Nam Kyung-pil Takes Office as Gyeonggi Governor... Pledges "Safe Gyeonggi Province"

Nam Kyung-pil took office as the 34th Governor of Gyeonggi Province on July 1st.

On his first day of the sixth term of the democratically elected administration, Governor Nam began his official schedule in the morning by paying respects at the National Cemetery at 7:50 a.m., followed by visiting the joint memorial altar for Sewol ferry victims in Ansan at 9 a.m.

By visiting the site on his inauguration day without separate commemorative events, Governor Nam demonstrated his resolve to fulfill his responsibility and duty as a "safety governor" as he promised during the election campaign, the province stated.

Dressed in a black suit, Governor Nam greeted family members of the victims one by one at the memorial altar, then solemnly paid his respects and laid flowers alongside Gyeonggi Province Superintendent of Education Lee Jae-jeong.

In the memorial altar's visitor book, he wrote: "I will never forget your sacrifice. I will build a safe Gyeonggi Province and a safe Korea."

After completing his respects, Governor Nam spent approximately 40 minutes conversing with the bereaved families in the waiting area and toured volunteer booths before heading directly to the Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters to inspect disaster preparedness.

At the Gyeonggi Disaster Management Integrated Command Center on the 6th floor, he observed a moment of silence for the Sewol ferry victims and the missing, attended disaster training demonstrations and response drills, and held a video conference with 34 fire chiefs from the 34 fire stations throughout the province and officials from four related agencies.

At this meeting, Governor Nam stated, "All public servants must rededicate themselves so that a tragedy like the Sewol ferry disaster never happens again in Korea," and urged them to "do your best to establish a preemptive disaster response system and life safety network so that the province's residents can always trust and rely on 119," as public trust in the emergency number is significant.

In particular, he instructed the Ansan Fire Chief to address safety concerns regarding the joint memorial altar for the Sewol ferry, which is constructed with temporary structures, ahead of the rainy season and typhoons.

He reiterated his election campaign pledge to increase firefighter positions by 4,000 to enable firefighting personnel to work under better conditions.

After touring special disaster equipment, Governor Nam had lunch at the headquarters' basement cafeteria, and in the afternoon visited Seongnam Central Market, where he signed a business agreement with Seongnam City and the Small and Medium Business Administration to support reconstruction.

Seongnam Central Market received the lowest disaster risk rating (E), and Governor Nam had promised during his election campaign to support its reconstruction.

After completing his field schedule, Governor Nam held his oath of office at the Governor's Office at Gyeonggi Province Hall in the afternoon, attended by a seven-member employee delegation consisting of a labor union chairman, a firefighter, a commissioned police officer, a security officer, an environmental sanitation worker, a multicultural civil servant, and a guide assistant, and concluded his official schedule by signing the documents for the transfer and handover of provincial administration.

Governor Nam stated, "Over the next four years, I will pursue all policies based on four principles—field work, communication, unity, and data—to build a safe and warm community with abundant jobs," and added, "I will ensure that residents can greet the morning peacefully and say 'good morning' with a good mood."