Former Uijeongbu Mayor An Byeongyong: "Uijeongbu in Fiscal Ruin and a Broken Bowl Situation... I Will Save It With My Experience"

Former Mayor An Byeongyong Announces Bid for Uijeongbu Mayor

"Uijeongbu Faces Extinction... I Will Save the City"

"Joining Hands with President Lee Jaemyung to Lead Uijeongbu's New Leap Forward"

"Uijeongbu has now fallen into a 'broken bowl' situation that can no longer be left unattended. The fiscal collapse is an unprecedented crisis that no one has ever experienced, and in reality, budgets have been ruthlessly cut not only for civic groups, sports, culture, arts, and welfare facilities, but even for senior citizens' associations. At this rate, the lives of citizens and the future of the city will inevitably be driven toward extinction."

On February 12, at the Uijeongbu City Hall briefing room, former Uijeongbu Mayor An Byeongyong officially announced his candidacy for Uijeongbu mayor for the ninth popularly elected term, vowing to revive Uijeongbu, which he said has entered a path of decline as taxpayers' money has been depleted due to a severe fiscal crisis and economic downturn.

Ahn Byungyong, former Uijeongbu mayor, officially declared his candidacy for Uijeongbu mayor for the 9th term at a press briefing in the Uijeongbu City Hall briefing room on the 12th. Photo by Ahn Byungyong

Former Mayor An described the fiscal deterioration accumulated over the three and a half years of Mayor Kim Donggeun's administration as a "vicious cycle of irreversible extinction," and, expressing a "desperate sense of crisis that Uijeongbu will inevitably be completely ruined if things continue this way," pledged emergency management and swift recovery measures.

He said, "Above all, it is urgent to once again unite Uijeongbu, which has been wounded by administrative disconnection and conflict among many citizens, public officials, and various sectors of society," adding, "I will restore and complete the major projects that have been scrapped over the past several years without setbacks, and put the administration back on a normal track."

In particular, former Mayor An stressed, "During my tenure, I personally delivered several achievements for the citizens' future, including attracting investments worth hundreds of billions of won through the nation's first park private-investment project, opening the Howon Interchange, and securing Line 7 and the GTX," adding, "Amid a series of crises, I have loved and devoted myself to Uijeongbu more than anyone else."

He also explained his reason for running, saying, "I have built trust and solidarity as a comrade working together with President Lee Jaemyung, who recently took office as President of the Republic of Korea," and expressed confidence that "together with President Lee, I now have a golden opportunity to lead Uijeongbu's new leap forward."

He continued, "Who can persuade the central government, and who can secure Uijeongbu's fair share? Now is the time when the experience and expertise I possess can become the last hope to save Uijeongbu."

In addition, he declared firmly that he would swiftly and boldly push ahead with pending projects, including the establishment of new light rail stations at Gyeongmin University and Minrak, and that he would make overcoming the fiscal crisis and restoring the cut budgets his top priorities, thereby surely restoring the quality of life of citizens through administrative innovation and creative management.

Former Uijeongbu Mayor An Byeongyong appealed that, if elected by the citizens of Uijeongbu, "During my ninth-term tenure, I will lead Uijeongbu City based on a solid blueprint, fully listening to the opinions of top experts, citizens, and senior local figures, and cooperating with the city council," pledging, "With a desperate heart, I promise to work together with the citizens of Uijeongbu to design a new future for Uijeongbu."

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