Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-su: "Livelihoods Come First"... Inaugural Address Delivered on Site Instead of Ceremony

Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-su began his term as the 9th popularly elected mayor by visiting everyday sites that affect citizens’ lives, instead of holding an inauguration ceremony. He made it clear that his top priority would be the quality of life for citizens and creating new growth engines for Busan.

In his inaugural address on July 1, Mayor Jeon stated, “The administration of the 9th popularly elected Busan Metropolitan Government starts with the lives of each and every citizen,” adding, “I will ensure the realization of ‘Busan, the hub of the great future transformation and a leading maritime city.’”

Mayor Jeon emphasized that the voices he heard from citizens during the election campaign would be the starting point for city administration. He explained that concerns voiced by struggling merchants, small business owners worried about the decline of local commercial districts, young people leaving Busan, and parents who find it difficult to raise children would serve as key benchmarks for his policies.

Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-su is moving after paying respects at Chungnyeolsa Shrine in Dongnae-gu, Busan, together with the heads of 16 districts and counties on his first day in office. [Photo by Yonhap News]

He identified restoring people’s livelihoods as the most urgent task for the new administration. Mayor Jeon announced that, in place of an inauguration ceremony, his first official act was to sign the “100-Day Emergency Measures for Livelihoods,” and pledged to promptly implement support for small business owners, self-employed individuals, and freight workers suffering from high interest rates and economic stagnation. He outlined plans to focus administrative resources on revitalizing neighborhood economies and creating an economic structure in which consumption and investment circulate positively within the region.

For Busan’s future growth strategy, Mayor Jeon put forward the vision of completing Busan’s transformation into a leading maritime city. He presented plans to relocate the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, establish a maritime specialist court, and cluster shipping companies in Busan, aiming to foster the city as a global hub where maritime, finance, and logistics converge. He also envisioned building a smart maritime city powered by AI technology, with the goal of establishing a new axis of growth for South Korea.

He also identified making Busan a city where young people choose to stay as a key priority. Mayor Jeon said, “Rather than being a city where it is simply okay to remain, I will make Busan a city where greater opportunities can be found.” He pledged to build a solid foundation for youth to plan their future by connecting jobs, industries, and housing.

Strengthening safety and welfare was another promise. Mayor Jeon vowed to make Busan a city where no one gets hurt at work, where children can be raised safely, and where seniors and vulnerable groups are respected, emphasizing that safety and welfare are fundamental responsibilities of the administration.

Mayor Jeon also presented communication with citizens as a core value in city governance. He said, “In this election, citizens chose checks and balances,” adding, “I will not be a mayor for just one political party, but a mayor for all citizens of Busan.” He further stressed, “Kindness comes from competence and humility,” and pledged to maintain constant communication with the city council, the government, the National Assembly, and civil society, as well as to actively incorporate even the smallest voices of citizens into city policy.

Mayor Jeon concluded his inaugural remarks by stating, “I will immediately address the needs of everyday life and thoroughly prepare for the future. I will work tirelessly, solely for Busan and its citizens.”

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