Bosung-gun 100 Days Since the 8th Elected Mayor's Inauguration... Green Light for Uninterrupted Bosung Development

Kim Cheol-woo, Bosung County Governor, "I Will Make Bosung Where Residents Are the Owners"

[Boseong=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Cheon-seok] Marking 100 days since the inauguration of the 8th term of the local government, Jeonnam Boseong-gun is striving to lead uninterrupted development of Boseong under the slogan "Boseong 3·6·5 Running Again" together with its residents.

Kim Cheol-woo, the governor of Boseong-gun, announced his goal to open the era of a 1 trillion won budget during his term, accelerating efforts to secure national funds, discover new projects, and promote key initiatives.

Based on 13 years of legislative experience and solid administrative experience as the governor during the 7th term, Governor Kim is leading participatory autonomy where residents become the owners through governance that draws understanding and empathy from the residents.

▲ A New Four Years to Look Forward To

The 8th term of Boseong-gun laid the foundation for the next four years upon inauguration and shared the operational direction and vision of the 8th term with residents. Preparatory work such as confirming the slogan and pledges that run through the entire 8th term, discovering future projects to lead Boseong-gun’s development, securing budgets, and organizational restructuring to resolve pending issues was carried out.

The slogan for the 8th term was set as "Boseong 3·6·5 Running Again" with the meaning of serving residents 365 days a year. The number 3 represents the successful completion plan of the three major SOC projects promoted since the 7th term, 6 refers to the administrative branding of the Boseong600 project, which was a key policy, and 5 represents the five core goals covering all administrative fields.

The pledges, which are promises to the residents, were finalized on September 5 with 80 unit tasks across five areas, planned to be promoted as the top priority tasks of the 8th term. To prepare for climate change and revitalize the local economy, a first supplementary budget of 683.5 billion won was prepared, and in January next year, a bold organizational restructuring will be implemented to start full-scale governance.

▲ The Answer Lies in the Field. Proactive Administration through Communication

The 8th term of Boseong-gun started its term with communication with residents instead of an ordinary inauguration ceremony. To engrave the mindset of being a servant to the residents, all employees participated in city environment cleanup activities, and schedules such as serving as a one-day physical education teacher at daycare centers, volunteering at senior welfare centers, and visiting farming sites were carried out.

Instead of a rigid and formal inauguration ceremony, a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the site closest to the residents, matching their perspective, expressing the will to work actively in the field for four years.

Also, from immediately after the inauguration, dialogues with residents of 12 towns and townships were held, omitting unnecessary formalities to listen to more opinions. Through these dialogues, 113 voices from residents were received. Except for matters that could be answered on the spot, opinions will be reviewed by the responsible departments and reflected in governance.

Governor Kim Cheol-woo ordered that the first directive of the 8th term be to review a new policy called "Into the Residents (tentative name)" that allows communication and breathing together with residents. The 100-day journey since the inauguration confirms that the 8th term of Boseong-gun prioritizes communication with residents as its primary task.

▲ Discovering Future Growth Engines for Uninterrupted Development of Boseong

To achieve sustainable development of Boseong, the county is focusing on discovering large-scale projects and has chosen marine leisure and marine ecology as new growth engines to complete the Boseong-type Blue Economy.

Cooperating with Jeollanam-do to ensure smooth progress of the "National Mudflat Marine Garden" project in Yeoja Bay, which spans Boseong, Suncheon, Yeosu, and Goheung. The "Yeoja Bay National Mudflat Marine Garden" is a project with an investment of 218.5 billion won, planned to be promoted over five years starting in 2024.

In addition, all administrative power is focused on attracting the "National Marine Fisheries Museum," which will receive 124.5 billion won in national funds. Boseong-gun is considered the optimal location due to the ecological advantage of Boseong Byeolgok mudflat being registered as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site and its geographical advantage as the center of the southern coast’s southern central region, capable of encompassing various marine and fisheries resources of coastal cities and counties.

Administrative cooperation with neighboring local governments is also being strengthened. Governor Kim Cheol-woo was elected as the secretary-general responsible for practical affairs at the Jeonnam Mayors and Governors Council, which cooperates among 22 cities and counties in Jeollanam-do.

He also serves as the chairman of the South Coast Southern Central Region Development Council of nine cities and counties for Yeonghonam exchange cooperation and regional balanced development, and as chairman of the Deukryang Bay and Gangjin Bay Administrative Council, which consists of four counties, establishing a metropolitan administrative network to promote large-scale projects.

Furthermore, a green light has been turned on for securing national funds to resolve local issues. This includes securing 18 billion won for the Population Extinction Response Fund, 26.9 billion won for new sewage projects in 2023, and 4.8 billion won for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy-led agricultural and industrial complex package support project, the only one in Jeonnam, preparing growth engines in various fields.

Governor Kim Cheol-woo said, "The 8th term will operate the county government more powerfully and competently based on the experience of the 7th term," adding, "The most ideal governance is when residents become owners and participate, and their opinions are reflected and realized in governance, so I will always be closer to the residents."

Boseong=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Cheon-seok hss79@asiae.co.kr