Im Dalhee Announces Run for Gongju Mayor... Pledges First-Ever 'Gongju Dormitory' by Local Government

Education at the Forefront of Urban Growth Strategy
Support for Housing Metropolitan Area Students and Fostering Global Talent

Im Dalhee, Chairman of the Gongju City Council from the Democratic Party of Korea, announced on the 21st that he will run for mayor of Gongju in the local elections to be held in June.

Im Dalhee, Chairman of the Gongju City Council from the Democratic Party of Korea, will run for mayor of Gongju in the upcoming local elections in June.

Im has put 'education' at the forefront as Gongju's future growth strategy, presenting the establishment of the first-ever 'Gongju Dormitory in the Seoul Metropolitan Area' as his key campaign pledge.

On the 21st, Im held a press conference in the briefing room at Gongju City Hall and declared his candidacy for mayor, stating, "I will make the heart of Gongju beat again."

He identified the transformation into an 'education city' as the solution to restoring Gongju's competitiveness and announced that he would make this the top priority in city administration.

Im's main campaign pledge is the construction of the 'Gongju Dormitory in the Seoul Metropolitan Area.'

He plans for the city to directly build and operate a dormitory, considering the reality that students from Gongju who attend universities in the Seoul Metropolitan Area face difficulties in their studies due to the burden of housing costs.

He explained, "The burden of education and housing costs is a key reason for the outflow of local talent," and added, "Ensuring housing stability is the most practical measure to prevent population outflow."

He also plans to institutionally support exchanges with prestigious overseas universities, study abroad opportunities, and international education programs at the municipal level to enhance the global competitiveness of local students.

Im stated, "Children of Gongju should grow not as talents who remain in the region, but as individuals who advance into the world."

In addition, he presented major pledges such as specialized education that combines Gongju's historical and cultural resources with future technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), and the creation of village education communities that link schools and the local community.

His strategy is to transform Gongju from a 'city people leave' to a 'city people come to' through education.

Im said, "A leader should not be someone who shines alone, but the background that makes citizens shine," and pledged, "I will make Gongju a city where each of its 100,000 citizens becomes the main character." He also appealed for support, saying, "I will not rest on past achievements, but will change Gongju into a city to which future generations will return."