Former Deputy Mayor of Changwon Lee Hyun Kyu Announces Mayoral Bid ... "Designing Changwon's Future with Places to Live, Work, Play, and Breathe"

Hyun Kyu Lee, former Deputy Mayor of Changwon City in Gyeongnam Province, has declared his candidacy for the Changwon mayoral election scheduled for June.

On January 7, at a press conference held at the Changwon Special City Hall Press Center, Lee stated, "I will establish a city administration that does not fail, based on principles of a conservative approach, multi-scenario verification, and a clear decision-making structure with defined accountability."

Hyun Kyu Lee, former Deputy Mayor of Changwon City, Gyeongnam Province, is declaring his candidacy for the Changwon mayoral election. Photo by Se Ryeong Lee

He presented his vision for the future of Changwon through four key concepts: places to live, work, play, and breathe.

He pledged to create a safe "place to live" by thoroughly inspecting disaster and hazard response systems, strengthening safety management and disaster prevention systems in vulnerable areas such as ports, industrial complexes, and aging residential zones, and enhancing support for care, health, emergency welfare, and livelihood stability.

He also promised to build a "place to work" city where businesses grow and jobs are created, by integrating the defense industry, nuclear technology, logistics at Jinhae New Port, and the energy sector into a unified strategy focused on industry, logistics, and energy. He aims to generate youth employment through on-site training linked with companies, recruitment-linked internships, and local settlement job models, as well as by establishing an "Investment and Development Support Team" and actively supporting the digital and artificial intelligence (AI) transformation of the manufacturing sector.

He unveiled a "place to play" policy to foster cultural programs and festivals that combine Changwon's history, industry, and daily life culture, and to promote stay-type tourism utilizing ports, the sea, and marine landscapes.

He added that he would create a "place to breathe" where people can live healthily by strengthening pollution control standards for industrial complexes and ports, expanding eco-friendly energy, and increasing green spaces and waterfront areas.

Hyun-Kyu Lee, former Deputy Mayor of Changwon City, Gyeongnam Province, is announcing his candidacy for the Changwon mayoral election and presenting key policy pledges. Photo by Se-ryeong Lee

Lee emphasized, "Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a choice but a necessity," expressing his ambition to make Changwon the center of 'physical AI' innovation.

He explained, "Physical AI, which perceives and judges its surroundings and moves autonomously, holds the key to solving the longstanding productivity, quality competitiveness, and labor shortage issues in our manufacturing industry." He added, "The Korean government is also focusing on fostering this field at the national level, and Changwon City is emerging as a leader in this area. I will accelerate this momentum even further and stronger."

He further pledged, "We will spare no effort in providing funding, technology, and demonstration support so that local companies can innovate their factories with AI technology," and promised, "We will create a transformation that truly enhances competitiveness."

In particular, he vowed, "We will develop the Changwon National Industrial Complex and Masan Marine New City into hubs of AI innovation," and added, "By making Changwon a global base that attracts world-class AI companies, researchers, and talent, we will turn it into the heart of manufacturing AI in Korea."

He also pledged to support small and partner companies in utilizing AI, boldly remove regulations that hinder the field, and expand cooperation with leading overseas companies and research institutes to attract technology, investment, and talent to Changwon.

Lee concluded, "I will be a person who proves myself through action, not words," and stated, "I will design all policies for Changwon around these four pillars-safety in living, jobs in working, culture in playing, and environment in breathing-to create a sustainable Changwon where citizens are at the center."