The new year of 2026, the Year of the Fire Horse (Byeongo Year), has dawned. As we welcome the year symbolized by the red horse, representing growth and progress, I sincerely wish you a rewarding year in which you achieve all your aspirations with passionate energy and determined steps.
Dear citizens, last year we faced challenges such as the imposition of steel tariffs by the United States and the strengthening of global protectionism, which brought a crisis to our regional steel industry and, consequently, hardships to the local economy. Nevertheless, Pohang was able to stay on course toward a sustainable future for our city thanks entirely to your interest and support.
Throughout the past year, as the representative city of the steel industry, Pohang united all its citizens to urge the government and the National Assembly for national support for the steel sector, concerned about the very survival of Korea's steel industry. Amid mounting difficulties, the government designated Pohang as an industrial crisis response region for major steel cities, and the National Assembly passed the K-Steel Act, creating the conditions for a new leap forward for Korea's steel industry.
At the same time, we consistently pursued efforts to diversify the region's economy beyond steel, making significant progress in establishing the foundations for the growth of new industries such as secondary batteries, hydrogen energy, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence.
Dear citizens, the history of change and progress that Pohang has walked to build a sustainable and livable city is not merely the achievement of one city. It can serve as a core asset and a 'city model' to lead balanced development, breaking away from the trends of metropolitan concentration and regional decline in Korea. It is also a timely call for our region's experience and capabilities to reach a larger stage.
The complex crises and changes facing Korea today clearly show that it is now time for regions to develop their own unique competitiveness and take the lead in setting the nation's future direction. Pohang has been at the forefront of this path. The creative mindset to find opportunities in crisis, pragmatic strategies and bold challenges, and the tangible results of the 'Pohang Model' are the clearest examples that a region can become the center of a new national strategy.
I fully acknowledge the expectations and demands of our citizens that the innovation of the 'Pohang Model' should expand beyond Pohang and Gyeongbuk to become the system and standard for enhancing Korea's overall competitiveness and balanced development. I will do my utmost to connect regional innovation to greater responsibility, so that Pohang and all of Gyeongbuk can once again stand tall at the forefront of overcoming Korea's crises and advancing its future.
Beloved citizens, although 2026 will be my final year serving as Mayor of Pohang, I will continue, together with more than 2,000 public officials, to lay the foundations for a city where citizens can be happy throughout the remainder of my term.
With utmost dedication to the people (Wiminchungjeong), I will make 2026 a year of city administration devoted solely to the citizens of Pohang.
Happy New Year. Thank you.
January 1, 2026
Pohang Mayor Lee Kangdeok
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