30 Days in Office Planning Report "Practice Over Ideology, Pragmatism Over Formality"... Mayor Choi Hyun-deok of Namyangju Embraces Dasan Jeong Yak-yong's 'Practical Learning for Practical Use'

[News S=Reporter Kim Jin-ho] Dasan Jeong Yak-yong, the great thinker of the late Joseon period who rejected empty formalism and abstract theorizing and established the practical learning philosophy of "seeking truth based on facts." His lifelong commitment to "enriching practical life" and "properly governing the world for practical use" is now being realized through pragmatic leadership in Namyangju City administration over 200 years later.

As Mayor Choi Hyun-deok of Namyangju marks 30 days in office on July 30, he continues his practical learning-oriented approach toward "citizens' sovereignty era—Namyangju's great transformation," implementing the campaign slogan "Now is the time for change" in actual city governance.

■ "Rejecting armchair theorizing"... Active diplomacy through consecutive visits to Ministry of Land, Ministry of Strategy and Finance, and Gyeonggi Province

Just as Dasan Jeong Yak-yong readily utilized Western science and technology to solve field problems, Mayor Choi's administrative style focuses on action and results rather than words.

On June 11 as the mayor-elect, Mayor Choi held his first official meeting with the First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, directly proposing major transportation issues including the extension of Line 8 (Byeongnaeseon), extensions of subway Lines 3, 6, and 9, and incorporating these into the Sixth National and Local Highway Construction Plan. Subsequently, on July 9 after taking office, he visited the Minister of Strategy and Finance to strongly request exemption from preliminary feasibility study for the Gyeonggi Northeast Public Medical Center and national funding support for key regional transit networks.

Furthermore, at a recent gathering of the Gyeonggi Province Governor with mayors and county chiefs, he met the governor directly and presented "six core policies" for Namyangju's transformation, including early confirmation of the Gyeonggi Northeast Public Medical Center, early commencement of subway Line 9, development of the Northeast Future Industry Belt and K-Culture Tourism Belt, and designation of regulatory innovation special zones, requesting full support and cooperation from Gyeonggi Province.

■ Sitting in "the same chair" with committee members for 11 days of decisive debate, "100 Major Projects" completed after 40 days of effort

Mayor Choi's pragmatism was evident from the composition and operation of the transition committee before taking office. He completely broke with the convention of staffing mainly with campaign personnel, instead composing the transition committee (Citizens' Sovereignty Committee) with private-sector experts from various fields unrelated to the campaign, and mobilizing an advisory group of approximately 100 members.

Notably, during his time as mayor-elect, Mayor Choi did not conduct the city government briefing sessions held over 11 days from morning to afternoon as one-sided reports. Sitting in the same chair as Citizens' Sovereignty Committee members, he conducted fierce policy discussions for 11 days at eye level, carefully listening to and addressing the details of city administration, receiving praise from those around him as "truly worthy of a verified administrative and economic expert."

Based on the 11 days of intensive debate conducted this way, the Citizens' Sovereignty Committee invested a total of 40 days in field verification and detailed implementation planning to complete the "100 Policy Pledges." It was the moment when the most sophisticated and empirical blueprint for transformation that would guide Namyangju city administration for the next four years was born, not merely campaign rhetoric.

■ The essence of practical learning... policy brochure in only "3 copies", city hall officials present "AI pledge app"

Another scene that distinctly revealed Mayor Choi's "practical learning pragmatism" was the recently held "Ninth-term 100 Policy Pledges Citizens' Briefing." Instead of the conventional practice of printing thick policy brochures at substantial expense, only 3 copies were produced, thoroughly rejecting formality and budget waste.

All pledge information was demonstrated through a "Pledge Information Application" directly developed by Namyangju City Hall officials using AI technology, garnering significant attention. This app, which dramatically reduced external consulting costs and printing expenses, is scheduled to be officially released to citizens after further refinement. It is a representative example of "innovative practical administration" allowing citizens to check and communicate about city pledges anytime, anywhere via smartphone.

■ "Personnel requests lead to family ruin"... Groundbreaking integrity and merit-based personnel management inheriting the spirit of 「Mokminsimseo」

Just as Dasan emphasized civil servants' integrity and fair personnel management in 「Mokminsimseo」(A Governor's Primer), Mayor Choi declared at his inauguration ceremony "Personnel requests lead to family ruin," a groundbreaking message. He completely blocked factional maneuvering and political connections, powerfully communicating to citizens and the civil service the principle that "only civil servants who work diligently and produce substantial results shall be promoted and valued."

This principle is rapidly and intensely transforming Namyangju's civil service culture from factional alignment to performance creation within merely 30 days of taking office.

■ Namyangju as Dasan's successor, breaking ideology and heading toward great transformation

Mayor Choi Hyun-deok, a graduate of the Civil Service Examination (36th class) who has served in central government ministries, OECD, as Gyeonggi Province Economic Director, and as Deputy Mayor of Namyangju, has verified his exceptional administrative and economic expertise. His path deeply resonates with that of Dasan Jeong Yak-yong, who found answers in the field rather than being trapped in ideology.

Marking 30 days in office, Namyangju under Mayor Choi. Armed with practical administration that transforms citizens' lives while rejecting empty formalism and budget waste, the question of how Mayor Choi's "practical learning leadership" will complete Namyangju's great transformation has ignited the intense anticipation of 740,000 Namyangju citizens.