Incheon Mayor Park Chan-dae held his inauguration ceremony at Aettul Plaza in front of Incheon City Hall today (July 1) and officially began his term for the 9th popularly elected administration.
In his inaugural address, Mayor Park presented three core principles for his administration: sustainable governance, transparent governance, and growth-oriented governance.
He stated, "I will not shy away from the realities we face, such as concerns over delays in the Seoul Subway Line 7 extension to Cheongna and the risk of the Incheon Subway Line 1 extension to Songdo falling through. I will accurately identify these issues, report all crisis situations to the citizens, and untangle these knots."
Mayor Park also emphasized, "I will take care of citizens' wallets and dining tables, youth employment and housing costs, medication and medical expenses for the elderly, and local commercial districts through a robust livelihood recovery project," adding, "I will inform citizens before they ask and reach out to them before they call."
Identifying artificial intelligence (AI), bio, culture, and energy industries as the new growth engines that will be responsible for Incheon's future, Mayor Park promised, "I will awaken the world-class Incheon International Airport and Incheon Port with AI and firmly establish Incheon as the undisputed 'world's No. 1 bio city'."
A former certified public accountant, Mayor Park ran for office in Incheon's Yeonsu-gu district—a region where the Democratic Party had never won—during the 20th general election in 2016, and went on to succeed in winning three consecutive terms.
He served as the floor spokesperson and a supreme council member of the Democratic Party, and as floor leader during key political phases such as the December 3 emergency martial law situation and the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, working closely with then-party leader Lee Jae-myung, who is now President.
For the first Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs of the 9th popularly elected Incheon administration, Mayor Park appointed Nam Young-hee, the Democratic Party's regional committee chair for Dong-gu and Michuhol-gu Eul in Incheon.
(Photo: Yonhap News)