Mayor Jeong Jang-sun of Pyeongtaek Holds Retirement Ceremony

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gab-dong] The retirement ceremony for Mayor Jeong Jang-sun of Pyeongtaek was held on the 23rd in the city hall main conference room.

The retirement ceremony, held simply following an executive meeting, was attended by around 100 people including Lee Yun-ha, Chairman of the Pyeongtaek City Council, Choi Won-yong, the mayor-elect, and Pyeongtaek City officials.

The retirement ceremony proceeded in the order of commemorative video viewing, presentation of appreciation plaques, remarks from family representatives, a retirement address, and commemorative photos.

In his retirement address, Mayor Jeong said, "When I first took office as mayor and entered city hall, my heart was heavy with the weight of responsibility, but thanks to citizens' aspirations for change in Pyeongtaek and the dedication of public officials, I was able to complete my term safely," expressing his sentiments.

In particular, Mayor Jeong stated, "I have focused on improving citizens' quality of life in line with the city's growth, and through this process, we have achieved meaningful results," and added, "I am grateful to Pyeongtaek City officials who have worked quietly throughout the field."

He also mentioned Pyeongtaek City's economic status.

Mayor Jeong Jang-sun said, "Pyeongtaek City has grown into South Korea's representative dynamic city where the world's largest U.S. military base coexists with Samsung Electronics, a global semiconductor production base," adding, "In particular, it has recorded impressive growth, achieving third place in Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) within Gyeonggi Province, establishing itself as a synonym for a 'growing city.'"

Mayor Jeong then stated, "Now Pyeongtaek must move beyond the framework of the past as a 'small city' and stand shoulder to shoulder with world-class global cities like Stuttgart and Boston," emphasizing, "I look forward to opening an era of great Pyeongtaek together with Mayor-elect Choi Won-yong."

Meanwhile, Mayor Jeong Jang-sun was elected to the National Assembly in 2000 and served three terms as a congressman. Since 2018, he has served as mayor of Pyeongtaek for the seventh and eighth popularly-elected terms. He announced his non-candidacy in the local election last September and will conclude his term at the end of June.