Ganghwa County Mayor Park Yong-cheol Marks 100th Day in Office... Realizing Communicative Governance Together with Residents

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Choi Ki-ho] Mayor Park Yong-cheol, elected as the 10th Ganghwa County Mayor in the 8th popular election, has marked his 100th day in office.

Mayor Park is credited with quickly stabilizing the seven-month gap in county administration caused by the death of former Mayor Yoo Cheon-ho, and with reinvigorating the county through field-oriented governance.

Mayor Park's first move was to the field. The biggest issue at the time of his inauguration was North Korea's noise attacks, and after meeting with affected residents, he immediately designated the entire Ganghwa County area as a 'danger zone' and banned the distribution of anti-North leaflets. He then supported the installation of soundproof windows to reduce noise damage, earning great applause from affected residents.

Actions to achieve Mayor Park's administrative goal of 'communication and harmony with residents' also proceeded swiftly. The 'Residents' Integration Committee,' his No. 1 campaign pledge, has passed the ordinance and is scheduled to launch in March, and the 'Visiting Mobile Mayor's Office,' where the mayor meets directly with citizens filing complaints, has also begun operations.

In addition, even amid difficult national finances, drawing on his experience as chair of the Incheon City Council's Budget and Accounts Committee, he increased the Ganghwa County budget by nearly 9 billion won compared to last year, which is another major achievement.

This year, important projects that will determine the future of Ganghwa County lie ahead. Mayor Park has stated that he will devote all his efforts to the 'Designation of the Ganghwa Southern Free Economic Zone' and the 'Designation of an Opportunity Development Special Zone.'

In addition, to revitalize the economy and stabilize the livelihoods of residents, the county plans to expand support for its major industries. In the agricultural sector, it will focus on strengthening agricultural competitiveness by fostering advanced agriculture such as smart farms and supporting young farmers. In the tourism sector, it aims to open an era of 20 million visitors by creating wellness-oriented stay-type tourism resources and discovering marine landscape resources, thereby contributing to revitalizing the local economy.

Furthermore, in the welfare sector, free transportation support for seniors will be expanded from bus fares to taxi fares, and 44 new facilities will be added to bring the total to 98. In the culture sector, there are plans to strongly pursue the construction of the 'Ganghwa National Goryeo Museum' in Ganghwa, which was the capital of Goryeo for 39 years.

Mayor Park Yong-cheol said, "Thanks to the support of the residents, I was able to quickly stabilize county administration. Without losing my original resolve, I will devote my utmost efforts to the residents and to the development of Ganghwa."