Kim Seon-gap, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, Announces Candidacy for 8th Term as Gwangjin-gu Mayor

Gwangjin, the Central City of the Eastern Region! Changing the Map of Seoul!

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Kim Seon-gap, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, declared his candidacy for the 8th simultaneous local elections as the 8th term mayor of Gwangjin-gu at a press conference held on the 18th at 2 p.m., attended by party members and supporters, after completing his preliminary candidate registration on the 15th.

At the press conference, Mayor Kim Seon-gap stated, “Since the outbreak of COVID-19, I have prioritized the safety of residents as the person responsible for quarantine in Gwangjin and have carried out district administration accordingly. From this week, social distancing has been lifted, and a full return to daily life has begun. Now, it is time to show the vision of Gwangjin for the 8th term based on the efforts and achievements of the 7th term,” adding, “During the one and a half months of suspension, I asked the district office staff to carefully take care of the administration, and I believe our staff will work steadfastly on district affairs as they did during the COVID-19 response.”

Mayor Kim introduced, “In the 7th term, Gwangjin focused on practical, resident-centered administration, strengthening internal foundations and receiving high external evaluations. The development of the KT site near Guui Station has been accelerated, and the Junggok Medical Complex has been transformed, contributing to the revitalization of the local economy, showing changes throughout Gwangjin.”

He also said, “We realized the abolition of the highest altitude district near Children’s Grand Park, a long-standing local wish, and reflected the undergrounding of Subway Line 2 in the Seoul 2040 Urban Basic Plan. At the foot of Achasan Mountain, we improved walking trails, completed the Harmony Plaza, and are developing the Forest Library and Hongnyeonbong Historical Exhibition Hall, transforming the area into a safe and enjoyable attraction not only for local residents but for all citizens nationwide.”

He continued, “Now, I have stepped back from my duties as mayor and stand again at the starting line for another challenge for Gwangjin. I will stand with the same heart as when I first ran for mayor four years ago. Based on the experience of managing district affairs with residents over the past four years, I will become a mayor who can make Gwangjin, with its 340,000 residents, the central city of the eastern region and change the map of Seoul.”

Mayor Kim Seon-gap presented six vision directions for the 8th term of Gwangjin: upgrading regional value, creating a safe environment where residents feel secure, building a mutually beneficial economy empowering residents, inclusive welfare enjoyed by all residents, culture and education where residents can dream, and strengthening participatory administration with residents.

Candidate Kim Seon-gap, who served as a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, was elected as the 7th term mayor of Gwangjin in the 2018 7th simultaneous local elections with a high approval rating of 65.92%, receiving over 100,000 votes for the first time in the mayoral election. Particularly, based on his drive to fulfill campaign promises, he won the Manifesto Promise Award for eight consecutive years as a local council member and received the highest grade (SA) for four consecutive years in the nationwide basic local government heads’ pledge fulfillment evaluation, demonstrating trustworthy administration.

Full Text of Candidacy Declaration

Gwangjin, the central city of the eastern region! I will change the map of Seoul!

Dear residents of Gwangjin, I am now pausing my role as mayor of Gwangjin-gu to declare a new challenge to continue the changes we have made together over the past four years.

Enhancement of regional value!

In the 7th term, Gwangjin focused on practicality and communication, establishing a solid foundation with resident-centered administration and receiving high external evaluations. Residents have felt the changes throughout Gwangjin, such as the accelerated development of the KT site near Guui Station and the transformation of the Junggok Medical Complex contributing to local economic revitalization. We realized the abolition of the highest altitude district near Children’s Grand Park, a long-standing wish, and reflected the undergrounding of Subway Line 2 in the Seoul 2040 Urban Basic Plan. At the foot of Achasan Mountain, we improved walking trails, completed Harmony Plaza, and are developing the Forest Library and Hongnyeonbong Historical Exhibition Hall, transforming the area into a safe and enjoyable attraction for not only local residents but all citizens nationwide.

Transition to a safe city!

To keep the promise to residents to create a clean and safe city, we promoted systematic crime prevention environments tailored to the characteristics of each neighborhood. As a result, last year, Gwangjin-gu was selected as the safest autonomous district nationwide in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s regional safety index announcement.

Establishment of sound finances!

To improve the poor financial environment, we actively expanded external funding, securing over 100 billion KRW in public contest projects, increasing fund operation scale by over 80 billion KRW, and securing about 580 billion KRW in external resources during the term. This led to the highest budget growth rate among Seoul’s autonomous districts in the 7th term, marking a remarkable turnaround.

Realization of resident satisfaction based on trustworthy administration!

After receiving the Manifesto Promise Award for eight consecutive years as a city council member, I continued trustworthy politics as a head of the local government by receiving the highest grade (SA) for four consecutive years in the nationwide basic local government heads’ pledge fulfillment evaluation. Efforts to improve the district office’s integrity also bore fruit, with Gwangjin-gu ranking in the top 5% nationwide in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s autonomous internal control operation evaluation.

These efforts and achievements have been reflected in residents’ evaluations of district administration, with satisfaction rising from the 52% range in the 6th term to a high 92.2% last year, according to Gallup Korea. This meaningful result was due to active discovery and implementation of resident-participatory projects alongside various changes in Gwangjin.

Overcoming COVID-19!

Over the past two years, the global COVID-19 pandemic brought fear and hardship to residents, casting a shadow over lives. However, we all overcame this major threat together. The community united in wisdom, strengthening and adapting the quarantine system according to situations from the early stages of the pandemic. As a result, Gwangjin-gu established a leading quarantine system and published two COVID-19 white papers, laying the foundation for swift and appropriate responses in similar future situations. The long two-year battle endured through collective wisdom is ending, and now it is time to regain daily life and revitalize the community.

The past four years as mayor of Gwangjin were possible because residents stood with me. Gwangjin has now established itself as the core of the eastern region, and based on the changes over the past four years, a brilliant leap forward is imminent. Together with me, Kim Seon-gap, the changes in Gwangjin in the 8th term will continue as follows.

First, I will further upgrade regional value!

We will transition to an era of balanced development reflecting the characteristics and needs of residents centered on four living zones, transforming Gwangjin into a refined city where regional value is reflected throughout every corner.

Second, I will create a safe environment where residents feel secure!

I will protect residents from diseases and make Gwangjin free from major disasters.

Third, I will build a mutually beneficial economy empowering residents!

I will lay stepping stones for the recovery of the local economy hit by COVID-19 and maximize synergy effects between existing commercial areas and new startups.

Fourth, I will create inclusive welfare enjoyed by all residents!

A Gwangjin-type welfare baseline will be established to provide customized welfare by class suitable for Gwangjin’s characteristics.

Fifth, I will create culture and education where residents can dream!

I will revitalize cultural and sports activities needed for the recovered daily life and education that had been confined to non-face-to-face formats.

Sixth, I will strengthen participatory administration with residents!

I will expand resident participation in administration and continue efforts to activate resident autonomy.

Dear residents,

I now stand again at the starting line for another challenge for Gwangjin. I will stand with the same heart as when I first ran for mayor four years ago. Based on the experience of managing district affairs with residents over the past four years, I will become a reliable mayor who can make Gwangjin, with its 340,000 residents, the central city of the eastern region and even change the map of Seoul.