'The Past Two Years Strengthening the Foundation with the Top Priority of Naju Development and Citizen Happiness'

The 8th Term of Naju City: Reflecting on the Past 2 Years and Looking Ahead to the Next 2 Years ②

Key Achievements by Sector That Made Naju Shine Brighter During the 8th Term

Top Priorities Including Future Industries, Tourism, Education, Welfare, Environment, Culture, and Administrative Innovation

Editor's NoteIt has been two years since Yoon Byung-tae took office as the mayor of Naju City, Jeollanam-do, under the 8th local government. Guided by the belief in "communication and empathetic administration that finds answers on the ground," he has carried out administration by visiting the field of people’s livelihoods without a separate inauguration ceremony, listening to the voices of citizens from all walks of life. For the era of 5 million Naju tourists and the completion of a 200,000-strong global small but strong city, Naju City has set the administrative goal of "a livable and happy Naju, a leading and foremost Naju" and has been running tirelessly. We will cover the past two years and the next two years in three parts: ① Ten innovative achievements ② Major achievements by sector ③ Future vision and promotion strategies.

② Major Achievements by Sector

During the past two years of the 8th local government, Mayor Yoon Byung-tae of Naju City has been steadily preparing for the "era of 5 million Naju tourists" and tirelessly working with citizens to complete the "200,000 global small but strong city."

Under the belief of "prioritizing Naju’s development and citizens’ happiness, thinking more deeply and preparing thoroughly to steadily move forward step by step," he has vigorously strengthened the foundation for Naju’s bright future.

Following the "Ten Innovative Achievements," let us look at the major achievements by sector that have further brightened Naju during the 8th local government.

Yoon Byung-tae, Mayor of Naju.

▲ Future Industry Sector

Naju City held two rounds of investment attraction roadshows targeting the Seoul metropolitan area once each in 2023 and 2024, achieving a total investment attraction of 272.7 billion KRW to revitalize the Energy Valley. It also succeeded in attracting the Ministry of Environment’s integrated environmental information center for electric vehicle lifecycle carbon neutrality.

The city began demonstrating the 'MVDC (Medium Voltage Direct Current)' technology, which transmits renewable energy power at medium voltage, and was finally designated as a global innovation regulatory free zone for the direct current industry. Additionally, it achieved the final designation as a global innovation regulatory free zone for the direct current industry.

▲ Tourism Sector

The number of tourists visiting Naju has continued to increase. It was recorded as 1.24 million in 2021, 1.79 million in 2022, and 1.87 million in 2023. This is analyzed to be the result of Naju City planning and hosting various events and programs.

In October last year, Naju held its first marathon linked with a broadcasting company, and as a first step to foster representative festivals of Naju, it held "Yeongsangang River is Alive" last year, attracting 220,000 tourists. The Hong-eo (fermented skate) street in Yeongsanpo, Naju, the hometown of the matured Hong-eo representing the Namdo feast table, was renovated into a premium food street that visitors want to revisit. Naju also branded the Naju meal table, selected designated establishments, and took the lead in improving local food culture and activating food tourism.

In addition, ten representative local attractions leading the era of 5 million tourists were selected, and the summit of Geumseongsan Mountain was opened permanently for the first time in 57 years.

▲ Culture and Arts Sector

Naju City restored the ‘Naju-mok Hyangcheong,’ one of the local government facilities from the Joseon Dynasty, after 50 years. Selected for the national heritage landscape improvement contest project, efforts were also made to improve the residential environment for residents living around the old downtown national heritage area.

In 2023, Naju Bokam-ri Burial Mound Area was selected for the ‘Historical and Cultural Zone Historical and Cultural Environment Maintenance and Promotion Leading Project’ organized by the Cultural Heritage Administration. The Bokam-ri Burial Mound Area, a cradle of ancient Mahan history, is expected to leap forward as a new tourist resource leading the era of 5 million Naju tourists through systematic maintenance of the historical and cultural environment.

▲ Education Sector

During the past two years of the 8th local government, Naju City also focused on education. It established the Naju Future Education Support Center, an independent organization within the Naju Education Promotion Foundation, as a middle cooperation and support organization connecting Naju City, the Office of Education, and schools at all levels. It was finally selected for the ‘2023 School Complex Facility Contest Project’ hosted by the Ministry of Education and provided entrance congratulatory money to families of first-grade elementary school students starting their first school life.

After steady preparation, it achieved the great success of being selected as a leading area for educational development special zones in February this year and supported 5,500 people with the Naju Love Learning Voucher over two years. It also won the ‘Good Policy Award’ for two consecutive years (2023 and 2024) at the ‘2024 Korea Lifelong Learning City Good Policy Awards’ hosted by the National Lifelong Learning City Council.

▲ Agriculture Sector

The successful prevention of avian influenza (AI) drew attention. Successful AI prevention during the winter season saved tens of billions of KRW in budget. The damage caused by pest outbreaks and production decreases due to insufficient sunlight in the Naju area was recognized as agricultural disaster thanks to local government efforts, and the ‘Naju Pear Quality Assurance System,’ guaranteed by Naju City, was implemented by applying strict quality standards from production to selection and distribution stages.

The ‘Bonghwang-myeon Jukseok District’ was selected as the target site for the 2024 Rural Space Maintenance Contest Project hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the introduction of foreign seasonal workers was greatly expanded.

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▲ Environment and Transportation Sector

Naju City, the largest livestock area in Jeollanam-do, accelerated efforts to reduce odor caused by livestock manure and create a sustainable livestock environment, supported by selection in government contest projects. The Naju Combined Heat and Power Plant Resident Participation Environmental Monitoring Committee was formed, playing a vital role as a communication channel between the public and private sectors for responding to issues and sharing information.

▲ Welfare Sector

In 2023, Naju City recorded the highest birth rate increase among cities in the province, emerging as a city favorable for childbirth and child-rearing. This is analyzed to be due to the abolition of mandatory residency conditions for childbirth incentives and increased support, expanded housekeeping care services for pregnant women, and removal of income criteria for infertility treatment support. Following Bitgaram-dong, a time-based childcare room that cares for children on weekends and holidays was opened in Nampyeong-eup, also focusing on child care.

Efforts were also made for youth and jobs. Selected in the ‘2023 Regional-led Youth Job Project’ new business category hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, securing 50 million KRW in national funds, and operating ‘free commuter buses’ to four local industrial complexes, receiving great responses from both labor and management sides.

Additionally, the city received favorable reviews for projects such as free rental housing support for employed youth, distribution of standing tables and chairs to senior centers and village halls, and support for lowering earthen embankments.

▲ Citizen Communication and Administrative Innovation Sector

By launching the Baro Text Service and operating the Citizen Direct Consultation Office, the city broke away from the existing perception of handling civil complaints as mere processing and transformed it into a means of communication that citizens can empathize with regarding administration. It implemented a ‘post-management type’ civil complaint communication system that provides 2 to 3 additional feedbacks on related matters even after processing, moving away from one-time, one-way reply methods.

Naju City won the grand prize at the ‘2023 Korea Regional Economy Awards’ hosted by the Korean Regional Economy Association and the Korean Regional Economy Research Institute. Among basic local governments at the city level nationwide, it achieved first place in hometown love donation fundraising, surpassing the target amount of 1 billion KRW.

Since 2018, Naju City had suffered the dishonor of ranking at the bottom in integrity evaluations consecutively, but in the 2023 public institution comprehensive integrity evaluation, it recorded a 3rd grade in integrity perception and 2nd grade in integrity effort, rising to an overall integrity grade of 3rd grade.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae said, "To welcome the new Yeongsangang River era, we must turn the visions we dream of into reality based on current achievements," adding, "We will continuously manage these visions by incorporating them into Naju’s development strategies."

He continued, "It will not be an easy journey, but we have the unique resilience of Naju people who have overcome numerous crises and turned them into opportunities. Now is the time when that resilience is needed again. For the remaining two years of the 8th local government, we will focus solely on citizens, prioritize Naju’s development and citizens’ happiness, think more deeply, prepare thoroughly, and steadily move forward step by step," he added.

Naju = Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Yuk-bong baekok@asiae.co.kr