[New Year Interview] Heo Seong-mu, Mayor of Changwon, Will Run Until the Soles of His Sneakers Wear Out in 2021

'Transition to a Positive Era with Population and Economic Rebound in 2021'
Key Projects for Next Year Include 'Population Rebound', 'Economic V-Turn', and 'Preparation for Special City Launch'

Mayor Heo Seong-mu of Changwon discussing the New Year's administrative goals.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] Changwon City spent the eventful year of 2020, marked by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), achieving significant milestones such as the extension of financial incentives and the realization of a special city status.

In 2021, determined to make it the 'first year of plus growth,' Changwon Mayor Heo Seong-mu, known as the "Sneaker Mayor," shared his aspirations with Asia Economy to revitalize the economy with an 'economic V-turn,' maintain a population of one million through a 'population rebound,' and launch the 'special city status,' aiming to elevate the city to new heights.

Below is a Q&A session with Mayor Heo.

- It was a challenging year due to COVID-19. What are your thoughts?

▲ COVID-19 emerged at the beginning of the year, keeping us in a state of tension throughout the year. We had to invest manpower, time, and finances into quarantine efforts, enduring very difficult days. On the other hand, thanks to COVID-19, we also felt the power of solidarity and cooperation. We were able to fight against COVID-19 through the strength of a community that puts 'us' before 'me,' and thanks to the active cooperation of our citizens, we were able to prevent greater damage through proactive quarantine measures.

Last year also marked the 10th anniversary of the integration of Changwon City. It was a time to evaluate the achievements and challenges of the past decade and envision a greater future. To be frank, we confirmed once again that there are more indicators that need improvement than areas where urban competitiveness has strengthened over the past 10 years. Thus, last year was an unforgettable year accompanied by two major challenges: 'COVID-19' and the '10th anniversary of integration.'

- You declared last year as the 'Year of Great Leap and Great Innovation.' What were the biggest achievements and regrets?

▲ To realize the 'Year of Great Leap and Great Innovation,' we achieved significant milestones such as being selected for the defense industry innovation cluster pilot project, the launch of the Korea Institute of Materials Science, the confirmation of the name for Jinhae New Port, and the extension of financial incentives.

Among these, the greatest achievement was the 'passage of the Changwon Special City Act through the National Assembly.' On December 9 last year, the 'Local Autonomy Act Amendment,' which designates metropolitan cities with populations over one million as special cities, passed the National Assembly.

On the other hand, the regretful part was the economy frozen by COVID-19. To revitalize the economy, Changwon City took the lead nationwide by launching the public sector half-price companion project and implementing Changwon-style targeted emergency disaster relief measures, among other strenuous efforts. While these had a stimulating effect on the economy, they could not completely alleviate the pain experienced by citizens, especially workers and small business owners whose workloads decreased.

- If you could mention three priorities or urgent tasks for Changwon City in the new year, what would they be?

▲ The administrative goal of Changwon City in 2021 is the 'first year of plus growth.' To achieve plus growth, the most urgent and prioritized tasks are, first, population rebound; second, economic V-turn; and third, preparation for the launch of the special city status.

As of December 2010, Changwon City's population was 1.09 million, but due to economic downturn and rising real estate prices, it has dropped to around 1.03 million. Since population is an essential factor for urban development, we will establish a dedicated organization to maintain the population at one million and implement effective and extraordinary population policies.

Alongside this, it is important to turn various economic indicators, which have shown negative growth, into positive ones. Since a U-turn would be too late, we will aim for a V-turn shape. We will rapidly recover the economy so that citizens can feel the improvement.

Also, the Local Autonomy Act Amendment, passed by the National Assembly last December, will be enforced one year after its promulgation, meaning the special city status will officially launch in 2022. Over the next year, we will secure various administrative, welfare, and port-related special provisions to prepare for a successful launch of the special city status.

On December 9th last year, Changwon Special City passed through the National Assembly.

- What was the background behind leading the passage of the Changwon Special City Act through the National Assembly, and what are the future challenges?

▲ Changwon City is the largest basic local government nationwide outside the metropolitan area. However, it has been grouped with small-scale basic local governments with populations of 30,000 to 40,000, suffering relative discrimination.

To resolve this discrimination and administer according to the city's scale and circumstances, we pursued the Changwon Special City status. Having secured the administrative title, this year we will focus on acquiring substantial authority. We have already identified over 80 special administrative tasks for large cities. Starting in January, we will operate an internal special city launch preparation team and implement a two-track strategy centered on the administrative council of four large cities?Suwon, Goyang, Yongin, and Changwon.

- Lastly, what message would you like to give to the citizens of Changwon?

▲ "Beyond the 10th anniversary of integration, a new decade of the future has begun. Now is the time to achieve chemical fusion beyond physical integration. If we cooperate with pride and solidarity as citizens of Changwon, we will not only achieve plus growth but also enjoy a bigger, brighter future and a better, more prosperous daily life. My nickname is the 'Sneaker Mayor.' This year, I have prepared several extra pairs of sneakers and will run hard until the soles wear out. Please continue to show interest and support as you have so far. Finally, I wish health and happiness to every household of our citizens. Happy New Year."

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