Changwon Mayoral Candidate Kang Myungsang Pledges Enhanced Welfare for Seniors Who Built Modern Changwon

Kang Myungsang, the preliminary candidate for mayor of Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam from the Reform New Party, has presented three key pledges to strengthen welfare for senior citizens.

On the 13th, at a press conference held at the City Hall Press Center, Kang emphasized, "The main contributors who built Changwon into the industrial center of Korea are our senior citizens," adding, "We should treat seniors not just as beneficiaries of welfare, but as social assets who possess the experience and wisdom of Changwon."

He pointed out, "It is heartbreaking that many seniors are pushed into menial labor after retirement to make ends meet, or spend their later years isolated in care blind spots."

He then pledged to establish a Second Act Support Center, provide phased free bus rides for those aged 70 and older, and build a smart care system for seniors aged 70 and above who live alone.

Myeongsang Kang, preliminary candidate for Changwon Special City Mayor of the Reform New Party in Gyeongnam, is announcing policy pledges.
[Photo by Kang Myeongsang's campaign team]

Kang stated, "At the Second Act Support Center, we will provide free tailored retraining and vocational courses for seniors who have built lifelong careers in various fields, such as retired public officials, corporate technical staff, and professionals," adding, "We will connect these programs to jobs that make use of their expertise, including administrative assistance, citizen counseling, and community education instructors."

He continued, "We will introduce phased free city bus use for seniors aged 70 and over, and ultimately expand the system to those aged 65 and over," explaining, "The funding will come from an efficiency-oriented quasi-public system loss compensation model and establishing necessary but non-urgent budget allocations."

He also promised, "For seniors aged 70 and above who live alone, regardless of income level, we will distribute IoT sensor devices equipped with AI-based health prediction features, so that signs of health deterioration can be detected early, and a 24-hour integrated response system linking the control center and hospitals can be established."

Additionally, he said, "For middle-class seniors, we will design a model that minimizes out-of-pocket expenses to ensure that no one is left behind when it comes to safety."

Kang stated, "Welfare is not a simple act of charity but the dignity of our community," and added, "Only when a city takes responsibility for the retirement of the parent generation can the younger generation feel secure and dream of the future."

He further pledged, "I will repay the seniors who have dedicated their entire lives to Changwon not with empty promises, but with tangible administrative action, so they can live most safely and happily even after retirement."

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