Heo Seong-mu, Candidate for Changwon Special City Mayor, "Now Must Complete Changwon's Great Leap Forward"

Heo Seong-mu, the Democratic Party preliminary candidate for Changwon Special City Mayor, is announcing his policy pledges.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Se-ryeong] Heo Seong-mu, the Democratic Party preliminary candidate for Changwon Special City Mayor, announced policy pledges on the theme of a happy life in Changwon Special City on the 4th.

Heo said at the press conference that the goal is to create a city where citizens' everyday lives are happy.

"The first term of Heo Seong-mu's administration was a time to promote key tasks such as restoring urban competitiveness, enhancing the city's status, and overcoming crises with the vision of completing the foundation for a people-centered, new Changwon administration philosophy and great transformation," he reflected on his time as mayor.

He explained that the second term administration focuses on completing the great leap of Changwon, achieving stability in people's livelihoods and economic growth, and growing into a city where all citizens are happy as the core tasks.

On this day, Heo presented three major strategies and 15 tasks for balanced development of Jinhae, Masan, and Changwon, as well as five major strategies and 50 tasks under the slogan Changwon Mansaseong (昌原萬事成).

The three major balanced development strategies are ▲Smart Port City Global Jinhae ▲Luxury City Glory Masan ▲Future City Grand Changwon, planning to grow each city according to its characteristics.

Detailed tasks include establishing a smart logistics platform in the new port hinterland complex and creating the Sokcheon cultural tourism complex, landmark development around Masan Marine New City and 3·15 Marine Nuri Park, creating a digital innovation valley in Masan Marine New City, constructing a pedestrian bridge to Dongsom Island and establishing a tourism and cultural special zone tentatively named Luna Bay, and promoting full redevelopment around Burim Market.

Plans also include a complete revision of the urban plan for 54,000 single-family housing units, changing the use of exclusive residential areas to first-class general residential areas, designating a hydrogen specialized complex, and promoting a hydrogen mobility demonstration city.

The five major strategies of Changwon Mansaseong, embodying the ambition to make all dreams of Changwon come true, are ▲Global Hegemony City of Manufacturing Industry ▲Top City for Housing and Transportation ▲Cultural City to Enjoy Together ▲Supportive Welfare City ▲Sustainable Hope City.

He also proposed establishing the ASEAN Institute of Technology (AIT), attracting a branch office of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, full implementation of the Changwon Dream Loan for housing stability, supplying 1,000 public rental housing units each for youth and the elderly, and expanding free Wi-Fi.

He pledged youth culture and arts vouchers, entrance scholarships, construction of a sports hall, building sports centers in Buk-myeon, Ungnam, Hyeondong, western and eastern Jinhae, establishing a care system for socially vulnerable groups, issuing Changwon transportation welfare cards for those over 70, and gradually making city bus fares free.

Support for kindergarten parents' fees, branding local specialties as luxury brands, registering sea squirts, mussels, and clams as major national fishery heritage, registering Changwon Dan-gam as a major global agricultural heritage, and establishing a carbon neutrality support center were also promised.

Heo Seong-mu said, "I was evaluated as the best mayor in fulfilling pledges over the past four years," adding, "Changwon's economic growth rebounded, it acquired the status of the only special city outside the metropolitan area, and wisely overcame various crises such as COVID-19."

He appealed, "With the experience accumulated as a Blue House secretary, Gyeongsangnam-do political deputy governor, and mayor of Changwon, I have achieved many results. Now, I hope for your support once again to complete the great leap of Changwon and create a Changwon Special City where each citizen is happy."