[Interview] Mayor Bae Nakho of Gimcheon: "Opening Gimcheon's Future Through Field-Oriented Administration"

Gimcheon City in North Gyeongsang Province is currently implementing a variety of policies aimed at creating changes that citizens can truly feel, such as improving residential conditions and expanding industrial and cultural infrastructure.

Nakho Bae, Mayor of Gimcheon, Asia Economy Interview "Opening Gimcheon's Future with Field-Oriented Administration"

Through an interview with Mayor Bae Nakho of Gimcheon, we discussed his plans regarding key issues including resolving everyday inconveniences, responding to the climate crisis, utilizing AI in administration, policies for people with disabilities, and the sustainability of the local currency.

◆ "The daily inconveniences most frequently raised by citizens and their solutions are found on site"

Resolving the inconveniences that citizens experience in their daily lives is the top priority of the administration. Gimcheon City has made addressing urban parking shortages, improving access to medical and welfare services, and upgrading outdated living infrastructure its core tasks, all based on feedback from the field.

To alleviate parking shortages in commercial districts and around KTX Gimcheon (Gumi) Station, the city has expanded public parking lots and introduced a smart parking guidance system.

In addition, for seniors and transportation-vulnerable groups, Gimcheon is expanding mobile services such as health buses and welfare vehicles. The city is also accelerating the expansion of medical infrastructure, including the creation of an integrated health town, the attraction of a late-night children's hospital, and the construction of a specialized treatment center for the elderly.

Along with improving living environments through the construction of urban planning roads, renovation of outdated sewage systems, and expansion of safety facilities in children's protection zones, Gimcheon is also pursuing a comprehensive plan to enhance educational, cultural, and medical infrastructure in both the innovation city and rural areas to improve residential conditions.

◆ "A climate crisis response strategy at the local government level is a responsibility of our time"

The climate crisis is no longer a future issue but a challenge of today. Gimcheon City has set 'achieving carbon neutrality' as its core goal and is pursuing multifaceted policies such as expanding urban gardens and city forests, introducing energy self-sufficient public buildings, and increasing the supply of eco-friendly transportation including electric and hydrogen vehicles, as well as strengthening charging infrastructure.

We will realize a sustainable green city of Gimcheon by leading carbon reduction through practical, everyday policies.

◆ "AI should be utilized as a policy tool in administration"

AI is an innovative administrative partner that can analyze vast amounts of data, identify patterns in social phenomena, and predict policy demands.

Gimcheon City has piloted an AI-based civil complaint analysis system to quantitatively identify citizens' interests and inconveniences. Moving forward, the city plans to utilize AI in various areas such as participatory budgeting, urban planning, and regional economic analysis to realize data-driven scientific administration.

◆ "Design administration is a technology that enhances citizen accessibility"

Design administration is an approach that designs administration from a 'user-centered' perspective. The key is to view citizens not simply as beneficiaries, but as users and co-designers of policy, and to improve administration based on their experiences.

Gimcheon City is promoting both public service design, which makes processes such as civil complaint handling, welfare applications, and public transportation use easier and more intuitive for citizens, and public facility design, which ensures that public buildings, parks, bus stops, and other living spaces can be conveniently used by everyone.

Baek Nakho, mayor of Gimcheon, is being interviewed by a reporter from Asia Economy.

◆ "The right to mobility and basic rights for people with disabilities must be guaranteed"

The rights of people with disabilities are basic rights that all citizens should enjoy. Gimcheon City is strengthening mobility rights by expanding the number of low-floor buses and increasing the number of call taxis and voucher taxis for transportation-vulnerable groups. Customized welfare programs for people with developmental disabilities, such as daytime activity services, vocational training, and family care support, are also being expanded.

In the future, universal design will be applied to new roads and public facilities to create an environment that everyone can use without inconvenience.

◆ "The Gimcheon Love Gift Certificate must be sustainable for the local economy to thrive"

The Gimcheon Love Gift Certificate is a key tool for promoting a virtuous cycle in the local economy. Although the issuance amount has been adjusted from 200 billion won in 2022 to around 90 billion won in 2024, sustainability is being secured through measures such as the activation of digital payments, a point accumulation system, and benefits linked to consumption promotion campaigns.

To prepare for a reduction in central government support, we will strengthen our own budget base and expand local platforms and private sector participation to transition to a self-sustaining operational structure.

◆ "Politics is ultimately a tool to change citizens' lives"

Politics is 'the power to change people's lives.' Administration and policy must bring about real changes in citizens' daily lives, and at the center of this must be empathy and responsibility. I aim to realize universal administration that improves the lives of all citizens, not just specific groups."

◆ "Gimcheon is now standing at the threshold of a leap forward"

My philosophy of city administration is 'a communicating Gimcheon, opening the future together,' and I will create change and growth together with citizens.

As a mayor who seeks answers on site, I will continue to listen to citizens' voices first and practice administration that puts their needs into action. I ask for your unwavering support and participation."

This interview confirmed that Gimcheon City is focusing not just on administrative execution, but on field-oriented policy design and implementation.

From resolving everyday inconveniences to responding to the climate crisis, utilizing AI in administration, and guaranteeing the rights of people with disabilities, Gimcheon City's policy direction places the highest value on 'changes that citizens can truly feel.'

Just as the mayor said that politics is ultimately a tool to change citizens' lives, Gimcheon City's future administration is expected to be characterized by customized policies and responsible implementation that reflect citizens' voices. Attention is focused on what kind of city Gimcheon will become as it stands on the threshold of transformation.