Former Deputy Mayor Choi Hyundeok Vows to Use the Skills That Grew Pangyo to Complete Namyangju’s Economic Self-Reliance

"Administrative Expert" Choi Hyundeok Announces Candidacy for Mayor of Namyangju
Vows to Establish an AI and Bio Convergence Cluster
"Investing in Citizen Safety...Will Pursue Pragmatic, Results-Oriented Governance"
Emphasizes Being a "Proven Public Servant" Who Inherits Jeong Yak-yong's Pragmatic Spirit

Choi Hyundeok, former deputy mayor of Namyangju, officially announced his candidacy for mayor of Namyangju at the Namyangju City Council on the 12th.

Choi Hyundeok, former vice mayor of Namyangju, is declaring his candidacy for mayor of Namyangju at the Namyangju City Council on the 12th. Photo provided by Namyangju City

In his declaration of candidacy, former Deputy Mayor Choi stated, "I will prove the value of the mayor of Namyangju through action," presenting himself as the right person to lead Namyangju’s great transformation into a megacity with a population of 1 million.

Former Deputy Mayor Choi highlighted his achievements as head of the Economy Office of Gyeonggi Province, where he revitalized the First Pangyo Techno Valley and designed the Second Pangyo Techno Valley. He said, "With the same capabilities that grew Pangyo, I will develop the Wangsuk Urban High-Tech Industrial Complex into an AI and bio convergence cluster," adding, "I will go beyond merely attracting data centers and turn Namyangju into an economically self-reliant city that attracts global small but strong enterprises and startups."

In particular, former Deputy Mayor Choi singled out the annual replacement of sidewalk blocks as a symbol of "budget waste and administrative incompetence." He pledged, "Instead of replacing perfectly fine sidewalk blocks, I will boldly invest that budget in preparing for weather-related disasters and in citizen safety facilities," and, referring to recent heavy snowfall and flood damage, he promised to build a swift, on-site-centered disaster response system.

To overcome Namyangju’s geographical isolation, candidate Choi pledged to 1) reorganize the public transportation system to improve inter-district connectivity and 2) create a walkable city by improving riverside paths and perimeter trails. He also vowed to build a "city of happiness where the basics are firmly in place" that citizens can truly feel, through measures such as 1) public postnatal care and 24-hour childcare and 2) establishing a university-hospital-level medical system.

Candidate Choi cited the philosophy of President Roh Moo-hyun, the sense of efficacy of President Lee Jae-myung, and the pragmatic spirit of Jeong Yak-yong as his political roots. He went on to say that he would work closely with the Namyangju members of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party of Korea and declared, "I will not be a mayor who reigns over the position, but become the biggest servant of Namyangju."

Candidate Choi appealed for support, saying, "Administration is action and must be delivered in the form of results," and promised, "I will return to the citizens of Namyangju a clear sense of efficacy that their lives become more convenient when the mayor changes."

Meanwhile, former Deputy Mayor Choi Hyundeok passed the 36th higher civil service examination and went on to serve as director at the Presidential Committee on Policy Planning under the Roh Moo-hyun administration, and then worked at the headquarters of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris, France. After that, he served as director of the Organization Planning Division and secretary to the minister at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, as well as head of the Economy Office of Gyeonggi Province, and left public office after serving as deputy mayor of Namyangju. Since then, he has served as secretary of the Safety and Administration Subcommittee of the Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung Transition Committee, a member of the Gyeonggi Province Fair Economy Committee, and vice chair of the Policy Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea. He is currently serving as a special adviser to the party leader of the Democratic Party of Korea and as a standing member of the Chamjoeun Local Government Committee, actively facilitating communication between the party and citizens.

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