Park Seongho, chairman of the Changwon City Sports Council in Gyeongsangnam-do, has thrown his hat into the ring for the Changwon mayoral race in the 9th Nationwide Local Elections to be held on June 3.
After completing his registration as a preliminary candidate on the morning of the 23rd, Park held a press conference at the press center of Changwon City Hall and declared, "I will make Changwon a city people want to return to, a city people want to live in, and a city where life is enjoyable."
He said, "As of 2024, Changwon's fiscal self-reliance ratio is only about half the national average, and the size of its consolidated budget is also about 2 trillion won smaller than that of nearby metropolitan cities Daejeon and Ulsan," adding, "Citizens' concerns are growing over the surging consolidated debt and administrative vacuum, so field-oriented leadership is desperately needed."
He then proposed the introduction of Universal Design, pledging, "I will create a 'Three-An' city where all citizens can enjoy peace of mind, safety, and comfort."
Park Seongho, chairman of the Changwon City Sports Council in Gyeongsangnam-do, is holding a press conference to announce his candidacy in the Changwon mayoral election. Photo by Lee Seryeong
Park also said, "To shed the stigma of being a 'No-Jam City' (a boring city) and be reborn as a 'Honey-Jam City' (a city as sweet and fun as honey), I will usher in an era of 1 million tourists to Changwon by utilizing the marine culture of Masan and Jinhae and ecological resources such as Junam Reservoir."
He also put forward as campaign pledges: administrative support and regulatory reform in the defense, nuclear power, and aerospace sectors; prompt maintenance and development of the second national industrial complex to attract artificial intelligence (AI) companies; and the establishment of the Changwon Urban Development Corporation to supply public rental apartments and Happy Housing.
Regarding key pending projects of the 8th popularly elected city administration, such as the revitalization of Changwon NC Park, the S-BRT bus rapid transit system, changes to district unit plans for new hinterland cities, the Gusan Marine Tourism Complex, Masan Robot Land, the Jinhae Ungdong District Development Project, Masan Marine New Town, and the closed Lotte Department Store Masan branch, he said, "We will work with citizens to devise clear solutions through mutually interactive public hearings."
He further stressed, "I will eliminate biased personnel appointments, corruption, and fiscal deficits; achieve balanced development in the integrated region; and restore Changwon's shattered pride by institutionally renewing affiliated organizations and breaking with old, outdated practices."
Park said, "Changwon stands at a crossroads between growth and decline," adding, "With the worries and concerns of citizens held deep in my heart, I will, together with the citizens and based on their support and encouragement, create a turning point for a new leap forward."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
