Pohang City Achieves Highest 'SA' Grade in Pledge Implementation Evaluation for Five Consecutive Years

2025 Pledge Implementation Evaluation by Korea Manifesto: Top SA Grade
Mayor Kangdeok Lee: "I Will Do My Best to Fulfill All Pledges with Citizens During My Remaining Term"

Pohang City has achieved a remarkable feat by earning the highest grade, 'SA,' in the pledge implementation evaluation for five consecutive years.

On May 16, the city announced that it received the top 'SA grade' in the '2025 Pledge Implementation and Information Disclosure Evaluation for the 8th Term of Elected Local Government Heads Nationwide,' organized by the Korea Manifesto Implementation Headquarters.

This evaluation, conducted by the Korea Manifesto Implementation Headquarters over approximately 90 days, assessed basic local governments across the country based on five detailed criteria: completion of pledges, achievement of 2024 goals, communication with residents, web communication, and consistency. The final results were announced in six grades: SA, A, B, C, D, and F.

Pohang City has demonstrated outstanding performance by achieving the highest 'SA grade' for five consecutive years, including in the 2021 and 2022 pledge implementation evaluations for the 7th term, the establishment of pledge plans for the 8th term in 2023, and the pledge implementation evaluations in 2024 and 2025.

In particular, this year’s evaluation showed a pledge implementation rate of 70%, significantly surpassing the national average completion rate of 53%.

The pledges for the 8th term of Pohang City are comprised of 83 projects across five categories: 22 projects for establishing a sustainable East Sea Rim economic city through a new industry ecosystem; 14 projects for building a carbon-neutral, green & clean eco-friendly city; 16 projects for making Pohang a cultural tourism city with unique attractions; 19 projects for differentiated and comprehensive welfare and a convenient, pleasant city; and 12 projects for ensuring safety in the era of climate change through fundamental disaster and crisis response.

Major pledge projects include: advancing as a global K-battery hub city; establishing a foundation for an eco-friendly hydrogen energy industry city; realizing an innovative biomedical city; revitalizing the Pohang Love Gift Certificate; constructing the Pohang International Exhibition and Convention Center; and creating the Pohang City Memorial Park.

Mayor Kangdeok Lee stated, "I am grateful to the public officials who worked together to implement the pledges, and I take great pride in this achievement," adding, "As the pledges of the 8th term are precious promises with citizens for Pohang’s sustainable future, I will do my utmost to ensure that all ongoing pledge projects are successfully completed during the remainder of my term."

At the New Year's press conference in January this year, Mayor Kangdeok Lee explained the policy direction of Pohang City for this year. Photo by Pohang City