District Mayor Park Gang-su to Hold Inauguration Ceremony at District Office Auditorium on the 5th at 3 PM... Mayor Park Reveals Vision for the 8th Term Through Five Promises to Residents... Also Selects Practical Secretary-General to Lead Redevelopment and Reconstruction... Mayor Oh Se-hoon Attends, Urges to Watch Seoul City and Mapo District Work Together
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The inauguration ceremony of Park Gang-su, the mayor of Mapo-gu for the 8th term of direct election, was held at 3 p.m. on the 5th in the main auditorium on the 2nd floor of Mapo-gu Office.
The ceremony opened with an orchestra performance by the Hanbit Art Troupe. Hanbit Art Troupe is the world's only orchestra composed of visually impaired musicians. This congratulatory performance reflects Mayor Park Gang-su's interest in people with disabilities, who previously served as the president of the Korea Disabled Sports Association Shooting Federation.
About 1,000 people from various sectors, including Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, attended the inauguration ceremony to celebrate the vigorous start of Mayor Park Gang-su of Mapo-gu.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon congratulated, saying, "Among the 25 autonomous districts of Seoul, I am the only one who attended the inauguration ceremony of the Mapo-gu mayor," and added, "After hearing about Mayor Park's plan for 'free meals for seniors aged 75 and over' before his inauguration, I felt the desire to help. Mapo is a city with many areas for regeneration and change, and Seoul City will also unite its heart for Mapo's transformation. Please watch how Seoul City and Mapo-gu run together."
After taking the oath of office, Mayor Park expressed his aspirations in his inaugural speech as the 8th term mayor of Mapo-gu, saying, "Under the guise of modernization, Mapo suffered from the Danginri Power Plant and landfill sites. I will restore the lost rights of Mapo and respond to the hearts of residents yearning for new changes and leaps."
He also announced five promises to the residents to realize this. ▲ Realize genuine communication administration ▲ Improve welfare by changing the 'Welfare and Education Bureau' to the 'Bureau for Accompanying the Vulnerable' ▲ Create a cultural tourism city full of sights and attractions ▲ Lead regional development through urban development and job creation ▲ Maximize administrative efficiency by focusing on basics.
As confirmed at the inauguration ceremony, the 8th term Mapo-gu emphasizes welfare for socially vulnerable groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. Related pledge projects include establishing the 'Bureau for Accompanying the Vulnerable' to promote ▲ free filial piety meals for seniors aged 75 and over ▲ construction and operation of the district-run 'Sunlight Center' to support pregnant women and encourage childbirth ▲ establishment of a Disability Committee.
On his first day in office, Mayor Park also made innovative personnel appointments for a new Mapo. Reflecting Mapo's characteristics, which actively pursues redevelopment and reconstruction, a practical secretary-general with abundant experience and expertise in related fields was selected through an internal recruitment, attracting attention.
◇ Profile of Mayor Park Gang-su of Mapo-gu ▲ Born in Gochang (born in 1959) ▲ Graduated from Konkuk University Graduate School of Public Administration, majoring in Policy Studies (Master of Public Administration) ▲ Advisory member of the National Integration Committee of the 20th Presidential Transition Committee ▲ Head of the Organization Headquarters of the People Power Party candidate Yoon Seok-youl in the 20th presidential election ▲ Chairman of Sisa Focus / Sisa Focus TV
Mapo-gu announced that it selected the secretary-general through internal recruitment for the first time in the history of direct election Mapo-gu administration.
In particular, a technical officer (local facilities officer Moon Jeong-il) was selected as the secretary-general for the 8th term of Mayor Park Gang-su, drawing attention.
Mayor Park Gang-su explained, "Traditionally, the secretary-general of the mayor's office has been held by administrative officers. However, since the driving force for change and development in the 8th term of Mapo lies in redevelopment and reconstruction, I judged that a practical secretary-general with abundant experience and expertise in related fields is necessary. Through recruitment, I selected a suitable person who can lead the district administration with me and formed the secretary-general's office."
Before starting his term, Mayor Park emphasized transparent personnel management as the core of the 8th term district administration. "I will thoroughly eradicate solicitations and completely root out personnel appointments tied to school ties, blood ties, or regionalism," he said, urging, "The 1,400 employees of Mapo-gu should work with conviction, focusing solely on the residents."
He also directed the direction of organizational restructuring. He asked to establish an organizational foundation that forms 'one track' to promote the pledges and current projects of the 8th term.
Especially, since the 8th term Mapo-gu emphasizes welfare for socially vulnerable groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, and people with disabilities, the existing Welfare and Education Bureau will be changed to the 'Bureau for Accompanying the Vulnerable.' Related pledge projects include free filial piety meals for seniors aged 75 and over, construction and operation of the district-run 'Sunlight Center' to support pregnant women and encourage childbirth, and establishment of a Disability Committee.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon (far right) attended the inauguration ceremony to congratulate Park Kang-su, the Mayor of Mapo District, on his inauguration.
Inaugural Address
Dear respected and beloved residents of Mapo-gu!
Today, I stand here with a solemn mission
to create a new Mapo-gu where residents are the owners.
I sincerely thank all the residents and distinguished guests
who have joined this meaningful occasion.
With each precious vote from every resident,
you have granted me the honorable position
to lead the 8th term of Mapo-gu administration.
Thank you very much.
Dear beloved residents!
During the election period, I met many residents
and listened to their earnest wishes.
They asked to support small business owners devastated by COVID-19.
They requested that the precious taxes of residents be used for welfare for the marginalized.
They urged for speedy redevelopment and reconstruction to develop the region.
The more I heard the residents' stories,
the more my heart ached and felt heavy.
In fact, Mapo-naru, once a logistics hub,
was responsible for supplying food to the capital Hanyang.
However, under the guise of modernization,
the Danginri Power Plant forced residents to endure dust pollution for 100 years,
and Nanjido, which dreamed of becoming a second Yeouido,
was abandoned as Seoul's landfill for 15 years.
Nevertheless, our Mapo residents
have received no compensation for these sacrifices.
Then, what about Mapo today?
With natural resources like the Han River and Gyeongui Line Forest Trail,
the Hongdae area visited by more than half of foreign tourists,
and Sangam DMC, the broadcasting hub of Korea,
Mapo has infinite potential for development,
yet growth has stopped at some point.
As a 40-year resident of Mapo,
I know the hopes of Mapo residents as if they were my own.
It is time to reclaim the lost rights of Mapo
and respond to the hearts of residents yearning for new change and leap.
With these expectations and aspirations of residents in mind,
we have set the slogan for the 8th term Mapo-gu as
"New Mapo, Better Mapo."
And to realize this, I make five promises
to all residents.
First, I will realize genuine communication administration,
not just formal communication in words.
To this end, I will use the 365 Resident Communication Phone
to listen to residents' difficulties,
and establish coexistence committees by region and civil complaint
to thoroughly address residents' concerns.
Second, in line with Seoul City's special welfare city for accompanying the vulnerable,
I will change the Welfare and Education Bureau to the Bureau for Accompanying the Vulnerable
and invest generously in the welfare budget.
We will continue to accompany socially vulnerable groups through
free meals for seniors aged 75 and over,
construction of the Sunlight Center to support pregnancy and childbirth,
and establishment of a Disability Committee directly under the mayor.
Through amendments to laws supporting areas around power plants,
we will promote halving electricity, hot water, and heating costs,
and ensure compensation for damages caused by thermal power plants.
Third, I will create a cultural tourism city full of sights and attractions
to bring forward Mapo's bright future.
Tourism is an advanced business with significant economic ripple effects.
Moreover, Mapo has an attractive tourism belt from Hongdae to Danginri Cultural Creation Power Plant,
Yanghwajin Holy Ground, World Cup Park, and Sangam.
We will actively promote the operation of the Han River Mapo circular train bus,
and the creation of the Nanjido complex cultural tourism complex,
to revitalize the local commercial district.
Fourth, I will devote all efforts to urban development and job creation
to lead a higher level of regional development.
Everyone dreams of living well and prosperously.
We will spare no administrative support for redevelopment and reconstruction projects applying Seoul City's rapid integrated planning,
and smooth promotion of small-scale housing maintenance projects.
During this process, we will ensure that no residents are displaced without housing,
and proceed with compensation housing without delay.
We will strongly urge Seoul City to promptly advance the long-stalled construction of Sangam Lotte Mall and Landmark Tower.
Today, Mayor Oh Se-hoon of Seoul honored us with his presence,
and I ask him to fulfill the wishes of Mapo residents.
Additionally, we will establish a youth startup support center
and activate the operation of the Job Creation Committee
to create job opportunities regardless of gender or age.
Fifth, I will maximize the efficiency of district administration
by focusing on basics.
The original domain of local administration is life administration,
and in terms of impact on residents' lives,
the role of the mayor can be greater than that of the president.
Therefore, I will focus on life-close administration that residents can feel directly,
rather than large-scale projects focused on results.
In operating district-affiliated institutions and private consignment,
we will boldly improve wasteful management that does not match the financial scale.
Finally, I sincerely ask the public officials of Mapo.
The highest virtue of public officials is service and devotion.
Please always work with a humble attitude, focusing only on the residents.
Also, please protect the community and residents through clean administration based solely on justice and common sense.
The moment the public service compromises with illegality and unfairness,
irreparable tragedies like large-scale apartment collapses will be repeated.
Please keep this in mind.
I will also take the lead in eradicating local endemic corruption that commits various irregularities,
and surely protect Mapo-gu, Mapo residents,
and the public officials of Mapo who perform their duties with conviction and fairness.
Dear residents!
Countless promises are made every election.
But I will not become a politician who only thinks about votes with populist policies.
I want to be a steward mayor responsible for the lives of 400,000 Mapo residents,
a mayor like family and friends who supports you in difficult times.
I really want to do well. I will do well.
I will run the district administration honestly without lies,
and become a mayor trusted by residents.
Sometimes on this path,
I may face insurmountable barriers,
and severe opposition.
But I will not avoid those difficulties.
If there are thorny bushes that must be cleared for Mapo's change and development,
even if my fingertips are pricked and wounded,
I will step forward and clear them.
With an unyielding spirit that bends a hundred times but never breaks,
I will walk steadily, thinking only of the interests of socially vulnerable groups and the majority of residents.
In this process,
the warm affection and sincere advice of residents
will be the greatest courage and strength to me.
Residents, please always be with me.
I will become a truly good mayor.
I will do my best to be a successful mayor who supports you in difficult times. Thank you.
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