Pohang Mayoral Candidates: Park Yongseon Accelerates 'Senior Welfare Pledges' vs. Park Heejung Pushes 'Cultural Professionalism' Policies

The ruling and opposition party candidates running in the 8th National Simultaneous Local Elections for Mayor of Pohang have each begun appealing to voters by highlighting senior welfare and innovation in cultural administration.

Park Yongseon, the People Power Party candidate for Mayor of Pohang, announced a 'message to citizens' expressing gratitude and respect to the parental generation who led Pohang's prosperity in celebration of the 54th Parents' Day, along with five major pledges for senior welfare in anticipation of the era of longevity.

Park Yongseon, the People Power Party candidate for mayor of Pohang. [Photo by Park Yongseon]

In his message, Park stated, "The miracle of Yeongilman and the current prosperity of Pohang were only possible thanks to the dedication of our parents' generation," emphasizing, "Now it is time for Pohang City to reciprocate with practical welfare."

Park's pledges include: the establishment of a smart system connecting all 641 senior community centers with public health centers; the creation of knowledge-based jobs for seniors by utilizing retired teachers and administrative experts; the development of an AI-based transportation system including the expansion of facial recognition city buses and low-floor buses; the introduction of hospital escort managers and mobile health screening vehicles known as 'Doctor Bus'; and the construction of a park golf course with 108 holes in Deoksu Park.

Park Hee-jung, the Democratic Party candidate for Mayor of Pohang, held a policy meeting with the Pohang Cultural Foundation labor union and pledged to strengthen professionalism in cultural administration and improve working conditions for affiliated institutions.

Park Hee-jung, Democratic Party candidate for mayor of Pohang (right). Photo by the subject.

At the meeting, Park noted, "Cultural administration is not a subcontracted extension of general administration but a unique professional field," adding, "As the Pohang Cultural Foundation, established in 2017, approaches its 10th year, it is time to comprehensively review its structure and functions to keep pace with the changing times."

Her policy directions include: restructuring the organization to focus on professional positions based on arts and culture experience; unifying welfare benefit guidelines to cover temporary workers; establishing a roadmap for converting regular and continuous jobs into permanent positions; supporting a Pohang-style career path for cultural and arts planners; and expanding local cultural spaces by remodeling public sector small theaters.

As the Pohang mayoral election draws near, Park Yongseon is appealing to voters by promising expanded welfare infrastructure tailored to each generation, while Park Hee-jung is seeking support by emphasizing the enhancement of professionalism and improvement of labor conditions in the public sector.

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