10 Years of the New Provincial Government Complex: North Gyeongsang Designs Its Future in the Northern Region

Commemorative Ceremony Held in Andong and Yecheon
Community Organization Visits and Jangsung Performance Draw Attention

To mark the 10th anniversary of the relocation of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Provincial Government Office, Gyeongsangbuk-do has reflected on the achievements of the New Provincial Government era and presented a vision for balanced development over the next 100 years.

Commemorative Ceremony at Andong-Yechon Provincial Government New Town: "The Administrative Heart Designing Gyeongbuk's Future" Photo by Byungkun Kwon

On March 10, Gyeongsangbuk-do held a 10th anniversary commemorative event for the relocation of the provincial government office at Saemaul Square in the Andong-Yechon Provincial Government New Town. This event gained added symbolism by being held at the same time and place where the new government office first began work in 2016.

More than 1,000 people attended the event, including Lee Cheolwoo, Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do, Park Seongman, Chairman of Gyeongsangbuk-do Council, Kwon Kichang, Mayor of Andong, Lim Jongsik, Superintendent of Gyeongsangbuk-do Office of Education, Kim Hakdong, Mayor of Yecheon County, other key institutional and organizational leaders, public officials, and local residents, who came together to reflect on the meaning of the 10 years of the new provincial government era. The participants planted commemorative trees and pledged to make new leaps forward, wishing for the future of balanced development in Gyeongbuk.

In his commemorative address, Governor Lee Cheolwoo stated, "The relocation of the provincial government office was a decisive move that changed the destiny of Gyeongbuk and was a historic challenge towards Korea's balanced development. With the provincial government, the provincial council, and public institutions now settled here, this place has established itself as the administrative heart designing Gyeongbuk's future."

He continued, "Administrative integration is a survival strategy for creating the foundation for balanced development and growth in Gyeongbuk, and the new provincial government town will become an opportunity to leap forward as an administrative-centered, complex city. We will do our utmost, together with the citizens, so that Gyeongbuk's challenges and efforts can contribute to Korea's balanced development."

In his congratulatory speech, Park Seongman, Chairman of Gyeongsangbuk-do Council, said, "The relocation of the provincial government office was a historic event that drew a new administrative map for Gyeongbuk. The council will also further support policy and legislative activities for the lives of the residents and for regional balanced development."

From left to right, Lee Cheolwoo, Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do, Park Seongman, Chairman of Gyeongsangbuk-do Council, Lim Jongsik, Superintendent of Gyeongsangbuk-do Office of Education, Kwon Kichang, Mayor of Andong, and Kim Hakdong, Mayor of Yecheon County, are delivering commemorative and congratulatory speeches. Photo by Byeonggeon Kwon

Kwon Kichang, Mayor of Andong, stated, "The relocation of the provincial government office provided a new turning point for the development of the northern region, centered on Andong and Yecheon. As the central city in the new provincial government era, Andong will do its best to link administrative, cultural, and tourism functions to promote the growth of the new provincial government town and to achieve mutual development with the region."

Lim Jongsik, Superintendent of Gyeongsangbuk-do Office of Education, emphasized, "With the relocation of the provincial government office, education in Gyeongbuk is also undergoing new changes. We will actively support, at the educational field level, the growth of the new provincial government town into a future city that integrates education, culture, and administration."

Kim Hakdong, Mayor of Yecheon County, remarked, "After the relocation of the provincial government office, Yecheon has established itself as a new center of development in Gyeongbuk. We will drive balanced development in Gyeongbuk through a mutual growth model where the new provincial government town and Yecheon grow together."

On the same day, regional residents' organizations also visited the event. Forty-five executive members and members of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Residents' Association, led by Chairman Lee Donghwan, visited the government office to participate in the 10th anniversary event.

Afterwards, the visiting group, guided by Son Gyeongchan, Executive Representative of the March 1st Spirit Patriotic Movement Union, visited 'Moksukwon' in Jangseung Village near Andong Hahoe Village, met master of traditional Jangseung, Kim Jongheung, and watched a traditional Jangseung performance. The demonstration of Jangseung making held on site provided a meaningful opportunity to experience both the spirit of traditional culture and the historical character of the region.

Gyeongsangbuk-do Provincial Government Office relocated to the border area of Andong and Yecheon in March 2016 and has served as a hub for the development of the northern region. With the relocation of public institutions and the creation of a new city, it is now establishing itself as a new regional growth axis where administrative, residential, and cultural functions converge.

Master of traditional Jangseung, Kim Jongheung, is performing a traditional Jangseung performance at Moksukwon in Jangseung Village near Andong Hahoe Village. Photo by Byunggun Kwon.

This 10th anniversary commemorative event is expected to serve as an opportunity to reaffirm the achievements of the new provincial government era and to initiate strategies for administrative integration and regional growth moving forward. The 10 years since the relocation of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Provincial Government Office have not simply been a matter of moving a building; rather, they represent a shift in the administrative axis of Gyeongbuk and a change in the flow of regional development.

Now, the remaining task is for the new provincial government town to establish itself not only as an administrative center, but also as a self-sufficient city where industry, culture, and education can grow together. The 10th anniversary of the new provincial government town is not simply a time to commemorate the past, but a starting point for designing the next 100 years of Gyeongbuk's future, making it all the more meaningful.

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