"Leveraging Three-Term Council Experience to Lead Haenam's Future"
Improving Solaseado Accessibility... "Pushing for Vehicle-Only Road"
Burden of Operating Youth Facilities... "Increasing Revenue Through Cable Car Utilization"
Gilwoon Lee (59), President of the Haenam County Sports Council, has officially announced his candidacy for Haenam County Governor in next year’s local elections. In an interview with Asia Economy on September 30, Lee expressed his intention to run, stating, "Based on my experience as a three-term Haenam County Council member and having served as council chair, I now want to serve the people of Haenam as governor."
Lee, who holds a master’s degree from the Graduate School of Business at Chosun University, has been actively involved in the local community as Vice President of the Jeonnam Volleyball Association, Senior Vice President of the Haenam County Volleyball Association, and President of the Haenam JC Special Alumni Association. He served as a member of the Haenam County Council for the 5th to 7th terms and was chair during the first half of the 7th term. He currently serves as President of the Haenam Anti-Japanese Memorial Project Association and as Vice Chair of the Democratic Party’s Haenam-Wando-Jindo Regional Committee.
Gilwoon Lee, Chairman of Haenam County Sports Council
Lee explained his reason for running by saying, "During my time as a council member, I observed the administrative capabilities of four different county governors. I have watched all these processes and prepared myself. Now, I want to lead Haenam properly." He evaluated the current administration of Governor Myung Hyun-kwan, praising his forward-looking approach, saying, "He led a future-oriented administration with the mindset of pursuing any project if there was even a 1% chance of success." In particular, Lee highly commended the achievement of elevating the Haenam Solaseado project to a national-level corporate city.
Lee pointed out the accessibility issues of Solaseado and the Guseong District in Haenam, stating, "The reason Namhae succeeded is because surrounding infrastructure, such as in Busan, is well established." He suggested, "Similarly, if Haenam operates the four-lane local road connecting Haenam-eup, Solaseado, and Guseong District as a road exclusively for vehicles, accessibility will be greatly improved." He emphasized the need to strengthen connectivity with Haenam-eup to create an environment that encourages people to come to Haenam.
Lee also raised concerns about the operating costs of the 45 youth facilities in Haenam County. He warned, "Most of the operating costs are covered by the county budget, and there is a risk that facilities could close due to funding shortages," stressing the need for measures to enhance the rights and welfare of young people.
Regarding the operation of Haenam’s cable car, a major local tourist attraction, Lee said, "While Mokpo generates significant revenue through its cable car, Haenam does not," and emphasized the need to develop strategies to increase tourism income using the cable car in Haenam as well.
On the issue of Haenam-eup’s declining vitality, Lee argued, "Along with the modernization project of Haenam-eup’s daily market, attracting a movie theater is necessary." He said, "A theater should be located where young people are active," stressing that a theater would play an important role in the local economy and cultural activities. He also insisted that local festivals should "truly showcase the flavors of Haenam," highlighting the importance of revitalizing festivals based on Haenam’s specialty products.
In particular, Lee proposed, "We need to improve the existing system and establish a foundation for professional marketing to revitalize the Haenam-eup commercial district." He predicted that this would play a key role in boosting the local economy and enhancing the brand value of Haenam-eup.
Drawing on his experience as a three-term council member, Lee expressed confidence, saying, "I understand the minds of county office employees and residents well. I know how to lead them."
He stated, "Through the experience of losing in past elections, I came to see people’s true nature. When things are going well, everyone seems genuine, but in difficult times, you can tell who is real and who is not. Over 20 years, I have learned a lot, and now I am ready to bring change to Haenam," expressing his firm determination.
The 2026 local elections will be held in June next year. With incumbent Governor Myung Hyun-kwan seeking a third term, a total of six candidates are running, and residents’ hopes and concerns are intersecting over how this will reshape Haenam’s political landscape. There is growing interest in how the specific pledges presented by each candidate will shape Haenam’s future.
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