[New Year Interview] Park Il-ho, Mayor of Miryang, "In the Year of the Ox, We Will Fully Bloom the Miryang Renaissance"

Dedicated to Promoting Milyang-type New Deal Projects and Regional Strategic Initiatives
Company-First Nano City
Smart 6th Agriculture Capital
Focused on Creating a Tourism Attraction City

Park Il-ho, Mayor of Miryang, Gyeongnam, explaining about municipal administration.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Lee Sang-hyun] Miryang City in Gyeongnam achieved remarkable results in various fields such as industry, culture, tourism, and agriculture last year despite the unprecedented crisis of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and prepared new growth engines to leap forward into a greater Miryang.

"Based on the growth engines we have built so far, we will focus on Miryang-type New Deal projects and regional strategic projects," said Mayor Park Il-ho of Miryang, who pledged, "In the new year of the White Ox, we will overcome COVID-19 with the strong energy of the white ox and move forward vigorously." Asia Economy met with him.

Below is a Q&A with Mayor Park.

- How do you feel about starting a new year?

▲ Last year, all citizens went through an unprecedentedly difficult time due to COVID-19. Thanks to the mature civic consciousness and cooperation of the citizens with city administration, we were able to wrap up the year well.

This year as well, we plan to implement various policies to protect citizens' lives and daily lives from COVID-19 and to stabilize the local economy, which is in crisis, as soon as possible. Also, with the united hearts of 110,000 citizens who wish for Miryang’s development and the passionate efforts of about 1,000 public officials, we intend to move toward completing the Miryang Renaissance.

- What was the biggest achievement and regret in the particularly tough last year?

▲ Last year saw many significant achievements such as the simultaneous opening of Miryang Arirang Space Observatory & National Meteorological Science Museum, selection of the Miryang win-win job project, groundbreaking of the Smart Farm Innovation Valley, groundbreaking of Samyang Foods, and groundbreaking of the Miryang rural tourism and recreation complex.

Among them, the final selection of the ‘Gyeongnam Miryang-type Job Project’ as a government win-win regional job project in October last year can be considered a major achievement.

With the selection of the Miryang win-win job project, 26 companies are expected to invest a total of 340.3 billion KRW in the Hanam General Industrial Complex by 2025, creating 505 new jobs.

The regret is, of course, the population decline issue. Although it is not a problem unique to our city, it is a challenge that must be overcome. Therefore, the city is aiming for population rebound by creating jobs through the Nano Industrial Complex and Miryang-type win-win job project, and by inducing rural settlement through the Smart Farm Innovation Valley and support for return-to-farming and return-to-village residents.

Groundbreaking ceremony of Samyang Foods Milyang Factory in October last year.

- What are the key projects and plans you are focusing on this year?

▲ Based on the Miryang win-win job project and the attraction of Samyang Foods to the Nano Industrial Complex, which achieved great results last year, we plan to create a smart green industrial complex and a youth-friendly industrial base.

So far, 32 companies have promised investments in the Nano Industrial Complex. To attract more companies in the future, it is necessary to build infrastructure that is favorable for business management.

Our city plans to develop the Nano Industrial Complex into a smart green industrial complex and establish a Youth Happiness Nuri Center within the complex to improve residential conditions. To support research and development of nano companies, we will build a nano convergence cluster and provide subsidies such as local investment promotion grants and large-scale special support to do our best in attracting companies.

We intend to run toward the goal of adding new momentum to the local economy through win-win development between industrial complex resident companies and the local community.

- What are your plans to highlight Miryang’s unique strengths that differentiate it from other cities?

▲ We will make every effort to solidify Miryang’s position as the smart 6th agricultural capital. Miryang Mulsan, established last year, is responsible for the stable distribution of agricultural products, and the Smart Farm Innovation Valley under development will help future young farmers settle stably.

Also, in the COVID-19 era, we will take advantage of Miryang’s clean natural environment to build an original tourist district that truly reflects Miryang’s uniqueness. Centered on the Miryang Tourism and Recreation Complex currently underway, we will develop it into an attractive stay-type tourist city with Miryang Arirang Arboretum, Yeongnam Alps Hiking School, and more.

- Lastly, do you have any words for the citizens of Miryang?

“I have been able to come this far because the citizens of Miryang trusted me. Along with about 1,000 public officials, I will vigorously move forward this year with the mindset of Dongshim Dongdeok (unity of heart and virtue), thinking only of the happiness of the citizens who are the protagonists of city administration and the development of Miryang.”

“I look forward to 2021, when the ordinary daily life before COVID-19 is restored as soon as possible and Miryang’s bright imagination becomes a reality. I hope you will hang in there a little longer, and I wish you a new year full of health and happiness. Happy New Year.”

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