Gyeongsangbuk-do Gov. Lee Cheol-woo took office as the 33rd governor of the Gyeongsangbuk-do provincial government in an inauguration ceremony at the provincial government building on July 1.
Among about 900 people on hand at the event were city mayors, county mayors, and provincial councilors.
During the event, 152 provincial residents who contributed to promoting social unity, “hidden proud champions,” challenging youth in their 20s and 30s, provincial residents who put into practice their love for the community, and provincial residents who enhanced Korea’s national prestige for the world were invited to make the inauguration ceremony a starting point of mustering Gyeongbuk’s power.
President Yoon Suk-yeol sent a commemorative video message to congratulate Gov. Lee’s and pledged to make joint efforts to usher in a provincial era in which any place of Korea will be a good place to live.
Former gov. Kim Kwan-yong delivered a commemorative speech in which he called for provincial residents’ support.
In his inaugural speech, Gov. Lee said, “I’m standing here to disclose my determination to help Gyeongbuk spearhead efforts to open a provincial era to achieve Korea’s second take-off.”
He stressed Gyeongbuk’s power to usher in a provincial era by creating Korea anew.
Gyeongbuk has produced the most-ever number of presidents, and this time the province had played a pivotal role in the change of the government, Lee said.
The past four years, efforts to build Gyeongbuk a center of Korea were made, and the 8th publicly elected local government term will be a watershed period in which a new Korea will be made with Gyeongbuk’s power, he said.
Gyeongsangbuk-do Gov. Lee Cheol-woo gives his inaugural speech.
Gov. Lee said, “(Gyeongbuk) will open a happy society in which even high school graduates can land good jobs, and they can get married earlier, give birth to babies and enjoy happiness.”
To this end, he said the provincial government would concentrate its capabilities to make Gyeongbuk an advanced industry powerhouse by implementing steps to attract and promote investments and making the province culture/art and tourism destination.
Gov. Lee revealed his willingness to eliminate concentration in the Seoul metropolitan area, saying that the nation is grappling with woes and problems related to the Seoul metropolitan area.
“More than half of the nation’s population live in the Seoul metropolitan area, covering only 10 percent of the nation’s territory, and national capabilities, such as conglomerates, universities, and media are concentrated,” he said.
On the other hand, he said, many provincial areas find it hard to hear cries of new babies, schools are being shuttered and plants closed.
Education, landing jobs and opportunities to cumulate wealth depend on where they live. To solve the Seoul metropolitan area woes, Gov. Lee said he proposed ways of building an integrated and prosperous Korea .
He recommended the establishment of a special committee on regional balanced development at the transition committee for President Yoon Suk-yeol.
The President Yoon Suk-yeol government has declared the catchphrase “Provincial Era,” established the Special Committee on Regional Balanced Development and set a national goal of a provincial era in which people enjoy a good life in any place of the nation, he said.
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