Yeosu Mayor Kwon Oh-bong: "This Year, All Administrative Efforts Focused on Revitalizing the Local Economy"

New Year Video Briefing... Focus on Promoting Local Consumption and Employment, Fostering New Industries, and Developing Island Tourism Projects
Hosting the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo, Enacting the Yeosun Incident Special Act, and Securing COP28 to C

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] “This year’s municipal administration will focus primarily on post-COVID-19 response and revitalizing the local economy.”

On the 4th, Yeosu Mayor Kwon Oh-bong stated in a New Year video briefing, “Thanks to the mature civic consciousness and cooperation shown by our citizens last year, we have wisely overcome the most difficult period,” adding, “We will prepare with all our administrative capabilities alongside citizens to minimize the damage to the local economy caused by COVID-19.”

First, he pledged, “We will flawlessly complete the three core projects?COP28, the Yeosun Incident Special Act, and the Island Expo?and focus administrative efforts to ensure that the effects of large-scale new expansions and major renovations of the Yeosu National Industrial Complex, as well as the Gyeongdo development projects, circulate back into the local economy and job creation.”

▶ Enhancing the completeness of key projects for ‘International City Yeosu’

He first declared, “We will make Yeosu an international city visited by people worldwide.”

The 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo aims to receive final government approval by mid-year, and for COP28, the strategy is to persuade the government to select the host city first and to expand consensus through the ‘Urban Environment Agreement Summit.’

In preparation for the 100th anniversary of Yeosu Port’s opening in 2023, a development strategy for Yeosu Port will be established and executed annually to leap forward into the next 100 years.

▶ Full effort to foster new growth future industries and restore local economic vitality

He continued, “The Yeosu National Industrial Complex, the economic hub of Yeosu, will actively implement 18 priority projects of the national industrial complex renovation, including building a smart energy platform, transforming it into a low-carbon, eco-friendly industrial ecosystem that will continue for future generations.”

In particular, plans will be made to recycle CO2 and waste plastics and to cluster hydrogen industries within the Yulchon 2 Industrial Complex to create a sustainable industrial ecosystem and develop Yeosu into a central city of the hydrogen economy.

The construction of the Gyeongdo Marine Tourism Complex will create jobs for local residents, and the citizen bonus point system for hiring local talent by Yeosu industrial complex companies will gradually expand from the current seven companies.

Mayor Kwon emphasized, “To reduce delivery fee burdens on small business owners, we will launch a Yeosu-style public delivery app and invigorate neglected commercial districts through a tourist discount system for tourism-deprived areas.”

▶ ‘Yeosu tourism you want to revisit’ … Establishing sustainable marine tourism cultural infrastructure

“The 365 beautiful islands are future tourism resources with unique charm,” he said, “and we will establish sustainable marine tourism cultural infrastructure.”

Efforts will be made to create the Yeosu Seomseom-gil trail and develop tourism products to further expand the islands’ appeal, and post-COVID-19 tourism trends will be met by developing clean, non-face-to-face tourism content products for Yeosu.

He added, “We will solidify cultural city infrastructure such as the Yeosu Municipal Museum and Seonso Theme Garden and create synergy effects by linking them with tourism.”

▶ Customized land development, urban regeneration, premium parks… Creating a pleasant residential environment

“To create a livable residential environment, we will develop three districts?Juklim 1 District, Soje, and Manheung?as eco-friendly customized residential sites as planned, and also focus on improving local tailored residential conditions such as the Gukdong Urban Regeneration New Deal,” he said.

With secured national funds of 28.5 billion KRW and 2.5 billion KRW, the Hwatae-Baekya land bridge and Gyeongdo access construction projects are expected to proceed smoothly.

Projects such as the Jeolla Line Old Railroad Park and the second phase of Namsan Park will be promoted to provide resting places for citizens exhausted by the COVID-19 era.

▶ Establishing a comprehensive welfare environment system enjoyed by all generations

“We aim to build a comprehensive welfare environment system enjoyed by all generations, making Yeosu a city where citizens’ daily lives?from children to the elderly?are happy,” he expressed his ambition.

Plans include constructing a senior welfare center in the old downtown area, increasing the veterans’ honor allowance, and newly providing a monthly allowance of 50,000 KRW to widows of veterans.

Childbirth incentives will be significantly expanded to 3 million KRW for the first child and 5 million KRW for the second child, and an additional monthly child allowance of 50,000 KRW will be provided to children in farming and fishing villages.

The construction of the Juklim Children’s Library will be pursued, and the scholarship for outstanding students entering high schools within the district will be raised from 1.5 million KRW to 5 million KRW.

With 55 youth policies including the Technician School and the establishment of a Youth Community Center, the city plans to lead urban vitality.

Mayor Kwon emphasized, “The Yeosun Incident Special Act, a long-cherished wish of local residents, will be enacted within the first half of the year by consolidating efforts with the local community,” and “We will actively resolve and improve systems regarding the fulfillment of public donation funds for the marine cable car, Yulchon Doseong Village, and excessive development issues.”

He continued, “The division of the city hall into eight locations causes inconvenience to citizens and significant administrative losses,” adding, “With a long-term perspective on Yeosu’s development, we must heed the citizens’ will and unify opinions among the city government, city council, and local community,” emphasizing the necessity of expanding the main city hall annex.

He concluded, “In the Year of the Black Ox, we will uphold the ‘citizen-centered’ municipal philosophy and run toward a vigorous leap forward for Yeosu to maximize citizens’ happiness index and satisfaction.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.