Hwang Gi-yeon, Gwangju Metropolitan City’s vice mayor for administration and culture: “I will give my full support to ensure the achievements of integration bear fruit”

【Financial News, Jeonnam-Gwangju = Reporter Hwang Tae-jong】Hwang Gi-yeon, the inaugural vice mayor for administration and culture of Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City (Gwangju Metropolitan City), said on the 27th, “I will do everything I can to support the integration so that its achievements bear fruit and residents can say, ‘It’s really great that we’ve integrated.’”
 At his inauguration ceremony that day at the Gwangju government building, attended by around 300 people, including Special City Mayor Min Hyeong-bae, senior civil servants and staff, Vice Mayor for Administration and Culture Hwang Gi-yeon said, “We need to make changes so that the 3.2 million residents of our integrated special city can enjoy safer and happier lives.”
 Earlier, Hwang Gi-yeon was appointed the inaugural administrative vice mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City on August 19. Originally from Jangseong County, he graduated from Gwangju Gwangil High School and the Department of Public Administration at Yonsei University, and entered public service in 1998 after passing the 42nd Higher Civil Service Examination. He subsequently held key posts in the central government, including planning and finance officer and director-general of the Preventive Policy Bureau at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and administrative officer in the Social Economy Secretary’s Office at the Office of the President. He also served in the region as deputy county governor of Jangheung County and head of the Planning and Coordination Office in the former Jeonnam Province. From February through June this year, as administrative vice governor, he helped prepare for the administrative integration of Jeonnam and Gwangju and contributed to the launch of Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City. After the special city was launched on July 1, he served as acting administrative vice mayor and helped build the administrative system in the early days of integration.
 In his inaugural address that day, Vice Mayor Hwang said, “There are many pressing issues for the future of our integrated city, including a semiconductor cluster, relocation of the military airport, development of a regional healthcare system, expansion of transport networks, and integration of around 2,900 policies. I will do everything I can to address the integrated city’s major issues responsibly.”
 He added, “There are high expectations and many voices across the Eastern, Western and Gwangju regions hoping that the benefits of integration will reach our region. Cities have their own circumstances, as do rural and fishing communities, and their needs may differ. I will help develop solutions by working through them together with the relevant departments, expert groups and residents.”
 He also stressed, “I will make a sincere effort to communicate more closely with the council, the media and residents, and to bring the public service together as one.”
 Vice Mayor Hwang said he hoped public officials would embrace △field-focused administration △proactive administration △a sense of public duty, historical awareness and a sense of ownership.
 Special City Mayor Min Hyeong-bae said, “Hwang Gi-yeon has experience in both central and local government, and worked hard to coordinate with public officials during the most difficult period since the integrated city was launched.” He urged him, “Please continue to do your utmost to build a special city where we can live together.”
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