After 100 days of laying the groundwork for action, Mayor Choo Kyung-ho vows all-out effort to build a better Daegu

【The Financial News, Daegu = Kim Jang-wook】“It was a time when we set a direction for Daegu’s change and growth and laid the groundwork for action.” 
Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho made the remarks as the ninth popularly elected administration marked its 100th day, adding, “I will do everything I can to revive the economy and improve quality of life, so that we can build a better Daegu.”
 Mayor Choo reflected that “despite difficult local economic conditions, we have swiftly pursued key tasks to revive the economy, foster future industries and improve citizens’ quality of life, laying the groundwork for Daegu’s leap forward.”
After taking office, he breathed new life into city administration by improving work practices and organizational culture, and worked to establish a public-service culture in which employees are rewarded in proportion to their work. He led the transformation into an organization focused on delivering results that citizens can feel.
Setting “Change and Growth, a Better Tomorrow” as his administration’s goal, Mayor Choo has pursued city policies based on field-oriented communication and action, with five pillars: economic overhaul, culture and happiness, spatial transformation, safety and welfare, and empathetic governance.
In particular, to revive the local economy, he held six meetings of the Emergency Economic Measures Council starting on July 9, reviewing local economic issues on the ground and drawing up concrete responses. These included reforming restrictions on the types of businesses allowed in industrial complexes, revitalizing the local construction industry, building a startup ecosystem, boosting livelihoods and normalizing the housing market.
He also accelerated the sweeping transformation of the industrial structure. On September 17, he launched the Daegu Advanced Industry Development Strategy Advisory Council and began assessing the current state of local industry and drawing up a mid- to long-term development strategy and annual road maps.
Efforts to attract businesses also produced tangible results. A land sale contract and investment support agreement with Shinsegae Simon paved the way for full-scale development of a premium outlet. The city also attracted investments from Daedong Co. and TSE Co., laying the groundwork for a shift to advanced AI- and robotics-based manufacturing, expansion of semiconductor research and development hubs, and job creation for local talent.
Mayor Choo worked to spread an organizational culture centered on practicality and communication, and achieved results in culture, sports and tourism. Key issues related to urban-space innovation also advanced. He also focused on systematically strengthening safety and welfare policies while further reinforcing the foundations for citizen participation and communication.
Meanwhile, Mayor Choo plans to further strengthen close coordination with North Gyeongsang Province Governor Lee Cheol-woo through monthly official meetings on key issues for the shared prosperity of Daegu and North Gyeongsang, including administrative integration, construction of a new airport and the second relocation of public institutions.

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