Press Conference Held to Commemorate 100 Days Since Inauguration
Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, Gyeongnam, held a press conference ahead of his 100th day in office. / Photo by Ryeong Lee ryeong@
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] “It has been 100 days of laying the foundation for Changwon as a Northeast Asia hub city through a cold-headed diagnosis of reality and meticulous strategies amid challenging domestic and international conditions.”
Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, Gyeongnam, who began his term with the ambition to make Changwon a city of hope and a hub city in Northeast Asia, shared his reflections as he approaches his 100th day in office.
At a press conference held on the 4th, Mayor Hong said, “To meet the expectations of citizens who chose change, we have focused on five top strategic tasks for a major innovation in Changwon’s economy and a fundamental transformation of the administrative structure.”
According to the city, the key achievements of the first 100 days of the 8th elected administration can be summarized as ▲ securing industries for Changwon’s next 30 years ▲ fostering new industries and expanding domestic and foreign investment ▲ strengthening fiscal soundness ▲ normalizing long-stalled projects ▲ and reforming the administrative structure.
At the time of his inauguration, Mayor Hong pledged to “revitalize Changwon’s economy and take care of the citizens’ difficult lives.” Since then, he has pursued initiatives such as promoting Defense and Nuclear Power Specialized National Industrial Complex 2.0, proposing the designation of an energy industry convergence complex, and expanding mutual cooperation in the hydrogen industry between countries.
He attracted investment from 11 companies in the defense and smart logistics industries, creating 376 jobs and securing 198.9 billion KRW in investment, and held the first Technology Startup Forum, strengthening tailored talent development, job creation, and accelerating economic recovery.
Through export consultation meetings and dispatching delegations, he facilitated exchanges and investments between nations and companies, while reducing inefficient budgets and reorganizing funds by improving fiscal diagnosis services, establishing a permanent fiscal inspection team, and forming a public facility management team.
He also conducted in-depth analyses and reorganized internal departments to normalize long-stalled large projects such as Masan Marine New City, Changwon Cultural Complex Town, Ungdong District Complex Tourism Leisure Complex, Sahwa Park, and Daesang Park.
Mayor Hong stated, “If we have boldly innovated Changwon’s economy and administrative structure over the past 100 days, from now on we will fully implement detailed strategies to leap forward as a hub city in Northeast Asia.”
He plans to fully activate the Hi-5 strategies he proposed at the time of his inauguration: ▲ building an innovative growth economic foundation ▲ creating a caring welfare and happy ecosystem ▲ producing a cultured and refined city environment ▲ reorganizing the integrated urban spatial structure ▲ and realizing the dreams and hopes of youth.
Mayor Hong said, “We will lead innovative growth through the coexistence of core industries and the 4th industrial revolution, and practice caring welfare by strengthening pinpoint support to minimize welfare blind spots. We will establish a robust economic foundation that will never be shaken by crises again and help restore a welfare community based on sharing and consideration.”
To expand safety nets for vulnerable groups such as single-person households, women, and children, he also pledged to introduce safe housing, expand women’s safety street CCTV, enhance medical infrastructure, and implement the Food Safety Management System ISO22000 to manage tap water quality.
He added, “We will strengthen education and cultural infrastructure befitting a city of one million people and create a sustainable environmental city.” He declared plans to develop a global marine landmark, promote urban redesign tailored to regional characteristics, and establish transportation systems including the 2040 public transit network and SRT introduction.
Finally, he emphasized, “We will focus investments on improving the quality of life for youth by supplying Youth Dream Houses and creating youth jobs linked to new industries to build the city’s future.”
Mayor Hong concluded, “There have been shortcomings in tap water issues and communication with citizens, so we will enhance transparency going forward. We will drive a major innovation in the 8th elected administration and surely make Changwon, a Northeast Asia hub city with the dignity that Changwon Special City citizens rightfully deserve.”
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