[Interview] "Promise Is the Start of Politics, Implementation Is the Essence of Administration"

Kwon Ki-chang, Mayor of Andong
Proactive Administration That Transforms Citizens' Lives
Tangible Change Through Field-Oriented Policies

"Politics is about making promises, and administration is about putting them into action. Policies must be practical tools that change the everyday lives of citizens."

Kwon Kichang, mayor of Andong (left), is being interviewed by a reporter from Asia Economy at the city hall on the 25th.

Since the launch of the 8th popularly elected administration, Andong Mayor Kwon Ki-chang has defined the direction of city governance as "implementation." He believes that true policy goes beyond simply fulfilling campaign pledges; it must bring about tangible changes that citizens can actually feel.

He has drawn attention for his field-oriented administration, including reducing water bills for residents affected by dam construction, introducing a foreign seasonal worker system to address rural labor shortages, and implementing the nation's first "integrated generational care service."

Mayor Kwon stated, "Administration must be a proactive activity that identifies problems in the field and solves them structurally," adding his determination to "transform Andong into a people-centered city."

◆ "Policies must begin with citizens' lives"

Regarding the administrative philosophy pursued by Andong City on the third anniversary of the 8th popularly elected administration, Mayor Kwon said, "I have operated city administration with the belief that policies must begin with citizens' everyday lives." He continued, "For example, we reduced household water bills by 50% for residents affected by dam construction, and we actively introduced a foreign seasonal worker system to address rural labor shortages."

He also explained, "We received positive feedback for launching the nation's first 'integrated generational care service' that connects senior centers and child care, and we have drastically shortened the time required to process civil complaints."

◆ "Proactive administration means identifying and solving problems in advance"

Regarding efforts to reduce citizen inconvenience, he said, "Administration should not stop at simply handling civil complaints. Andong City uses a big data-based civil complaint analysis system to identify recurring inconveniences in advance and is structurally improving issues across all aspects of daily life, such as transportation, parking, and the environment. Creating changes that citizens can actually feel is what defines proactive administration."

◆ "Pledges are promises, policies must be proven through execution"

On the idea that "policy is a tool to change citizens' lives," Mayor Kwon said, "I completely agree. Pledges that are not executed are nothing but slogans, and policies must bring real changes to citizens' lives. I run the city with the philosophy that politics is about promises, and administration is about implementation."

◆ "Design administration is a technique to enhance citizens' accessibility and understanding"

For user-centered and design-oriented administration, he said, "Since administration is a service that citizens actually use, accessibility and convenience are crucial. We have simplified civil complaint forms and procedures, established systems that are easy to use for information-vulnerable groups such as the elderly and people with disabilities, and created citizen-friendly environments. This is what design administration is all about."

◆ "AI is a new compass for policy design"

On evaluating AI as a policy research tool, he said, "AI is an essential tool that local governments must utilize. In the past, data collection and analysis required a lot of time and manpower, but with AI, we can quickly analyze citizen complaints and needs and set precise policy directions. Andong City is integrating AI in various areas such as civil complaint pattern analysis and budget demand forecasting to enhance policy efficiency."

◆ "Disability policy is not charity, but a guarantee of rights"

Regarding efforts to guarantee the right to mobility and basic rights for people with disabilities, he said, "Disability policy is not about welfare, but about guaranteeing constitutional rights. Andong City is expanding special transportation for the mobility-impaired and creating an environment where people with disabilities can enjoy equal rights through barrier-free design in cultural and sports facilities and improved web accessibility."

◆ "Local currency is a key tool for strengthening the self-sufficiency of the local economy"

On the sustainability and direction of the Andong Sarang gift certificate, he said, "Local currency is not just about boosting consumption; it is a strategic tool to strengthen the structure of the local economy. The Andong Sarang gift certificate is making a real contribution to increasing sales for small businesses, and we plan to expand its use by linking it to public welfare, youth policies, and other areas."

◆ "Responding to the climate crisis is a historical responsibility for local governments"

Andong City's climate crisis response strategy is, "The climate crisis is not a distant future issue, but a present challenge. Andong City is pursuing multifaceted policies such as building urban green dams, improving energy efficiency in public facilities, and expanding infrastructure for eco-friendly vehicles. We also aim to achieve a sustainable urban transition through carbon neutrality campaigns in partnership with citizens."

◆ "City administration that walks with citizens, repaying with action"

Mayor Kwon told citizens, "Andong is a city where tradition and modernity coexist. I believe in Andong's potential and will work with citizens to create a better future. I will listen to the voices of citizens and repay you with trustworthy administration and real change."

Mayor Kwon leads city administration based on a philosophy that distinguishes between "promise" and "implementation," working in the field from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Data-driven structural problem-solving and field-oriented administration are being evaluated as a new model for local autonomy.

Andong City is advancing as a "green city of forest tunnels," a "clean city," and a "youth city," realizing changes that citizens can feel. The philosophy emphasized by Mayor Kwon?"politics is about promises, administration is about implementation"?has great potential to spread as a new standard for local autonomy in Korea beyond Andong.