Incheon Mayor Park Chan-dae has been elected as the first chairperson of the National Governors' Association of the Republic of Korea following the launch of the 9th popularly elected local governments.

Mayor Park was elected as the 19th chairperson through a unanimous consensus during the 61st general assembly held today (August 14) at the conference room of the association in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

His term is one year, starting today.

The association was founded in 1999 to promote exchange and cooperation among local governments and resolve common issues.

As the chairperson, he will serve as the co-vice chairperson of the Central-Local Cooperation Council alongside the Prime Minister, performing duties to advance decentralization and balanced development. He will also act as a representative for local interests as a member of central government committees, including the Presidential Committee on National Integration.

Following a revision to the Cabinet Meeting regulations on the 7th, he is now also able to attend Cabinet meetings on a regular basis.

(Photo: Yonhap News)