Pohang City Launches First Work Report of Ninth Administration... Kicks Off 'Global Leap' with ICLEI Congress Agreement

Refining Organization and Fiscal Operations, Focusing on Tangible Results for Citizens
Joining Hands with Gyeongsangbuk-do, City Council, and the Global ICLEI Headquarters
for the Successful Hosting of the ICLEI World Congress

As Pohang City signals a citizen-centered, responsible administration through its first work report of the ninth popularly elected government, it has also laid the groundwork for the successful hosting of the global event, the '2027 ICLEI World Congress,' in which local governments from around the world participate. This marks the city’s official step toward becoming a global leader in carbon neutrality.

On July 9, Pohang City held the 'Ninth Administration Key Work Plan Briefing' in the city hall's main conference room, presided over by Mayor Park Yongseon, to review the overall progress of municipal affairs.

Provided by Pohang City

On this day in particular, the city signed a 'Mutual Cooperation MOU for the Successful Hosting of the 2027 ICLEI World Congress and Climate Crisis Response' with Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, Pohang City Council, and ICLEI (the global network of local governments for sustainability), signaling the official preparations for this major international event.

Key stakeholders including Park Yongseon, Mayor of Pohang, Kim Cheolsoo, Chairperson of Pohang City Council, Hwang Myungseok, Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, and Gino Van Begin, ICLEI Secretary General, attended the four-party signing ceremony and pledged organic cooperation.

According to the agreement, the organizations will work together to: ▲ ensure the successful hosting and operation of the 2027 ICLEI World Congress ▲ promote international cooperation for climate change response and sustainable development ▲ and expand policy exchange and networks among local governments.

The '2027 ICLEI World Congress,' scheduled to be held in Pohang in October next year, is a mega international event that will bring together more than 1,500 participants, including representatives from over 100 local governments and international organizations worldwide.

With the theme 'Carbon Neutral Transition of Industrial Cities: The Journey Toward a Sustainable Future,' the city plans to share Pohang’s experience with green transformation and enhance its global standing.

The first work report meeting, also held on the same day, was organized to strengthen the execution of the core pledges of the ninth administration and create a municipal government that citizens can truly feel in their daily lives.

Discussions centered not only on reviewing the achievements of existing projects, but also on concrete measures and timelines to drive tangible changes in citizens’ lives, such as jobs, safety, and residential environments.

Starting with the Department of Autonomous Administration on July 9 and continuing until the 14th, the briefing sessions will see the city prioritize the establishment of dedicated teams for urgent areas and adjust functions among departments to swiftly respond to administrative demands.

In the fiscal sector, similar, overlapping, or underperforming projects will be reexamined from the ground up, with the resulting financial resources to be allocated as a priority to high-impact areas such as the local economy and citizen safety.

In addition, the city will enhance on-site communication through policy meetings with business owners, small merchants, and youth, and by directly visiting all 29 towns, townships, and neighborhoods for the 'Empathy and Communication Day' initiative.

The Lifelong Learning Center, which also presented its report, plans to expand practical, customized education by life stage and region, and to operate libraries and art museums as citizen-centered cultural hubs.

Mayor Park Yongseon stated, "This agreement will provide a solid foundation for the successful hosting of the 2027 ICLEI World Congress. We will seek answers in the field and carry out our core pledges swiftly and with full accountability, sharing Pohang’s carbon neutrality vision with the world and ensuring citizens experience positive changes in their everyday lives."

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