Changwon Mayor Hong Nampyo: "This Year is the Right Time for Changwon's Revival, Will Focus More on Communication and Effort"

2023 New Year Press Conference Held

Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, Gyeongnam, is answering reporters' questions at the New Year's press briefing. / Photo by Se Ryeong Lee ryeong@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporters Jonggu Song, Seryeong Lee] “This year is the right time to revive Changwon's economy, and we will lay the foundation for innovative growth for Changwon's next 50 years.”

Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, Gyeongnam, said this at a New Year's press conference on the 9th.

On this day, Mayor Hong recalled that the six months since his inauguration last year were “a period of intense reflection on what Changwon will rely on for its future and how to revitalize the local economy, and establishing a vision accordingly.”

He announced the direction of city administration for this year, saying, “2023 is the time to gradually implement the results of those reflections.”

This year, Changwon City will focus on attracting the Changwon National Industrial Complex 2.0, specialized in defense and nuclear industries.

With the goal of creating an advanced industrial complex with international competitiveness centered on research, production, and high-tech, administrative procedures such as lifting the development restriction zone (Greenbelt) after the designation of the national industrial complex will also begin.

Traditional core industries such as machinery, manufacturing, and shipbuilding will be advanced through digital transformation, and support for infrastructure construction will be strengthened, including building a metaverse specialized for machinery and manufacturing industries and designating six specialized complexes.

The city will also establish a roadmap for discovering and fostering future new industries such as pioneering the medical and bio-device market, strengthening technological competitiveness in the space industry, and expanding the mobility industry base, as well as strategies to attract opportunity development special zones to accelerate economic recovery momentum.

The city plans to actively respond to rapidly changing welfare demands in 2023 by strengthening targeted support for each group.

By 2026, it plans to add 13 more park golf courses to the current seven in operation, making it the largest nationwide with a total of 500 holes.

▲ Installation of public daycare centers within the Changwon National Industrial Complex ▲ Establishment of the Changwon Middle-aged Support Center ▲ Opening of the Changwon Family Center Jinhae Branch ▲ Installation of the Changwon Mom Community Center ▲ Creation of hub-type youth cultural spaces will also be pursued.

Education for small business owners and farmers and fishermen on entering the online market, opening of local food direct stores, improvement of fishing village facilities, and capacity-building projects will also be implemented.

Plans include emergency support for vulnerable households, relocation and reconstruction of the municipal welfare center, provision of living facilities for the homeless and support for their independence after discharge, psychological counseling and treatment for abused children and their parents, settlement funds and independence allowances for children aging out of protection, and public funerals for unclaimed deceased persons.

Mayor Hong said, “To equip Changwon with the dignity befitting a Northeast Asia central city, future-oriented strategies are also needed in education, culture, arts, and tourism.”

Accordingly, he presented representative projects such as ▲ attracting a medical school ▲ starting a basic feasibility study for establishing an international school ▲ completing the Myeongdong Marina Port ▲ commencing construction of the Changwon Municipal Art Museum ▲ creating the Jinhae modern historical and cultural space.

Mayor Hong also expressed his ambition for forming a two-hour living zone with the metropolitan area through projects such as ▲ straightening the Changwon~Dongdaegu KTX line ▲ operating the SRT on the Gyeongjeon Line bound for Suseo ▲ establishing the Changwon Industrial Line and Jinhae New Port Line.

He also showed determination to strengthen internal road network connections, including the construction of the Buk-myeon~Haman Chilwon RSK road, improvement of the Seomasan interchange (IC) access roads, and completion of the 2nd Anmin Tunnel.

He mentioned a complete overhaul of city bus routes, construction of the Wonidae-ro S-BRT, introduction of urban rail (tram), and phased lifting of the development restriction zone.

Mayor Hong said, “There are concerns that the introduction of the SRT might cause Changwon’s population to move outward, but we need to establish convenient connections not only with our city but also with nearby cities such as Goseong, Haman, and Gimhae,” adding, “By developing together with neighboring cities and enabling direct access to Suseo and easier travel to and from outside, Changwon will become an attractive city that everyone wants to visit.”

This year, Changwon City will also focus on communication with citizens and strengthening youth policies.

Mayor Hong said, “Last year was a very important period with the launch of the Yoon Seok-yeol government and the 8th elected city administration, as well as securing this year’s budget. Although communication with citizens was somewhat lacking due to focusing on securing budgets for citizens’ prosperous lives and city affairs, this year we will regularly meet and listen to citizens and various departments and reflect their opinions in city administration.”

He continued, “We will create a city where young people want to live and provide a foundation where they can dream and grow,” promising ▲ support for youth employment and establishment of a Changwon-type industrial talent development system ▲ asset formation support such as Youth Tomorrow Account and Youth Tomorrow Savings Account ▲ job search support and mental health care.

On this day, Mayor Hong said, “Through a great innovation in the manufacturing industry, which Changwon excels at and leads, we will secure a solid future food source, which will lead to economic revitalization and become innovative results that citizens can feel,” adding, “We will communicate more and devote our capabilities more diligently.”