Lee Hong-gi Marks 100 Days as Geochang County Governor; 59 Pledges to Be Implemented in Stages

Announced key achievements and the direction of county administration at a press briefing; presented a strategy for Geochang's next 30 years
Promote AI, robotics and drone industries; pursue key projects including basic income and stay-oriented tourism

Lee Hong-gi, governor of Geochang County, outlined the county administration's achievements to date and presented 59 pledges across six areas, along with mid- and long-term regional development strategies, as he marked his first 100 days in office.

Geochang County in South Gyeongsang Province held a press briefing on the 100th day since the launch of its ninth popularly elected administration at the county office briefing room on October 8. The county announced the progress of key projects, plans to fulfill its pledges, and the future direction of its administration.

[Photo provided by Geochang County] Geochang County Governor Lee Honggi explains key achievements of the county administration, plans to implement 59 pledges across six areas, and strategies for future regional development at a press briefing marking his 100th day in office during his ninth popularly elected term, held on the 8th in the situation room at Geochang County Office.

Since taking office, Governor Lee has visited all 12 towns and townships and key project sites, and held meetings with residents and representatives of organizations and groups to hear about local issues. He also visited central government ministries and South Gyeongsang Province to request support for key local projects and secure national and provincial funding.

The county adopted "Opening a New Geochang Together" as its vision for the county administration and set key priorities to address population decline and a sluggish local economy, including fostering industry, revitalizing tourism, improving the agricultural structure, and expanding the foundations for education and welfare.

Some of its pledges closely tied to residents' daily lives are already being implemented. During the summer vacation, the county ran a pilot program, "Geochang Kkureogi's Hearty Vacation Lunchbox Delivery," providing lunch boxes to 101 elementary school students. On October 1, it also launched a farm machinery rental delivery service for farmers.

To expand sales channels for agricultural products, the county signed business agreements with distributors including NS Home Shopping and Homeplus Express. Local agricultural products supplied to Homeplus Express from July 7 to September 15 totaled KRW 414.66 million.

The county also laid the groundwork for projects to expand its industrial base and prevent disasters.

The county was selected for a public contest to renovate idle and closed factories in an industrial complex, securing KRW 7.9 billion in national and provincial funding. It plans to convert an aging factory in the Jeongjang Rural Industrial Complex into rental space for young startups and small and medium-sized enterprises.

In addition, the Osan and Migideul districts were selected as new sites for the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's disaster prevention projects in 2027. As a result, the county will carry out river, bridge, and drainage channel improvement projects with a total budget of KRW 45.1 billion.

The county said it received the Minister of Employment and Labor Award in the outstanding projects category at this year's National Local Government Jobs Awards. It also received an outstanding rating in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's disaster management assessment, making it the only county-level local government in South Gyeongsang Province to do so.

The ninth popularly elected administration's pledges comprise 59 projects across six areas: revitalizing the local economy; culture and tourism that encourage longer stays; comprehensive daily-life welfare; innovation-led growth in agriculture; an education city for future talent; and a regional hub for northwestern South Gyeongsang Province.

In September, the county reviewed the implementation schedules and funding plans for each pledge at departmental briefings. It plans to monitor progress through a pledge implementation evaluation panel that includes county residents.

Its mid- and long-term strategic projects include fostering AI, robotics, and drone industries linked to the Elevator Valley; attracting a pumped-storage hydropower plant and expanding renewable energy; and introducing a Geochang-style basic income.

The county also plans to expand infrastructure for longer-stay tourism through a global hot spring theme park and Geochang Changpowon 2.0; build a regional agricultural and specialty-products logistics center and smart farms; and establish an all-day care system and an integrated medical and welfare complex with comprehensive care services.

Other key priorities include developing an open administrative complex in the old downtown area and expanding the transportation network.

However, many large-scale investment projects are still at stages that require more detailed plans, consultations with relevant organizations, and funding. Their feasibility will need to be assessed as implementation proceeds.

Governor Lee Hong-gi said, "The past 100 days have been a time to listen to residents and set a direction for preparing Geochang for the next 30 years. We will fulfill our promises to residents step by step and deliver results they can feel."

As Governor Lee Hong-gi marks his first 100 days in office and presents 59 pledges and a vision for future development, securing funding and carrying out key projects in concrete terms are expected to determine the county administration's performance going forward.

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