Over 3,500 Gather for Book Launch
“Steadfast Management” That Revitalized the Fisheries Cooperative
A “Pragmatic CEO” with Crisis-Resolving Ability
The book launch event for Kim Sungjoo, former head of the Haenam County Fisheries Cooperative, was held in grand fashion at the Haenam Culture and Arts Center on February 1, drawing a crowd of over 3,500 people.
This event was seen as more than just a celebration of an autobiography; it was also regarded as a significant occasion to gauge the direction of public sentiment in Haenam ahead of the upcoming local elections. The venue was packed with supporters of Kim and local political figures.
The book launch event for Kim Sungjoo, former head of Haenam County Fisheries Cooperative, was held at Haenam Culture and Arts Center, attracting a crowd of over 3,500 people. Photo provided by the office of former head Kim Sungjoo
Kim’s new book, "A Step Forward by Kim Sungjoo," is a kind of “livelihood map” that documents his visits to all 515 villages in Haenam County over the past two years. He captured in the book the challenges and visions he experienced while communicating with residents at senior centers, in the fields, and at early-morning fish auctions.
In his remarks, Kim referenced his political mentor, National Assemblyman Park Jie-won, stating, “'A Step Forward by Kim Sungjoo' began with Assemblyman Park’s teaching that ‘politics is done not with the head, but with the heart and feet.’”
He went on to emphasize his political rapport with Park, saying, “By walking the Daeheungsa Road together every weekend and visiting sites of local livelihoods, I learned the wisdom to solve regional issues.”
Notably, the event highlighted Kim’s “proven management skills.” He is widely regarded as a “relief pitcher” who, during his early days in office, transformed the Haenam County Fisheries Cooperative-once considered the top candidate for closure due to a management crisis-into a profitable cooperative in a short period.
During his tenure, he successfully led major projects such as the establishment of a fisheries food hub complex (15 billion won), the construction of a seafood cold storage facility (4 billion won), the relocation and rebuilding of the cooperative’s main office, the nation’s first farmed fishing vessel rental business, and exclusive abalone supply to the military.
Above all, he is credited with resolving over 21 billion won in accumulated unprocessed deficits spanning several decades and amassing over 17 billion won in capital by the time he left office. These quantifiable achievements have earned him a reputation for “leadership proven by results,” rather than “empty talk of innovation.”
A local resident who attended the event commented, “Seeing how he paid off the cooperative’s massive debt and improved its finances in just a few years, I am hopeful he could do the same for Haenam County. It was an opportunity to understand why a field-oriented ‘innovative CEO’ with a pragmatic mindset like Lee Jaemyung is needed.”
A representative of Kim’s camp stated, “The reason local residents are enthusiastic about Kim is his proven ‘steadfast management’ and ‘crisis-resolving ability.’ We will continue to walk alongside the residents until the hopes of the field become the answers in reality.”
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