Mokpo Mayor Park Hong-ryul: "Only Focusing on Citizens and Thinking Solely About Mokpo's Development"

Presenting a Hopeful Future Vision and Laying the Foundation for a Greater Mokpo

Establishing Mokpo Public Bus Operation System... Creating a Youth-Friendly City

On the 3rd, Park Hong-ryul, mayor of Mokpo City, stated, "The past year has been a time dedicated solely to the development of Mokpo, with the future 100 years of Mokpo in mind," and added, "I will lead the 8th term of the municipal administration with policies unique to Mokpo."

Mayor Park held a press conference on the morning of the same day at the city hall situation room to share the achievements of the past year and explain the key policies for the future.

The major achievements highlighted by Mayor Park include △ establishing a foundation for a greater Mokpo that attracts youth through AI and big data △ fostering eco-friendly shipbuilding and ship repair industries as new growth engines △ advancing as a hub for the seafood food industry △ successful hosting of large-scale regional festivals and selection for southern regional wide-area tourism development △ creating an atmosphere of integration between Mokpo and Sinan and laying the foundation for mutual growth.

Mokpo Mayor Park Hong-ryul held a press conference marking the first anniversary of his term in the 8th local government, sharing the city's achievements over the past year and explaining key future policies.
[Photo by Mokpo City]

Regarding the foundation for a greater Mokpo that attracts youth, Mayor Park explained, "Momentum has been gained through the selection of projects such as the Youth Startup Knowledge Industry Center with a total project cost of 30.6 billion KRW, the 2023 Small-scale Smart City project with a total project cost of 26.4 billion KRW, and the K-Digital Platform public contest."

He also stated, "The eco-friendly shipbuilding and ship repair industries, which are new growth engines, are smoothly developing a world-class cluster complex with a total project cost of 158.5 billion KRW, including 103.2 billion KRW in national funds, for the eco-friendly ship cluster foundation project."

He added, "The ship repair industry, which will create a new turning point for the local shipbuilding industry along with the West Coast Coast Guard Maintenance Plant to be established in 2025, has gained further momentum by being selected this year for the contest to establish a smart repair, diagnosis, and management support system for small and medium-sized ship high-speed engines."

In particular, he noted, "The seafood food industry is progressing smoothly as a global hub for the seaweed industry and for the globalization of Mokpo fish cake, together with the Mokpo Seafood Food Support Center, designated as Korea's first specialized seaweed industry institution."

Continuing, Mayor Park explained, "Mokpo is advancing into an era of 20 million tourists, with successful hosting of large-scale regional festivals and selection of three projects for southern regional wide-area tourism development," and added, "It has been identified that last year, the number of tourists increased by 26% compared to the previous year, reaching approximately 7.3 million."

He further stated, "This year, projects such as the Mokpo Five Senses Healing Alley Literary Village creation project, and the Romantic Art Island creation projects for Dallido and Oedaldo were selected in the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's southern regional wide-area tourism development plan. Additionally, by hosting the 2024-2025 International Namdo Food Culture Festival, Mokpo will hold the first-ever international food event utilizing Mokpo's flavors, the International Namdo Gourmet Industry Expo, in 2025, further enhancing the appeal of its tourism resources."

Regarding the key project of integration with Sinan County, Mayor Park said that all 23 neighborhoods of Mokpo City and 14 towns and townships of Sinan County have established sisterhood ties and are actively exchanging, expressing a strong will by stating, "We will remember that Mokpo and Sinan share one root and continue to grow together."

Mayor Park explained, "As a result of multiple visits to major government departments and the National Assembly to seek bipartisan cooperation, national funds have been largely included in key pending projects," and added, "The National Road No. 77 construction project and the major renovation of Mokpo Station, both fully funded by national funds, are progressing without delay."

He expressed his ambition, saying, "Regarding the new port, which will become a hub for the offshore wind power industry, we are currently establishing an offshore wind power convergence industrialization platform center and port logistics infrastructure. We will make every effort to secure 100 billion KRW in national funds and proceed with the creation of an offshore wind power support pier and its hinterland in line with the national basic plan."

Mayor Park mentioned, "From the second half of last year to the first half of this year, we secured 9.687 billion KRW through 16 cases of special grants," and noted, "Concerns from citizens about city buses and the resource recovery facility (incineration plant) are being resolved through the interest and support of the citizens."

Mokpo Mayor Park Hong-ryul held a press conference marking the first anniversary of his inauguration for the 8th term of direct elections, stating his commitment to continuously build a Mokpo-style public transportation system until the issue of city bus transfer and acquisition is resolved.
[Photo by Mokpo City]

He said, "Regarding the city buses, which repeatedly operated and stopped, we reached an agreement with the bus company to continue normal operation until the transfer and acquisition issues are resolved," emphasizing, "We will establish a Mokpo-style public transportation system through route system reorganization, establishment of an operation system, and construction of transportation infrastructure."

He added, "Regarding the resource recovery facility (incineration plant), we have paid special attention to dioxin emissions and conducted careful and thorough reviews. After several discussions, it was decided to resume operation using the stoker method operated by a private investor."

Furthermore, he said, "Regarding the Samhakdo Hotel, we are comprehensively reviewing it from a public interest perspective after forming sufficient consensus with citizens, and we will continue to proceed based on principles of transparency and fairness."

As future key policies, Mayor Park presented plans to focus efforts on △ successfully hosting the 104th National Sports Festival and the 43rd National Disabled Sports Festival, both with Mokpo as the main venue △ advancing as a maritime culture and tourism city where culture and arts thrive △ revitalizing the old downtown and modern historical cultural spaces △ creating green landscapes to improve residential conditions △ expanding education and welfare policies △ and attracting a national medical university, a 30-year long-cherished project.

The 104th National Sports Festival and the 43rd National Disabled Sports Festival are being prepared to serve as stepping stones to raise Mokpo's status and advance it as a sports tourism city.

The Mokpo Sports Complex, where the opening and closing ceremonies will be held, and the main competition venues are scheduled to complete construction by the end of July, with utmost efforts being made to prepare for visitors with kindness, cleanliness, and reasonable prices in public transportation, accommodations, and restaurants.

In addition, Mokpo is building tourism infrastructure such as the Mokpo Harbor Festival, the nation's only Mokpo Literature Expo with young emerging writers, various cultural and artistic events to allow citizens to enjoy culture in daily life, activation of marine leisure sports, the Jangjado Resort, camping sites on Yuldo and Dallido, and the Yonghae ecological experience facility.

Mayor Park expressed his determination, saying, "We will expand the number of hairdressing and beauty coupons for seniors from the current 24 to 33 starting this October. Regarding the attraction of a medical university, a 30-year long-cherished project, we will strengthen cooperation with Jeonnam Province and Mokpo National University and conduct all-out efforts targeting the government, National Assembly, and the Korean Medical Association."

In conclusion, Mayor Park Hong-ryul emphasized, "If we achieve more challenges and new changes, a greater Mokpo will surely be realized," and added, "Focusing solely on the citizens and the development of Mokpo, we will complete a greater Mokpo that attracts youth together with the citizens."

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