Inaugural Address by Governor
Inaugural Address by Governor of Gyeongsangnam-do Park Wan-Su
Greetings
Greetings to the 3.4 million residents of Gyeongsangnam-do and to those who joined us today.
Thank you for sparing me your precious time to celebrate my inauguration
Before I begin, I want to express my gratitude once more to those who supported me to become the governor of Gyeongsangnam-do in the June 1 local elections.
I assure you that I am continuously reflecting on the significant support and encouragement from my people.
Also, I am mindful of the role and responsibilities entrusted to me.
Today, I solemnly pledge to dedicate and serve for the resurgence of Gyeongsangnam-do.
I am ready to face any kind of difficulty, with a more humble attitude,
to satisfy the expectations of our residents.
Gyeongsangnam-do, My Lifetime Home
Gyeongsangnam-do is my lifetime home, a place where my soul exists.
I was born and raised here, completed my higher education here,
and even took my first steps into public service at the Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Office.
I am very familiar with my province, and I have great affection for Gyeongsangnam-do.
It is a great honor for me personally to be able to work once again
for Gyeongsangnam-do and the residents, bringing a fresh feeling to the endeavor.
Gyeongsangnam-do's Past, Present, and Responsibility
Dear my beloved people,
Gyeongsangnam-do has been the core of South Korea's industrialization and a symbol of democratization,
achieving democracy under the banner of justice.
The Masan Free Trade Zone in the 1970s, known as the cradle of heavy industry,
the Changwon National Industrial Complex, and the world-leading shipbuilding base in Geoje,
have elevated our country to the ranks of advanced nations.
Thanks to all the efforts and passion for exports of our local workers,
Korea was able to continuously expand its economic territory, positioning itself at the center of the world.
Furthermore, the March 15th Uprising (1960) against electoral fraud and the Busan-Masan Uprising (1979) against dictatorship are milestones of democratization.
They were built on the sacrifices of our predecessors, becoming a foundational pillar of our community today.
However, the once glorious and proud status of our Gyeongsangnam-do is now facing a steep decline.
The regional economy, previously among the nation's top, has plummeted to the lower ranks caused by a prolonged slump in our major industries.
As a result, young people are leaving Gyeongsangnam-do each year in search of jobs.
Consequently, rural areas are grappling with the crisis of depopulation and super-aging.
Moreover, the imbalance between the eastern and western regions of Gyeongsangnam-do remains unresolved.
Amid these chronic problems our region faces, along with global concerns like low growth and rising prices,
taking on the role of the governor of Gyeongsangnam-do feels particularly daunting.
Reviving Gyeongsangnam-do is not merely a responsibility but a duty for all of us in public service, myself included.
I am committed to utilizing all my capabilities and passion, which I have accumulated throughout my career.
My goal is to restore the glory and honor of Gyeongsangnam-do and regain the pride of our residents.
I am determined to move forward with the mindset of laying the foundation stone for future generations in Gyeongsangnam-do.
I will do this with confidence, aiming to overcome this crisis together with my 3.4 million people, in alignment with the fairness and justice of the Yoon Suk-yeol government.
I vow to work alongside the steadfast public servants of Gyeongsangnam-do.
The Spirit and Vision of the 8th Popularly Elected Government
Dear my beloved people,
I define the spirit of our 8th popularly elected Gyeongsangnam-do government as innovation and growth, integration, and communication.
With bold ambition, I will approach governance by sowing seeds of growth on the soil of innovation.
I aim to bloom our community once again through integration and communication.
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1My first vision is "innovation."
During the election process, I promised to return the governor's official residence to the residents.
My innovation will not stop there.
Starting with myself as governor, I will boldly let go of unnecessary protocols and outdated privileges.
I will fulfill my role and responsibilities at the same eye level as our residents, from the perspective of a public servant.
Firstly, to align with the common sense and expectations of our residents, I will drive innovation in the organizational structure and culture.
This initiative will involve the provincial office and its affiliated public institutions and organizations, transforming them into "working organizations."
I will adjust unnecessary functions and systems in an effort to rejuvenate our provincial office as an organization focused on performance and prioritizing residents.
Moreover, I will strengthen the performance management of our affiliated institutions, including public institutions,
to ensure they are diligently committed as "working public institutions."
Institutions failing to show significant business performance or to achieve their founding purposes and objectives will face bold reforms.
In terms of financial innovation, my aim is to promote fiscal health.
Similarly, in regulatory innovation, I intend to make Gyeongsangnam-do a favorable environment for businesses and investments.
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2My second vision is "growth."
I am convinced that attracting businesses and investments is crucial for the economic recovery and job creation in Gyeongsangnam-do.
Attracting major corporations and prioritizing investment will be the foremost task of my administration.
The provincial office and related organizations will unite as one team, leading the charge in the investment attraction battle.
In alignment with President Yoon's development plans for Gyeongsangnam-do,
I will proactively prepare for the revitalization of the nuclear, aerospace, and defense industries.
I will contribute to establishing a system of constant preparedness that ensures the seamless interlocking of attracting national projects and their schedules, like gears.
Additionally, I will make Gyeongsangnam-do the home base for startups.
I will spare no effort to establish key centers for startup education and support that foster multidimensional business activities by ensuring collaboration between industry, academia, and research.
While proactively paving the way for the future of Gyeongsangnam-do, I will also focus on enhancing the sophistication of our main industries, which include machinery, shipbuilding, and aviation manufacturing.
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3My third vision is "integration and communication."
I believe the three main parties that will lead the innovation and growth of Gyeongsangnam-do together are the residents, the provincial council, and the Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Office.
Without genuine trust and cooperation among these three, we cannot take even a single step towards a hopeful future.
The reason I appointed a representative of a leading local civic group as the head of the governor's transition team was to strengthen the internal checks and balances.
Moving forward, I will enhance the policy deliberation function across the administration to establish checks and balances with the mindset of self-discipline to not lose my initial resolve.
For the significant task of societal integration, I will form within Gyeongsangnam-do a societal integration committee that encompasses ideologies, generations, and camps.
Its goal is to unfold an administration of harmony and integration.
Furthermore, I will work as one team with the mayors and county of Gyeongsangnam-do through constant discussions and communication.
Together, we will realize the development plans for Gyeongsangnam-do.
Additionally, I will make active use of the online platform that allows direct communication between the governor and the residents.
I will constantly communicate with the people and regularly visit the field to hear the voices of the residents, ensuring
the resolution of local issues and the stability of the livelihood of the people.
Gyeongsangnam-do's Past, Present, and Responsibility
Gyeongsangnam-do to Lead the Advancement of Local Autonomy and Decentralization To all of our honored residents,
Strengthening local autonomy is not merely a strategy but the future itself for our nation, as futurist Alvin Toffler emphasized, "Decentralization is the future political order."
Local autonomy has matured over the past 30 years. Yet, it's fair to say that decentralization is still in its infancy.
Fortunately, with the Yoon administration's strong and clear commitment to decentralization, I believe discussions on this matter will intensify.
This will be especially true with the onset of the 8th popularly elected administration.
Gyeongsangnam-do will lead this trend and open a new horizon for local autonomy.
It is now time for us to strengthen decentralization, just as we have led in industrialization and democratization. This effort will usher in the true era of local autonomy.
A Call to Public Servants on the Path of Innovation
To all proud public servants of Gyeongsangnam-do!
Today, after about 20 years, I have my Gyeongsangnam-do public servant ID hanging around my neck.
The weight of this seemingly light ID feels heavier than ever before.
We are now in the same boat.
As your senior and a colleague, I earnestly plead with you.
Starting today, we must embark on the "path of innovation," a path we have never traversed.
Yes, it may be an unfamiliar and uncomfortable journey.
And at times, we may have to face towering storms and pitch-dark darkness.
However, in the face of the reality of our homeland, Gyeongsangnam-do, and the crumbling livelihood of our neighbors, we must fulfill our duties and responsibilities as public servants.
"Innovation" is a path we must take.
We need to prioritize our residents above all in our administration.
This means adopting a resident-centered approach, focusing on a working administration, and pursuing continuous administrative innovation.
I urge you to fulfill your duties with firm resolve. As a public servant of Gyeongsangnam-do, be proud to proclaim your role in front of our residents.
Governor's Determination and Closing Comments
Dear residents, I am well aware of your expectations for me.
I will solemnly uphold those expectations and promise you.
The "resident-first principle" will be at the forefront of the values of the 8th elected administration. I will practice it in all aspects of our administration, serving you with heart and action.
I commit to actively communicating and listening carefully to the voices of our residents.
I strive to be a governor for all residents, not just a governor who divides and cares only for his side.
I assure you that Gyeongsangnam-do's leadership does not come to a halt due to any administrative gap.
My work will be solely for the residents and the development of Gyeongsangnam-do.
I aim to create a Gyeongsangnam-do where all 3.4 million residents are the true owners.
Together, let's reclaim the glory of Gyeongsangnam-do.
Let's change Gyeongsangnam-do with our strength and courage.
Before I end my speech, thank you to all of you who have stayed with me until the end and have always supported me.
Thank you.
July 1, 2022
Park Wan-Su, Governor of Gyeongsangnam-do