRW, only 24.16% of the legal limit, and for the 6th term, about 35.7 million KRW, 26.9% of the legal limit, making me the elected official with the lowest election expenses for two consecutive terms.

I did not hire separate election staff except for the accounting officer. I saved costs by not using campaign vehicles, logo songs, phone calls, or text messages. I believed that walking around on foot was enough; why waste public money asking people to vote for me?

Question: A local government head who spends little money switches to combat mode when securing the autonomous county budget. You seem to risk your life in various lawsuits. Is it the same public money but a different person?

-It is right to be strict with the county governor personally, but securing national budgets is related to the residents and the county.

In 2022, we secured 139.8 billion KRW in local allocation tax, the largest ever, 23.8 billion KRW more than the initial budget of 116 billion KRW. In May this year, I visited the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's allocation tax department and persistently requested an increase in local allocation tax support.

Next year's main budget is set at 702.1 billion KRW (general account 630.9 billion KRW, special account 71.2 billion KRW), exceeding 700 billion KRW for the first time in the county's history.

This is due to efforts to attract the Jeonggwan Line and Gijang Line urban railways and the KTX-Eum stop station. The Gijang Line connects Anpyeong Station (Line 4) to Gijang Station (Donghae Line) and Ilgwang New Town, with five stations and a total project cost of 372.1 billion KRW.

The Jeonggwan Line connects the Jwacheon and Wolpyeong sections, linking the Donghae Line and the Busan-Yangsan-Ulsan metropolitan railway, with 22 stations and a total project cost of 542.6 billion KRW.

In July 2021, the 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan included the Busan-Yangsan-Ulsan metropolitan railway line, and in August, it was selected as a leading project for non-capital metropolitan railways, boosting the Jeonggwan Line project.

To attract the Gijang and Jeonggwan Lines, a county-wide movement was launched, submitting a petition with 116,000 signatures from residents to the government in 2013.

Since 2012, I have visited government departments such as the National Assembly, Ministry of Strategy and Finance, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and KDI about 160 times to emphasize the urgency and necessity of the projects. We also conducted our own feasibility study for the preliminary feasibility study application for the Gijang and Jeonggwan Lines. In September 2021, we requested the selection of the urban rail (Gijang Line and Jeonggwan Line) as a preliminary feasibility study target project.

The KTX-Eum stop station is planned to be installed at Gijang Station or Jwacheon Station, the intermediate stations on the Bucheon-Taehwagang route, preparing for the opening of the KTX era connected nationwide through urban rail.

In August this year, I visited the Korea Railroad Corporation headquarters and delivered a petition signed by 127,295 people, 72% of Gijang residents. This kind of effort is necessary to succeed.

We also won a lawsuit to recover 10 billion KRW related to the Jangan Industrial Complex and finally recovered the subsidy in 2015.

Wolli Gwangsan Village in Ilgwang-myeon was selected as a target for the '2020 Saetteul Village Project' public contest, with a total project cost of 1.363 billion KRW from 2020 to 2023.

The Ilgwang District urban development project was implemented by Busan Urban Corporation and completed on December 30, 2019. Since then, Gijang County has repeatedly conducted joint inspections and received 15 billion KRW in February 2021 for defect repairs and convenience facility expansions, promoting dry reservoir projects, park and restroom installations, Samsungcheon stream trail improvements, underground road and sump installations, and Samsungcheon maintenance projects.

In July 2018, we opened the Gijang Market public parking lot with a total project cost of 21.7 billion KRW.

O Gyu-seok, the mayor of Gijang-gun, is inspecting the site of the walking trail construction project within Samsungcheon in Ilgwang New Town on October 20th.

Question: There are many notable education projects. What initiatives have you undertaken?

-I personally developed and have been operating the '380 Project,' a customized childcare and education support project covering all life stages, since 2010.

In 2011, we established the education-dedicated department 'Talent Development Division.' After enacting the 'Gijang County Education Expense Support Ordinance' in 2010, we have been supporting education expenses within 12% of the previous year's general account county tax revenue balance, securing stable education funding and dedicating a significant portion of county administration efforts to education support.

The 380 Project is a childcare and education support project covering the entire life cycle. It consists of the 'Shin Saimdang Project' to create a stable childcare environment for children from 0 years old to preschoolers starting from pregnancy and childbirth, the 'Yi Toegye Project' to nurture local elementary, middle, and high school students into talents, and the 'Yi Yulgok Project' supporting lifelong learning programs for local residents.

Busan's first complete free school meals for elementary, middle, and high schools were also implemented. In 2011, we began supporting the purchase of eco-friendly food ingredients for 26 schools in the county, and in 2012, invested 1 billion KRW of county funds to implement Busan's first complete free meals for elementary schools. In 2014, free meals were extended to all middle school grades, and in 2017, to all high school grades.

Since 2019, Gijang County has supported school uniform costs for new middle and high school students who wear uniforms.

The university student joint dormitory construction project began in October 2016 through an agreement among four local governments with nuclear power plants (Gijang County, Gyeongju City, Ulju County, Yeonggwang County), the Ministry of Education, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, and the Korea Student Aid Foundation, with a total project cost of 40 billion KRW.

We also operate the Gijang County scholarship support project. After reaching the 10 billion KRW fund goal in 2015, the scholarship fund has grown to about 11 billion KRW as of 2021.

Busan's first comprehensive childcare support center was built and opened in July 2015, with a total project cost of 5.03 billion KRW.

We operate five Gijang County base English centers within the county, investing about 420 million KRW annually, serving about 830 users.

Since November last year, we have provided education disaster support funds to 145 out-of-school youths, and in June this year, provided meal support with a budget of 20 million KRW.

In July 2021, Busan's first home-reared child snack support was implemented, providing snack vouchers worth 100,000 KRW annually to about 2,500 children.

We operate the nation's first 365-day seamless Gijang-type elementary after-school care classroom since March 2021, investing a total of 647 million KRW at Ilgwang Haebit Elementary School.

We also take care of senior citizens. Various welfare facilities have been built to secure cultural spaces for the elderly. We invested 3.31 billion KRW in the Ilgwang Senior Welfare Center, 2.443 billion KRW in the Jangan-eup Senior Citizens' Hall, and 6.786 billion KRW in the Jeonggwan Senior Welfare Center.

On March 31, 2021, Oh Gyuseok, the mayor of Gijang County, is touring the Andersen Fairy Tale Village project site in Jangan-eup with public officials.

Question: I understand Gijang County has the most libraries in Busan.

-Gijang County has the most public and small libraries in Busan, with the highest number of books per capita in the city. Since 2010, we have built public libraries including Jeonggwan Library, Jeonggwan Children's Library, Daera Multipurpose Library, Gijang Digital Library, Gochon Eoullim Library, and Naeri Saera Library, and operate 61 small libraries.

Additionally, in Gijang-eup, we are promoting the construction of public libraries in Gyori Bitmulkkum Education Happiness Town and Gijang-eup Administrative Welfare Center; in Jangan-eup, the Jangan-eup Administrative Welfare Center; in Jeonggwan-eup, Jeonggwan Edu Park; in Ilgwang-myeon, Ilgwang Library and Ilgwang Bitmulkkum Cultural Town; and in Cheolma-myeon, Cheolma Urban Agriculture Park. Small libraries will also be built in the Seaweed Breeding Convergence Center and Agricultural Technology Center.

We received a total of 13.7 billion KRW from the 2021 National Balanced Development Special Account budget to be used for library projects. For the Ilgwang Library construction project, we secured 8.6 billion KRW out of the total 16.6 billion KRW by 2020, and for the Jeonggwan-eup Edu Park public library project, we secured 5 billion KRW as a living SOC complex project. The marine fisheries specialized library within the Seaweed Breeding Convergence Research Center secured 100 million KRW.

Question: Welfare projects in local governments are of great interest to residents. What projects have you focused on?

-Since 2011, we have implemented Busan's first senior center lunch ingredient support project. We provide lunch ingredient purchase costs to 280 senior centers, investing a total of about 7.7 billion KRW to date. The total project cost for senior center support increased from 1.126 billion KRW in 2010 to 5.4 billion KRW in 2021.

We have implemented health promotion projects, providing examination cost support to a total of 16,375 people, and introduced county resident safety insurance, investing 300 million KRW of county funds since 2020.

We were also the first nationwide to distribute hand sanitizers and masks free of charge to all residents in preparation for COVID-19. In February 2020, when mask shortages occurred, we first distributed masks to all households in the county, and by November 2021, distributed a total of 16.62 million masks and 230,000 bottles of hand sanitizer over six rounds.

We were the first nationwide to provide Gijang-type disaster basic income, giving 100,000 KRW per person to all residents in two rounds. In March 2020, we invested 16.7 billion KRW to pay 166,715 people, and in December 2020, invested 17.1 billion KRW to pay 170,640 people.

We invested 9.5455 billion KRW in emergency livelihood support funds for small business owners, providing 1 million KRW each to 9,545 businesses. We also invested 412 million KRW in emergency support funds for high-risk facilities, paying 429 businesses.

Question: Besides spending money, are there future-oriented projects in Gijang that attract investment?

-There is a grand plan to create a global radiation medical science hub city.

The Southeast Radiation Medical Science General Industrial Complex is being developed on a 148,772㎡ (about 450,000 pyeong) site in Jangan-eup's Jwadong, Imrang, and Banryong-ri areas, creating a radiation technology industrial cluster leading the non-power nuclear field. Gijang County is investing a total of 428.7 billion KRW, including 321.1 billion KRW of county funds, making this the largest priority project.

Construction began in March 2014, aiming for full completion of the industrial complex by December 2022. As of November 2021, the sales rate is 38%, with 19 out of 50 plots contracted.

Projects within the industrial complex include the export-type new research reactor development project, power semiconductor industrial cluster creation, medical heavy ion accelerator treatment center construction, and radioactive isotope fusion research infrastructure project.

The export-type new research reactor development project, with a total cost of 438.9 billion KRW, aims to stabilize domestic supply and promote overseas exports of radioactive isotopes using the export-type new research reactor.

Through neutron doping services, it is a major national project to create new industries such as expanding the semiconductor industry scale. After competing with nine local governments through a Ministry of Science and ICT contest, Gijang County was selected on July 30, 2010. After one-person protests by the county governor and visits to central government ministries, construction approval was granted by the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission in May 2019.

In March 2021, Oh Gyu-seok, the mayor of Gijang-gun, is inspecting the construction site of the Park Tae-jun Memorial Hall in Imrang-ri, Jangan-eup.

Question: With such a long administrative period, you must have countless projects packed in your mind. Could you unravel the threads of your memories?

-Since the opening of Chaseong Art Hall cinema in 2013, 339 films have been screened, with a total audience of 192,411.

In Jangan-eup Imrang-ri, the hometown of POSCO Honorary Chairman Park Tae-joon, we built the Park Tae-joon Memorial Hall on a 5,216㎡ site with 8.2 billion KRW of county funds, including exhibition rooms for his belongings, a library, seminar rooms, and storage, scheduled to officially open this December.

We are creating Andersen Village and Fairy Tale Village themed on Andersen's works on a 170,891㎡ site in Giryong-ri, Jangan-eup, investing 18 billion KRW. Construction started in December 2021, aiming for completion in 2023.

In 2019, we signed an MOU with the Andersen Museum in Odense, Denmark, securing intellectual property rights and investing 4 billion KRW to create the Andersen Fairy Tale Garden on a 625,145㎡ site.

The Busan Gijang Filming Studio is being developed on a 249,490㎡ site within the Gijang Ceramic Tourism Healing Village, with the Film Promotion Committee investing 66 billion KRW to build three filming studios and related facilities, aiming for completion in 2024.

The Gijang-eup Sports Park is planned to be developed on a 23,690㎡ site with a total project cost of 19.2 billion KRW.

The Jeonggwan Bit·Mul·Kkum Education Happiness Town project costs a total of 112.7 billion KRW (60 billion KRW national funds, 4.5 billion KRW city funds, 102.2 billion KRW county funds), creating a public convenience facility complex for sports, education, and culture. The 'Bit·Mul·Kkum' (Light·Water·Dream) project is divided into three thematic phases, progressing step by step, with full completion targeted for 2023. The Ilgwang Bit·Mul·Kkum Education Happiness Town received 5.95 billion KRW in national funds, investing a total of 48.3 billion KRW, and the Gijang Bit·Mul·Kkum Education Happiness Town invested 30.889 billion KRW, scheduled for completion in January 2022.

The Ilgwang-myeon Administrative Welfare Center new building began construction in 2022, with completion expected in December 2023. Selected for the Urban Regeneration New Deal project, it will receive 5 billion KRW national funds, 2.5 billion KRW city funds, and 11.3 billion KRW county funds, totaling 18.8 billion KRW over three years from 2021.

The 'Jangan-eup Administrative Welfare Center New Building (Jangan Bit·Mul·Kkum Education Administrative Town)' is targeted for completion in December 2023, and the Gijang-eup Administrative Welfare Center new building is also under development.

Since 2012, Gijang County has been promoting the creation of a baseball theme park and the establishment of the Korean Baseball Hall of Fame.

Question: What about eco-friendly ecological city projects?

-We opened the Gijang County Odor Integrated Control Center in 2018, measuring odor and air pollution levels 24 hours a day.

We plan to create Busan's first convergence-type urban agriculture park in Cheolma-myeon, investing a total of 19.7 billion KRW.

Natural learning spaces have been created in Samsung Forest Park, Tteokgok Forest Park, and Hudong Forest Park in Ilgwang New Town.

Since 2021, we have invested 3.5 billion KRW to create a Metasequoia trail, rose learning center, and lawn park at the Hudong Front Yard Reservoir and Samsung Reservoir in Ilgwang New Town.

We have already created the 'Jwagwangcheon Health 30-ri Road' connecting Byeongsan Reservoir, Jwagwangcheon Stream, and Imrang Beach. Along the Jwagwangcheon Health 30-ri Road, we established an ecological learning center with medicinal herbs and wildflowers, bicycle paths, and walking trails.

We created the 'Byeongsan Bitmulkkum Theme Road' around the upper Jwagwangcheon Byeongsan Reservoir, decorated Gumokjeong Park with a rose theme park and rose tunnel, and developed an eco-friendly ecological learning and healing rest space with a rose learning center and forest trail in Witgol Park.

We maintained hiking trails on Ilgwang Mountain and Dareum Mountain, creating new trails such as the cypress forest trail.

We are also developing the Samsungcheon stream trail and rose theme learning center in Ilgwang New Town. The Ilgwangcheon stream trail is currently under phase 1 construction.

Question: Gijang faces the East Sea. What about marine-related projects?

-In 2016, we built the Seaweed Breeding Convergence Research Center, the nation's first, with a total project cost of 14.5 billion KRW and a total floor area of 3,941㎡. It is one of Gijang's future food industries.

Since 2014, focusing on the Jangan sea area, we invested 5 billion KRW in the Gijang coastal sea ranch project, completed in 2019.

In June 2020, we completed the ICT-based seaweed aquaculture farm environment monitoring system, selected by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in 2019.

We invested 1.95 billion KRW in the Daebyeon seafood direct sales center, starting construction in 2020 and completing it in August 2021.

In Ilgwang-myeon Chilam-ri, we are developing a coastal trail and observatory and conducting the Chilam Port Five Senses Experience Fishing Village project for waterfront coastal scenery. The Dongam Port Fishing Village New Deal project was selected in 2019 by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, with a project cost of 7.797 billion KRW planned.

Question: Mayor Oh is also known as a 'capable person' who urgently secures budgets from the government and achieves awards. What is your most memorable achievement during your tenure?

-A local government head must be diligent. Sometimes, you have to be aggressive. If you act too politely, residents lose too much. You must continuously appeal to higher authorities, make them come to you, and once they come, cling to them.

On August 25, 2014, Gijang County was declared a special disaster area due to heavy rains. Despite unprecedented disaster conditions, we stayed alert and responded actively.

When the president visited the flood site, I followed closely and requested prompt national funding support, securing 492.4 billion KRW in national and city funds.

In December 2016, during the AI outbreak in Gijang, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs inspected the AI quarantine site. Our AI quarantine measures were selected as an exemplary case and circulated nationwide by official documents.

From 2011 to 2016, Gijang County was the first nationwide to win the Korea Local Autonomy Productivity Award for six consecutive years (2012 Grand Prize, 2011, 2013, 2014 Excellence Award, 2015 Encouragement Award, 2016 Excellence Award).

From 2014 to 2017, we also won the Korea Urban Award for four consecutive years (2014, 2015 Prime Minister's Award; 2016, 2017 Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Award).

In 2021, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety publicly released safety level ratings in six categories for local governments nationwide, and Gijang County received first grade in five categories among basic local governments, achieving the best results.

One must win many awards and money to not be ashamed before the residents.

Question: You cannot run for county governor in next year's local election due to the three-term limit. There is still much time until the general election. What are your plans after finishing your term?

-From 1995 to 1998 during my first term as county governor, and from the 5th to 7th terms from 2010 to November 30, 2021, I have gone to the field every day from 5:10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. without missing weekdays, holidays, or vacations.

When I ran a Korean medicine clinic before, I treated patients every day without rest until 10 p.m. After stepping down as county governor, I will again open my Korean medicine clinic and treat patients until 10 p.m. every day.

Until midnight on June 30 next year, I will protect Gijang County, and from July 1, I will open the doors of Oh Gyu-seok Korean Medicine Clinic wide. I will work tirelessly for the sick and struggling neighbors and for the health of the residents until I run in the 22nd National Assembly election in 2024.

South Korea needs passionate blood now. We need 'passionate men.' The fastest way to change the world is politics. I want to change the National Assembly, change Gijang, and completely change South Korea.

My Korean medicine college professor taught me that a small doctor (小醫) cures individual illnesses, a medium doctor (中醫) cures social illnesses, and a great doctor (大醫) cures the nation's illnesses.

I have cured people's illnesses as a Korean medicine doctor and social illnesses as a county governor. In the future, following my teacher's teachings and the will and call of Gijang residents, I will become a great doctor who cures the nation's illnesses.

I will work with the determination to be buried in the land of my hometown Gijang, where my mother gave birth to me. Just as I have administered county affairs with integrity and without business promotion expenses, I promise to create a clean politics without accepting a single political donation, giving dreams and hope to the younger generation and the people.