[Interview] Jeon Mankwon, People Power Party Asan Mayoral Candidate: "Crisis Management Expert... Will Lead Responsible Administration"

"I Will Build Consensus with Public Officials to Maintain Administrative Continuity"
"I Will Prepare Alternatives for the Administrative Gap and the Gongju-Cheonan Expressway"

Jeon Mankwon, the preliminary candidate of the People Power Party running in the by-election for Asan Mayor in Chungnam on April 2, emphasized, "I will utilize my experience as a crisis management expert to minimize administrative gaps and resolve the Gongju~Cheonan expressway issue in a rational way."

In an interview with Asia Economy on the 14th, Jeon said, "Although there is an administrative vacuum due to the mayoral vacancy, city administration must not come to a halt," adding, "We need to build sufficient consensus with public officials and implement policies that citizens can truly feel."

Regarding the Gongju~Cheonan expressway route issue, he stated, "I will prepare alternatives to prevent damage to citizens and actively consult with Cheonan City," and added, "I will also actively review ways to connect with National Route 43 (Sejong~Pyeongtaek) and National Route 21."

On the alleged hiring irregularities for the CEO of the Asan Cultural Foundation, he commented, "This is not something to argue about at this stage. If there are issues to correct after reviewing the details, I will do so," refraining from further remarks.

He stressed the significance of this election, saying, "This is a crucial election that will determine the future of our city," and pledged, "I will become a mayor who prioritizes responsible administration and communication with citizens."

The following is a Q&A with the preliminary candidate Jeon.

- Asan City has declared 2025~2026 as the 'Visit Asan Year.' The city plans to seek ways to revitalize tourism, focusing on the Sinjeongho Local Garden, which will open this April. What are your plans regarding this?

▲Asan is famous as a hot spring tourist destination, but due to changes in tourism trends and the decline of the old downtown, the number of visitors has decreased.

To revitalize tourism, it is necessary to strengthen accommodation, transportation, and experiential elements. While tourism development centered on Sinjeongho is underway, we need to introduce a stay-type tourism model linked with Oeam Folk Village, Gwangdeoksan Gangdangol, and Hyeonchungsa.

Additionally, we plan to improve service quality by securing parking spaces and providing training for tourism workers, and to promote tourism and improve infrastructure in cooperation with the private sector.

- There is ongoing regional conflict over the Gongju~Cheonan expressway route. Asan City opposes the route as it crosses the new town, while Cheonan City insists on its necessity. What is your plan to resolve this conflict?

▲While I agree on the necessity of constructing the Gongju~Cheonan expressway, it is important to minimize damage to Asan citizens. As a crisis management expert, I will strive to come up with rational alternatives.

Considering the impact of the currently proposed route on new town development, Asan City has already suggested alternative routes to the project operator to prevent citizen damage. Going forward, I will work with Cheonan City to find mutually beneficial solutions and actively review ways to connect with traffic flows on National Route 43 (Sejong~Pyeongtaek) and National Route 21.

- With the mayoral vacancy and confusion in the city council, stabilizing city administration has become a key task. What plans do you have for stable governance?

▲The most important thing is to maintain administrative continuity. Although city administration is currently being managed under an acting mayor system, there are limitations in policy decision-making. Therefore, it is important to build consensus with public officials and clearly prioritize pending issues to minimize inconvenience for citizens.

In particular, I plan to activate business activities by expediting permit procedures and to introduce policies that can ease the economic burden on self-employed people and small business owners.

- During the tenure of former Mayor Park Kyunggui, lack of communication with the council and unilateral decision-making became controversial. If elected, how do you plan to strengthen cooperation and communication?

▲Local autonomy is structured on the cooperation between the executive branch and the council, so balanced administration is needed rather than unilateral policy implementation.

I plan to establish a cooperation model that enables citizen-centered policies through sufficient discussions with the council during the budgeting and execution process.

Based on my experience of coordinating policies with lawmakers in the central government, I will pursue rational policy management through smooth communication with the council.

- Allegations have been raised regarding the hiring process for the CEO of the Asan Cultural Foundation. What is your position and plan if elected?

▲This is not something to argue about at this stage. If there are issues to correct after reviewing the details, I will do so.

- What is the significance of this election and your campaign strategy?

▲This election is crucial in determining the direction Asan will take. Asan is the only region in the central area holding a by-election, and the results could affect future local elections and national administration.

I have accumulated various administrative experiences as a crisis management expert in the central government. I will pursue responsible administration based on communication with citizens.