5th Local Gov’t Autonomy Period Begins with Changes

Seoul Mayor Oh pledges smooth communication with Seoulites

The heads of 244 metropolitan and local governments across the nation took office under the fifth local autonomy regime on July 1. Here are a look at the inauguration ceremonies of the governors and mayors elected from the major hotly-contested electoral districts of the June 2 local polls including Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, reelected in the local elections, took the oath to become the 34th mayor of the Seoul Metropolitan Government at 10 a.m. at an inauguration ceremony at the Sejong Center Grand Hall with approximately 3,000 people on hand.
In his inaugural speech, Oh said, “As the first reelected Seoul mayor of local autonomy, I will communicate with Seoulites, give careful consideration to the underprivileged and make preparations for the future while running the Seoul Metropolitan Government.” He added, “I will devote myself to transforming Seoul into a quality, mature city by capitalizing on the changes and precious administrative experiences achieved over the past four years.”
Oh emphasized that he will make flat-out efforts to make Seoul proud, Seoulites happy and the metropolis beloved by people around the world by making the most of the capital’s potential during the fifth term of the local autonomous government.
In a symbolic gesture to show his concern for welfare, Oh donated 10 million won he received in rewards for making speeches or royalties from his books to a charity operated by the Seoul Welfare Foundation on the sidelines of the official inaugural ceremony.
The following are excerpts of the message he delivered during his inauguration ceremony.
“As such mega-cities of advanced countries as New York, London and Paris have done, I have ushered in an era of transforming Seoul with a long-term vision. I have been instructed by citizens to lead Seoul. I will again do my best toward that end.”
“I’ve devoted myself to building a solid foundation for changing Seoul for the past four years, and it is one of my biggest assets. Four years ago we went to the suburbs on the weekends since we found no place to take a rest. You may now go to 20-odd streams. Of course, this change is continuing, and we’ll continue to build eco parks along the Han River in a bid to make Seoul a pleasant metropolis.”
“Four years ago, the financial gap between the affluent Gangnam and the non-Gangnam area widened 17 times, but the gap narrowed to 4.5 times thanks to a dramatic institutional overhaul. I will concentrate on ensuring balanced development between Gangnam, south of the Han River, and Gangbuk, north of the river, by implementing specialized projects to develop the southwestern sphere, northeastern sphere and northwestern sphere.”
“So many changes we have achieved till now give us confidence. In particular, a survey into the competitiveness of global cities by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences showed that Seoul saw its standing jumping to 12th place in 2008 from 27th place four years ago, and the city has now surged to ninth place.”
“Seoul, the capital of the ROK, has been catapulted into the global top 10 for the first time in its history, surpassing Washington, D.C., Seattle and Geneva. We’ve set a record of putting Seoul abreast of New York, Paris and Tokyo.”
“We’ll not discontinue our struggle for such great changes. We’ll pick up speed. By making the most of the precious experiences we have accumulated for the past four years while executing administrative works, I’ll make flat-out efforts to mature Seoul’s changes.”
“I pledge to make good on the following three things ― becoming a communicative mayor, integrating and bracing for the future.”
“First, I will be a communicative mayor. I’ll lead in making things different ― seeking citizens’ opinions from the first stage of planning and reflecting them. I will prioritize gaining consensus with citizens as the first principle of administrative execution.”
“Second, I’ll strive to be a mayor of integration. I will give preference over consideration to the underprivileged. I’ll set the citizens’ voices as a major yardstick for determining the priority of work. I’ll readjust the priority of work, particularly focusing on the pending issues, including school security, which all citizens concur on the need to urgently address.”
“Third, I’ll strive to be a mayor preparing for the future. I’m making all-out efforts to help Seoul join the ranks of the global top-five cities, capitalizing on the momentum of the capital’s rise to becoming a global top-10 city.
“The most important thing we have to do for the future is to create jobs. To this end, we’ll focus on nurturing tourism, design, digital content, conventions, R&D and financing as new growth engines that will drive the national economy. I’ll strive to build a foundation for Seoul’s breadwinners in the next 10 to 20 years by creating jobs to which youths can devote themselves.” nw

Gyeonggi Gov. Kim Pledges to Humble Himself

Participates in a volunteer activity giving free meals to the needy upon his inauguration

In an unprecedented move, Gyeonggi Gov. Kim Moon-soo, reelected for his gubernatorial job, held his inaugural ceremony under a bridge of the Ganeung electrified railroad station in Uijeongbu on July 1, not a normal venue such as an office or an auditorium. Among the invitees at the ceremony were about 200 beneficiaries of the underprivileged, including Hansen’s town residents, shelter dwellers and the physically handicapped as well as old-fashioned market merchants and taxi drivers.
Without pre-ceremony events, the event proceeded with a salute to the national flag, Kim’s delivery of his inaugural speech, President Lee’s commemorative message and provincial residents’ congratulatory messages.
Following the official ceremony, Kim participated in a volunteer activity at a free meal center in the railroad station as the first duty of his second gubernatorial stint.
In his inaugural message, Gov. Kim announced the top five administrative innovations for civic affairs he will push during his tenure. Among others, he pledged to serve the provincial residents around the clock during the whole of each year on top of his focus on on-site administration, administration for low-income earners, speedy administration and integrated administration. Kim’s innovative proposals were construed as the governor’s determination to conduct administrative jobs focusing on supporting low-income earners.
A provincial government official said Gov. Kim’s holding of his inaugural ceremony near the railroad station and not in a large-scale auditorium or hotel was a significant signal for the direction of his local government. His 24-night, 25-day campaign swing involved a homestay, indicative of his future administration, focusing on field administration and administration tailored to meet provincial residents’ needs.
Gov. Kim plans to suggest ways of developing the backward areas in the north of the province and support Gwacheon City and its neighboring areas, which are to be hit hard by the relocation of government ministries to Sejong City, a new administrative town in Yeonggi, Chungcheongnam-do. nw

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, reelected in the local elections, delivers his inaugural speech at a ceremony to take office as the 34th mayor of the Seoul Metropolitan Government at the Sejong Center.

Gyeonggi Gov. Kim Moon-soo