Park Doohyung, Chairman of Yeoju City Council: "I Will Lead Citizen Happiness Through Cooperation and Communication"

Interview with Park Doohyung, Chairman of Yeoju City Council
"Han River Act Should Be Revised or Abolished to Reflect Current Realities
Sinwonju?Dongyongin Transmission Line Construction
Will Seek Alternatives Acceptable to the Local Community
Doing My Best to Achieve Cooperation and Politics of Coexistence"

"I will realize politics of coexistence with the determination to serve only the citizens of Yeoju, without being bound by the position of any particular political party."

Park Doohyung, chairman of Yeoju City Council, stated this in an interview with Asia Economy on the 11th, adding, "Based on my belief that 'the answer lies in the field,' I prioritize meeting and communicating directly with citizens, while also working to narrow the differences of opinion between the council and the executive branch."

He expressed his aspiration to "become a worker who puts action before words." We listen to his solutions for a variety of issues, from easing regulations under the Han River Act to resolving the power transmission line problem. The following is a Q&A with Park Doohyung, chairman of Yeoju City Council.

Park Doohyung, chairman of Yeoju City Council, stated in an interview with Asia Economy on the 11th, "I will realize politics of coexistence with the determination to serve only the citizens of Yeoju, without being bound by the position of any particular political party."

- As chairman, what is your philosophy and goal for managing the council during your term? How do you plan to realize cooperation and communication?

"As chairman, I am committed to fostering a council that communicates with the citizens, who are the true owners of Yeoju; a council that practices cooperation across all council members regardless of party affiliation; a council that researches as policy experts; a council that diligently fulfills its role of oversight and monitoring; and a council that acts as an administrative partner. The council is a process of coordinating what, how, and in what order to accomplish for the development of the city and the happiness of its citizens, through constructive debate and rational criticism. Going forward, I will continue to faithfully serve as a mediator among council members, with the determination to serve only the citizens of Yeoju, without being bound by the position of any particular political party."

- You emphasized the philosophy that "the answer lies in the field." How are you applying this to your legislative activities?

"'The answer lies in the field' means that in order to grasp the essence of a problem, one must be proactive and hands-on. By meeting people face-to-face and listening to their voices directly, and by communicating in person, we can actively resolve issues. Only with this commitment can we provide the best possible administrative services that citizens expect. To achieve this, it is important not only to thoroughly inspect the field but also to maintain an open attitude and seek to understand the essence of problems from an honest and unfiltered perspective. I am doing my utmost to put this into practice."

- What is your solution to the regulations (Han River Act) that hinder the development of Yeoju?

"The Han River Act should naturally be revised or abolished, considering that the circumstances are now completely different from when it was enacted. If we install all-weather, comprehensive river pollution prevention facilities using advanced sewage treatment technology, we can improve the passive, regulation-oriented approach to river management. Thanks to the remarkable advancement of sewage treatment technology and the efforts of residents in Yeoju and other water source areas, the water quality of the Paldang Water Source is being maintained at the highest level. Therefore, I believe it is time to introduce water quality management policies that fit the current reality. Since a countermeasure committee has been established in Yeoju, we will work together with residents of the seven cities and counties in the Paldang Lake area to more strongly pursue regulatory relaxation."

- What is your solution to the construction of the Sinwonju-Dongyongin power transmission line for stable power supply to the SK Hynix Yongin Semiconductor Cluster?

"According to the 10th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, the construction of the 345kV Sinwonju-Dongyongin transmission line is being promoted to ensure a stable power supply to the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, with completion targeted for 2032. The transmission line will pass through seven cities and counties, including Yeoju, Icheon, Anseong, Yongin, Chungju, Eumseong, and Wonju, stretching about 60 kilometers and requiring the installation of approximately 130 supporting structures. Many residents in Gangcheon, Ganam, and Jeomdong in Yeoju are calling for the project to be canceled due to concerns about environmental damage and electromagnetic wave exposure. In response to residents' demands for underground transmission lines, alternative routes, and thorough studies on environmental and health impacts, I plan to continue communicating with Korea Electric Power Corporation and local residents to seek amicable solutions. While national industry is important, so too are citizens' rights, and I will work to find alternatives that the local community can accept."

- What strategies do you have to enhance the quality and brand competitiveness of Yeoju rice?

"At the start of my legislative activities, I revised the ordinance for the Yeoju City Rice Industry Special Zone to lay the foundation for operating the committee, and enacted an ordinance to foster masters of local specialty foods to promote premiumization and strengthen competitiveness. I am working to differentiate Yeoju rice, improve distribution networks, and strengthen the brand, while enhancing quality through soil improvement, cultivation of specialized varieties, and reinforcement of the rice purchase grading system. In addition, I will drive agricultural innovation through advanced farming methods, the processing industry, alternative crops, expanded rice consumption, promotion, and the expansion of sales networks."

- What is your direction for fostering unique festivals and the tourism industry in Yeoju?

"Yeoju City must leverage its natural environment and cultural heritage to establish a new tourism image and secure growth engines. With the opening of the suspension bridge, we need to quickly make major tourism resources visible, and festivals should be developed into synergistic events that all citizens can relate to, by reducing the number of festivals and focusing on select, impactful ones."

- What is your vision for a welfare system that connects childbirth, childcare, education, and employment?

"In the first official census conducted in 1966, Yeoju's population exceeded 110,000, but even after about 60 years, it has not surpassed 120,000. Even during the rapid growth of Korea in the 1970s and 1980s, the resident population did not increase, and now, with the world's lowest birth rate, it is realistically difficult to artificially increase the population. There are limits to what can be achieved with childbirth incentives alone, so we must expand cultural and tourism infrastructure, utilize vacant homes and idle farmland, attract foreign immigrants, and improve policies for the elderly. While maintaining welfare services that connect childbirth, education, and employment, we will be cautious to avoid populism."

- How do you plan to set the relationship between the council and the executive branch and cooperate?

"Each council member, as a representative elected by citizens in their own constituency, carries out independent and autonomous legislative activities. Therefore, the ways of understanding and addressing issues and the directions of solutions may vary, but I believe that all council members share the same commitment to Yeoju. To achieve smooth cooperation with the executive branch, sufficient exchange of opinions is necessary, which is why we hold 'Legislative Days' twice a month, where the council and the executive branch share major issues and work to narrow differences in position. As chairman, I will continue to coordinate differences in opinion among council members and do my best to ensure that cooperation and politics of coexistence are realized for the development of Yeoju and the improvement of citizens' quality of life."

- What message would you like to convey to the citizens of Yeoju?

"I am grateful for the interest and support of citizens, even amid the heat and heavy rain. Participation and cooperation, not conflict, are the driving forces behind Yeoju's development. Please be thoroughly prepared for disasters, and I wish you a happy and hopeful autumn."

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