Governor Nam Presents Major Policy Plans for Sixth Popular Election Term, Including Personnel System Overhaul

Governor Nam Kyung-pil of Gyeonggi Province presented major policy initiatives for the sixth popular election term, including personnel system improvements, economic and educational coordination, DMZ Peace Park to be developed jointly with Gangwon Province, investment attraction strategies targeting China, and creation of a comprehensive safety map.

On the morning of the 6th at 9 a.m., Governor Nam held a "Pledge and Major Policy Discussion Forum" at the grand hall on the third floor of the Gyeonggi Small and Medium Business Integrated Support Center with approximately 500 senior officials of Gyeonggi Province, explaining policy tasks for the sixth popular election term containing these contents.

At the event, Governor Nam stated, "During the month of January, we will hold discussions centered on these major pledges and projects of the sixth popular election term with bureau heads, responsible department directors, and heads of public institutions, gathering ideas and sharing our vision."

Governor Nam first devoted considerable time to explaining improvements to the personnel system.

Governor Nam said, "Looking at the province's personnel affairs, I noticed that promotions are only possible when transferring to specific departments. I believe this is not right," and continued, "We need to introduce a system where if someone consistently performs well in a particular field for three years, they can be promoted within that field."

He further stated, "Let's bring out all these issues—why promotions happen when going to administrative departments but not when going to operational departments—and discuss them," announcing plans to hold a discussion forum on personnel matters.

Governor Nam disclosed his email address that day and said, "Please send me your thoughts regarding personnel today," adding, "I will review and categorize opinions by topic overnight."

He also stated, "I will hold the first Personnel Innovation Discussion Forum involving representatives by rank, specialization, and job series, as well as union representatives, tomorrow morning on the 7th."

Lee Geun-myeon, director of the Central Personnel Innovation Agency, is also expected to attend the forum, raising expectations about what impact the results will have on improvements to the national personnel system overall.

Governor Nam also urged responsible administration centered on department directors.

Governor Nam said, "We must eliminate barriers between departments and pursue convergence administration through discussions with private sector experts," and "The role of the governor is to serve as a coordinator, reflecting policies developed by department directors as leaders in provincial affairs."

He further stated that he would actively accept ideas from department directors and team leaders, and promised that achievements would be properly evaluated.

Additionally, Governor Nam announced plans to establish a Policy Office that will record and manage the governor's field visits and citizen grievance-related policies.

Governor Nam stated, "When the governor meets with citizens, the Policy Office will record everything as if creating a policy record," and continued, "We will record all aspects of how grievances are received and how they are realized through which officials, and ensure that these achievements are reflected in personnel evaluations."

Governor Nam emphasized that managing all processes in a principled and transparent manner constitutes innovation.

Meanwhile, Governor Nam explained nine policy initiatives that day: ▲Economic and educational coordination, ▲Northern Gyeonggi development plans, ▲Safe Gyeonggi Province, ▲Good Morning Bus, ▲Creating a warm community, ▲Economic innovation and job creation, ▲Energy policy, ▲Preparing for unified Korea, and ▲Creating innovation hubs.

Regarding coordination, Governor Nam stated that economic coordination would be implemented beginning in April after consultations with the provincial assembly for budget compilation, and expressed his commitment to promoting educational coordination through cooperation with the education office.

Governor Nam said, "Through cooperation with the education office, we will create an environment where children can safely and comfortably exercise their creativity, including renovating old facilities and restrooms, implementing Dream Classroom programs teaching physical education and arts for students who arrive early or after school, and appointing safety guardians for school commutes."

Governor Nam stated that Northern Gyeonggi serves as an outpost for reunification, and a major direction of provincial affairs is to establish infrastructure in Northern Gyeonggi to prepare for reunification.

Governor Nam explained that this includes creating the DMZ Peace Park in areas such as Yeoncheon and Cheorwon in cooperation with Gangwon Province, establishing a K-Fashion Design Village, and creating logistics complexes related to the Gaeseong Industrial Complex in Goyang and Paju.

He also announced plans to attract Chinese and Middle Eastern capital to U.S. military-provided land in Northern Gyeonggi.

There was also an explanation of Gyeonggi Province's strategy for advancing into China utilizing Gyeonggi Urban Corporation. After explaining his personal relationship with Hu Chunhua, party secretary of Guangdong Province in China, Governor Nam said, "Chinese leaders are very interested in projects creating small and medium-sized cities of 300,000 to 500,000 people that can reduce the gap between urban and rural areas," and continued, "We must leverage Gyeonggi Province's experience of successfully developing Pangyo and Gwanggyo."

Governor Nam further stated, "Gyeonggi Urban Corporation is suitable, but to advance into China, we must first change ordinances. I will cooperate with the assembly," emphasizing, "Creating new types of cities combining culture and IT, exporting them to China, and having Gyeonggi Province participate in this is what Gyeonggi Province should do going forward."

In the social economy sector, Governor Nam expressed his desire to introduce social banks like Germany's GLS, which provides low-interest loans exclusively to social enterprises, to Gyeonggi Province, and announced plans to establish iBanking, an internet bank for social enterprises and socially disadvantaged groups, by combining IT technology and the Gyeonggi Credit Guarantee Foundation.

In the economic innovation and job creation sector, Governor Nam stated plans to conduct an open audition for youth startups with large company CEOs and experienced small and medium business owners as judges, and operate the G-Superman Fund providing support from start-up through mentoring.

Additionally, Governor Nam explained his vision across all sectors of provincial affairs, including creating a comprehensive safety map, building warm communities, relocating the provincial government office, and establishing agricultural and marine policy visions and energy policies.