Gimhae mayor marks 100 days, pledges 'results-driven' city and livelihood focus
In short
Jeong Yeong-du, mayor of Gimhae in South Gyeongsang Province, marked 100 days in office on Oct 6 with a press briefing, presenting "results" and "livelihoods" as the core of his administration. He said next year's budget would follow a save-verify-reinvest principle and listed tasks including 200 billion won in Gimhae Love gift certificates, attracting a public medical center and reopening Jangyu Passenger Terminal. He also addressed the recent suspension of Kangil Hospital and the delayed reopening of a central hospital.
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Jeong Yeong-du, the mayor of Gimhae in South Gyeongsang Province, marked 100 days in office on Oct 6 with a press briefing at the city hall press room, presenting "results" and "livelihoods" as the two pillars of his administration. He said he had spent the first 100 days meeting residents to assess the city's situation and draw up solutions. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
As early achievements, the mayor cited the Gimhae residents' livelihood support fund, which he described as his first campaign pledge, along with meetings with residents in 19 towns, townships and neighbourhoods, live broadcasting of key mayor-chaired meetings, a contract system reform and meetings with national and provincial legislators. Maeil Business reported that 54.5 billion won was spent on the livelihood fund. Maeil Business also said the administration had set a vision of "a world where people live, Gimhae where we live well together," with five municipal goals, 12 transformation tasks and 108 pledges. [ 2 , 3 ]
For next year, the mayor said finances would follow a principle of saving, verifying, circulating and reinvesting, with funds concentrated on four areas: industry and economy, health and welfare, city and transport, and ecology and environment. Planned tasks include issuing 200 billion won in Gimhae Love gift certificates, seeking designation as a Northeast Asian logistics platform, attracting the Eastern Gyeongnam Gimhae public medical centre, reopening Jangyu Passenger Terminal, improving the deficit structure of the Busan-Gimhae light rail, expanding the culture and arts promotion fund by 10 billion won and seeking Ramsar wetland registration for Hwapocheon. Maeil Business added that the city plans to promote future mobility, intelligent robots, biomedical industries, renewable energy and physical artificial intelligence. [ 2 , 3 ]
Asked about local medical problems, the mayor said the city had taken over the medical records server of Kangil Hospital, which suspended operations last month, and is issuing records to residents. He said the reopening of Bogeum Hospital as a central hospital will gain speed only after the Ministry of Health and Welfare's bed review committee reaches a conclusion. On the delayed Jangyu Passenger Terminal, he said various interested parties have been pushing and pulling, that the issue had been effectively neglected for years, and that he would try to open it by the end of the year. [ 2 ]
"Municipal administration must be proven by practical results that match residents' expectations and by livelihoods that concretely change their lives," the mayor said, adding that he would build on the foundation of the first 100 days to create "a city that produces results and is strong on livelihoods." [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The briefing sets out the spending and policy priorities of a mid-sized South Korean city for the coming year, including a locally issued gift certificate programme and a push for a public medical centre. It also reflects pressure on local governments to respond to gaps in regional health care after a hospital in Gimhae halted operations. As a 100-day review, the plans are the mayor's own account and have not yet been executed.
Key facts
- Gimhae mayor Jeong Yeong-du marked 100 days in office on Oct 6 and held a press briefing at the city hall press room. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The mayor named the livelihood support fund, payed as his first campaign pledge, among the administration's main early achievements. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Maeil Business reported that 545억 won, or 54.5 billion won, was spent on the Gimhae residents' livelihood support fund. [ 3 ]
- Planned tasks include issuing 200 billion won in Gimhae Love gift certificates, seeking Northeast Asian logistics platform designation, attracting the Eastern Gyeongnam Gimhae public medical centre, reopening Jangyu Passenger Terminal, improving the Busan-Gimhae light rail deficit and expanding the culture and arts promotion fund by 10 billion won. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The mayor said next year's finances would follow a principle of saving, verifying, circulating and reinvesting, concentrated on four areas: industry and economy, health and welfare, city and transport, and ecology and environment. [ 2 , 3 ]
- He said the city has taken over Kangil Hospital's medical records server to issue records to residents after the hospital suspended operations last month. [ 2 ]
- He said the reopening of Bogeum Hospital as a central hospital depends on a bed review committee at the Ministry of Health and Welfare. [ 2 ]
- He said he would try to open Jangyu Passenger Terminal by the end of the year, after a target of opening before Chuseok was missed. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Jeong Yeong-du marked 100 days as Gimhae mayor on Oct 6 and held a press briefing at the city hall press room. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The mayor said his administration's focus is practical results and improving residents' livelihoods. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Next year's finances are to follow a save-verify-circulate-reinvest principle, with funds concentrated on four areas. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Planned tasks include 200 billion won in Gimhae Love gift certificates, Northeast Asian logistics platform designation, attracting the Eastern Gyeongnam Gimhae public medical centre, reopening Jangyu Passenger Terminal, improving the Busan-Gimhae light rail deficit, expanding the culture and arts promotion fund by 10 billion won, and pursuing Ramsar wetland registration for Hwapocheon. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Newsis's report covered the briefing in detail. The Newsis article text is about a National Assembly audit of the Supreme Court, not the mayor's briefing; only its headline matches the event, so its coverage could not be used for specifics.
- The 54.5 billion won figure for the livelihood support fund. The figure appears only in Maeil Business; Yonhap mentions the fund without a sum.
- The status of Kangil Hospital and Bogeum Hospital's central hospital reopening. These details come only from Yonhap, which reported the mayor's account at the briefing; no date for a decision was given.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Newsis publishes a report whose headline carries the mayor's 100-day message on a results-driven city and strong livelihoods. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap reports the briefing at the city hall press room, including the mayor's remarks on medical services and Jangyu Passenger Terminal. [ 2 ]
- Maeil Business reports the briefing, adding the 54.5 billion won livelihood fund figure and the future-industry plans. [ 3 ]