Yoon Byung-tae, Mayor of Naju, "We Will Leap Forward as a Future Advanced Industry Hub"

Published 06 Jul.2023 13:15(KST)

Yoon Byung-tae, mayor of Naju City, Jeollanam-do, marking his first year in office, expressed, “The first year of the 8th local government, launched under the banner of a great transformation of Naju, was a period to establish the direction and vision to create a livable and happy Naju, and a leading top-tier Naju.”

At a press conference held on the 6th in the main conference room of the city hall to commemorate the first anniversary of the 8th local government, Mayor Yoon said, “I thank the 120,000 citizens who passionately supported the 8th local government and actively participated ahead of anyone else,” adding, “In the remaining three years, without losing our initial resolve, we will build Naju as a city with the highest quality of life, where youth return, and develop it into a global small but strong city of 200,000 people, advancing as a future high-tech industrial hub.”

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae of Naju is holding a press conference marking the first anniversary of the 8th term of direct election in the main conference room of the city hall on the 6th.
[Photo by Naju]

Since taking office, Mayor Yoon stated, “To resolve urgent issues, I personally checked problems on-site and listened closely to the vivid voices of the citizens,” and added, “I met and rushed to wherever and whoever I could to secure national budget and turn national policies into projects for Naju.”

He introduced major achievements in the first year of the 8th local government, including “the dawn of a new renaissance era for the Yeongsan River through a regionally tailored integrated river project,” “passing the preliminary feasibility study for the Energy National Industrial Complex,” “securing domestic distribution and overseas export channels for agricultural products such as Naju pears and Naju rice,” “finding reasonable solutions to residential environment issues in the Innovation City,” and “preparing premium educational city infrastructure including the establishment of the Future Education Support Center.”

He also outlined the directions for city administration in various sectors such as tourism, agriculture and rural areas, future high-tech industries, residential conditions in the Innovation City, education, welfare, living SOC, and administration.

Mayor Yoon presented a strategy for the 5 million Naju tourism era through the opening of a new Yeongsan River era, including the Yeongsan River Naju district integrated river project, the 300-ri Yeongsan River bicycle path, the Jiseokcheon riverside city walking trail, the Usupje ecological park tourism resource development, and the southern region wide-area tourism development project.

He also revealed plans to create a city where people want to walk, revisit, and stay, through projects such as the Naju Stream ecological waterway construction started last year, restoration and maintenance of cultural assets like Naju Mokgwana and Naju Hyanggyo, support for the construction of the Southern Righteous Army History Museum, designation of 100 Naju dining spots, and improvement of lodging facilities.

In the agriculture and rural sector, the “Naju Pear Quality Assurance System certified by the Naju mayor” was introduced to restore the reputation of Naju pears and promote exports, and support for cultivating representative agricultural products by region such as Seji melon, Nampyeong strawberry, and Wanggok oriental melon was provided.

To resolve rural labor shortages, 224 foreign seasonal workers were introduced in the first half of the year, with an additional 111 planned for the second half, and plans were made to promote the agricultural specialty product processing industry by establishing a food upcycling support center.

He also emphasized future high-tech industries, which will form the foundation of the 200,000-strong global small but strong city.

Mayor Yoon said, “We will actively promote projects such as the Energy National Industrial Complex, next-generation high-efficiency semiconductor ecosystem, attraction of ultra-powerful laser and artificial sun engineering research facilities, the Kentech-linked industry-academia-research cluster, and designation of the Opportunity Development Special Zone,” adding, “Through the energy integrated platform city, we will lay the foundation for a 200,000 global small but strong city.”

He also plans to implement the Bitgaram Innovation City as a regional balanced development leading model through expansion of residential and convenience facilities such as the Complex Innovation Center, Living SOC Complex Center, Bitgaram Lake Park children’s theme park, and the second relocation of public institutions.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae stated, “We will implement a field-centered communication administration, sound and efficient budget management, and strengthen cooperation with national and provincial institutions within the jurisdiction to realize an administration that works properly,” and added, “We will create a welfare community where everyone is happy, with trust and faith, focusing on expectations rather than worries.”

He continued, “I ask for much interest and participation support so that Naju’s vision and policies opening a new Yeongsan River renaissance era can be fully realized,” and added, “I will do my best in the remaining three years without losing my initial resolve.”