Paju Mayor-elect Son Baechan Finalizes Transition Committee... Launch of a 'Pragmatic, Action-Oriented' Team

Cho Sunghwan Appointed as Chairperson, Choi Yugak as Vice Chairperson
Full-Scale Operations Begin after June 12 Plaque Unveiling
Active Provincial and City Council Members, Field Experts Take the Lead
Major Issues and Key Pledges to Be Identified and Detailed

The main members and professional backgrounds of the Mayor Transition Committee, which will lay out the blueprint for Paju City's administration under Mayor-elect Son Baechan of the 9th popularly elected term, have been released.

Son Baechan, Mayor-elect of Paju City. Photo courtesy of Son Baechan, Mayor-elect.

This transition committee is characterized by its practical approach, placing local legislators familiar with the region and experts from various fields at the forefront. The committee is organized as an action-oriented body, grounded in the spirit of "seeking truth from facts," a principle that Mayor-elect Son has consistently upheld since entering politics.

Cho Sunghwan, a former Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly member, has been appointed as the chairperson to oversee the committee. Choi Yugak, a three-term Paju City Council member, has been named vice chairperson. Committee member Lee Yuntaek will serve as spokesperson, acting as the communication channel with the media and citizens and as the voice of the mayor-elect. Lee Yuntaek and the mayor-elect have built a long-standing relationship of mutual trust through their previous roles as the first president and executive director of the Woonjeong 3-dong Sports Association.

Additionally, committee members Son Seongik, Kim Soonhyun, Lee Hyejeong, and Seol Haewon have joined to support a stable administrative transition. Committee member Lee Hyejeong, together with Vice Chairperson Choi Yugak, will leverage their experience as Paju City Council members to serve as a bridge for the new administration. Seol Haewon, as a lawyer, will contribute to legal review and institutional groundwork within the committee.

Addressing concerns raised in some parts of the local community about a possible overrepresentation of political figures, the transition committee clarified its stance. It emphasized that the committee is not an academic research group but a practical body tasked with promptly translating citizens' needs and campaign pledges into administrative action.

The decision to place current provincial and city council members—so-called "political and administrative experts" with deep knowledge of Paju's current issues and administrative dynamics—at the forefront is described as a "pragmatic and swift personnel appointment" aimed at ensuring a smooth start for the 9th city administration. Furthermore, the committee plans to supplement its expertise in the future by appointing a separate advisory group composed of academics, business leaders, and civil society representatives as needed.

The inclusion of some members from the previous 8th transition committee was also explained from a pragmatic standpoint. Incorporating those with prior transition experience is intended to minimize administrative gaps and trial-and-error, maintain continuity for effective policies benefiting Paju's development, and boldly reform what has not worked in the past. The committee stated this is a practical choice to treat valuable past experience as an asset.

Accordingly, the committee will strictly avoid any perfunctory or formalistic activities that waste citizens' precious taxes and will operate as an organization that works substantively for the advancement of Paju and the well-being of its residents.

To ensure efficient and professional operations, the transition committee will be divided into three subcommittees.

▲ The "Economy, Transportation, Urban Affairs, Environment, and Peace Committee" will include Son Seongik (Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly member-elect), Kim Soonhyun (Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly member-elect), Lee Hyejeong (Paju City Council member), and Seol Haewon (lawyer), responsible for revitalizing the regional economy, building infrastructure, and addressing urgent transportation issues. ▲ The "Planning, Finance, Administration, and Agricultural Policy Committee" will comprise Seo Jeongmin (Chief Aide to National Assembly Member Park Jeong), Seon Horim (former LH Project Director), Lee Jongchun (Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly member), and Son Heejeong (Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly member), tasked with closely analyzing the budget structure of Paju City's 9th administration and reviewing efficient administrative systems and directions for agricultural policies. ▲ The "Culture, Education, Welfare, and Health Committee" will be handled by Jeong Deokbong (former deputy branch manager at Kookmin Bank), Park Eunju (Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly member), Han Cheonsu (aide at National Assembly Member Park Jeong's office), and Lee Minjae (currently CEO of Global Hanul Company), who will focus on developing cultural content, improving educational environments, and establishing robust welfare and healthcare networks that directly impact citizens' quality of life.

The transition committee office has been set up on the first floor of the Geumchon Eoullim Center, and an official plaque-unveiling ceremony is scheduled for June 12, after which the formal transfer of city administration will commence in earnest. Starting with work reports from each department at Paju City Hall, the committee will review the status of major projects, identify key administrative tasks based on the mayor-elect's core pledges, and publish an official white paper, thereby initiating the full-scale launch of the 9th administration.

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