Former Deputy Governor of Gyeongnam Province Myungkyun Park has officially announced his candidacy for next year's Jinju mayoral election.
On December 18, Park held a press conference in the briefing room of Jinju City Hall, declaring, "I intend to run in next year's Jinju mayoral election to build a hopeful Jinju that will open the next 100 years of a new future."
He expressed his aspirations by stating, "Drawing on the experience and know-how I have gained at both the central and local government levels, if elected as mayor of Jinju, I will revive the stagnating city and prepare for the next 100 years."
First, Park pledged to "become a communicative mayor," adding, "I will restore relationships with local National Assembly members and ensure that Jinju's key issues are reflected as core tasks for Gyeongnam Province and national projects through active communication with the provincial and central governments."
He also promised to operate an "Open Mayor's Office" on the first floor of City Hall and to run an "On-Site Mayor's Office" by visiting towns and neighborhoods at least once a month.
Former Deputy Governor of Gyeongnam Province Myungkyun Park is holding a press conference announcing his candidacy for the mayoral election of Jinju City. Photo by Myungkyun Park's office
Additionally, Park explained, "According to data from the National Statistical Portal of Statistics Korea, Jinju's gross regional domestic product (GRDP) in 2022 was 924.4 billion won, which is one-fifth of Changwon's 4.68147 trillion won. According to data released on the Gyeongnam Province website, Jinju's per capita GRDP in 2022 was 26.845 million won, which is three-fifths of nearby Sacheon's 47.781 million won, ranking lowest among the 18 cities and counties."
He went on to emphasize that improving the living environment in the old downtown area and revitalizing local commercial districts would be his top priorities, aiming to boost the local economy and enhance housing welfare and quality of life for ordinary citizens.
Furthermore, he pledged to foster future strategic industries for Jinju's sustainable growth, such as aerospace, cultural industries, bio, and advanced agriculture; to establish an aerospace convergence industry cluster; and to create a Jinju Future Strategic Industry Committee directly under the mayor's office.
He also announced plans to attract domestic and international tourists by transforming Jinju into a global cultural tourism city centered on the Nam River and the old downtown, and by developing signature content that reflects Jinju's unique history and stories.
Other promises included creating a youth-friendly city, establishing a 30-minute living zone through road network improvements, raising Jinju's safety index to grade 2 or higher in six categories (crime, traffic accidents, fire, infectious diseases, daily safety, and suicide), increasing the flood control capacity of the Namgang Dam, strengthening disaster response capabilities, and achieving zero serious child traffic accidents in school zones.
In addition, Park stated, "I will not be a manager-type mayor, but a future-oriented mayor," vowing to make Jinju the central axis of the southern economic region of Korea.
Park previously served as Director of Life Safety Policy and Director of Prevention Policy at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and was the 38th Deputy Governor of Gyeongnam Province from September 2, 2024, to December 10, 2025.
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