“Goodbye, Mayor Sneakers!” Farewell Ceremony for Heo Seong-mu, Changwon Special City Mayor Held

At the retirement ceremony held on the 27th at the Citizen Hall of Changwon City Hall, Gyeongnam, Heo Seong-mu, the 7th elected mayor of Changwon Special City, Gyeongnam, delivered his retirement speech. / Photo by Ryeong Lee

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Heo Seong-mu, mayor of Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam, concluded his 7th term of elected office on the 27th.

Mayor Heo expressed his reflections, saying, "Due to the typhoon news, I was unable to properly hold the inauguration ceremony and immediately started work. It has been four years of running without a break, without vacations or weekends, barely able to breathe."

He said, "I began my administrative duties by first greeting the cleaning workers who take care of the city hall environment," adding, "I always promised myself to do my best in my position like them, showing affection by giving Pepero on Pepero Day."

He stated, "The thousand paper cranes they gave me that Christmas were the most meaningful and precious gift I have ever received," and added, "It was thanks to the staff and citizens that I was able to safely complete the four-year marathon and stand here today."

Born in Masan, Gyeongnam, Mayor Heo was elected in 2018 as the first Democratic Party mayor in the history of Changwon City.

Throughout his term, he wore sneakers while working on city administration, earning the nickname "Sneaker Mayor."

Mayor Heo said, "My insistence on wearing sneakers was my determination to run without losing the initial intention to lead a people-centered administration and to meet the hopes of Changwon citizens who desired change at the time of my election."

City officials cited Mayor Heo’s achievements as including ▲ selection of Changwon National Industrial Complex as a smart leading industrial complex ▲ designation of a small but strong research and development special zone ▲ establishment of the nation’s first hydrogen energy circulation system ▲ securing the largest amount of national funding and attracting investment.

They also mentioned ▲ the launch of the special city status ▲ introduction of the quasi-public city bus system ▲ improvement of water quality in Masan Bay ▲ opening of the 3·15 Marine Nuri Park and Happo Waterfront Park.

An official evaluated, "Mayor Heo was selected as the best-performing local government head in fulfilling pledges for four consecutive years nationwide," adding, "He led the launch of Changwon Special City, raised social welfare benefit standards, secured port autonomy, and thus led a new history of local decentralization."

At the retirement ceremony held at the Citizen Hall of Changwon City Hall that day, about 300 employees and elected city council members from the June local elections attended, and the heads of departments and staff who had worked together saw Mayor Heo off on his last commute home.

Mayor Heo said, "I express my gratitude to the staff who worked with me through meticulous administration," and added, "I hope you will always strive for the development of Changwon City and its citizens."

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