Sangju Mayoral Candidate An Jae-min Engages in Cross-Sector Communication, Receives 'Unwavering Support for Victory'

Sharing a Field-Oriented Blueprint for “Hopeful Sangju”

The communication meetings with various social strata have heightened expectations for Sangju's transformation, starting with attentive listening.

An Jae-min, a preliminary candidate for Sangju Mayor from the People Power Party, has been holding multifaceted communication sessions with major organizations in the region, continuing his on-site, wide-ranging outreach efforts.

This series of communication activities was organized to directly listen to the voices of diverse groups such as those in agriculture, sports, women's, and disabled persons’ organizations, and to incorporate their input into policies to bring about ‘changes that citizens can truly feel.’

During the farmers’ communication meeting, Candidate An presented strategies to maximize Sangju’s strong foundation for agricultural and livestock production, as well as its locational advantages due to an extensive transportation network (high-speed rail, Cheongju Airport, and the integrated new airport).

Candidate An emphasized, “We will attract the National Food Cluster and major food corporations to create large-scale jobs and build a sustainable food industry city.”

Additionally, he pledged to establish a city-run rural manpower control tower to directly address on-site challenges, to significantly expand the number of foreign seasonal workers to 5,000, and to create a price stabilization fund for agricultural and livestock products guaranteeing minimum prices for major items, thus promising a strong income safety net.

In response, farmers expressed strong support for Candidate An’s practical solutions and agreed to back him firmly for a new leap forward in Sangju agriculture.

At the sports communication meeting, he met with stakeholders from various sports including basketball, soccer, track and field, park golf, badminton, and bowling, sharing his vision for the ‘Sports Mega City Project.’

Based on suggestions from attendees, the importance of intensively fostering elite sports in conjunction with elementary, middle, high schools and local universities, as well as forming corporate teams to prevent the outflow of talented athletes, was discussed in depth.

Candidate An stressed that he would expand infrastructure such as stadiums and comprehensive training facilities to attract national and international competitions, which would directly boost Sangju’s lodging industry and local commercial consumption.

He also unveiled a plan to develop Sangju into an attractive tourist city for extended stays by implementing policies that link sports with local tourism resources, going beyond simply hosting competitions. After the meeting, sports representatives expressed their strong support and high expectations for significant changes in Sangju sports under Candidate An’s vision.

The women’s organization meeting was attended by National Assemblywoman Lim Lee-ja and Candidate An, adding weight to the session.

During this meeting, detailed welfare policies were proposed, including operating a ‘youth meal cafe’ (free meal service) utilizing vacant stores and providing free milk meals for young people.

Particularly, consensus was reached on fully utilizing existing local resources such as Wangsan History Park to create diverse “experience and relaxation spaces” that offer various attractions and activities. Members of women’s organizations also gave enthusiastic applause for Candidate An’s policies to transform citizens’ lives and pledged their unwavering support for his victory.

In the meeting with the Council of Disabled Persons’ Organizations, Assemblywoman Lim and Candidate An put their heads together as well.

The fundamental expansion of welfare infrastructure for people with disabilities was discussed as the top agenda item.

A strong consensus was formed around constructing a new integrated center for disabled persons—where 10 organizations could be housed together to alleviate chronic burdens of rent—attracting the Bandabi Gymnasium with central government funding, and expanding barrier-free play facilities. Additionally, there was broad collection of on-site feedback on establishing a dedicated daytime care center for the hearing-impaired and improving the treatment of facility workers.

Participants stated, “Candidate An Jae-min has shown a strong commitment to listening to urgent voices from the field and to delivering major infrastructure expansions such as the Bandabi Gymnasium and the integrated center. He is truly the right person to innovate welfare for people with disabilities in Sangju,” sending their heartfelt support and wishes for his victory.

Candidate An declared, “Through communication with organizations in agriculture, sports, women’s, and disabled persons’ sectors, I have confirmed the passionate aspirations and steadfast support of Sangju’s citizens for the city’s development. I deeply thank each organization for your overwhelming response and support, and I feel a heavy sense of duty to lead Sangju’s definite leap forward.”

He continued, “I will ensure that none of the valuable opinions shared on-site are left out and will incorporate them fully into policy, so that as a mayor who works and communicates well, I will surely deliver positive change for Sangju.”

Attention is now focused on how the ‘positive change’ promised by Candidate An will be realized for the citizens of Sangju.