Daegu mayor-elect Choo vows lean, hands-on transition committee

Daegu Mayor-elect Choo Kyung-ho met with senior city officials at the Daegu Policy Research Institute on Friday to discuss the formation of his transition committee, saying he plans to keep it "as small and streamlined as possible."

The transition support briefing, held Friday morning at the institute in Dong-gu, Daegu, was attended by acting Mayor Kim Jeong-gi, Planning and Coordination Office Director Oh Jun-hyeok, Administrative Bureau Chief Ahn Jung-gon and Policy Planning Officer Han Eung-min on the city's side. From Choo's election camp, Daegu Assembly member Ha Jung-hwan, communications director Han Dong-yeop and policy director Lee Eun-jeong were also present.

Speaking to reporters immediately after receiving a briefing from acting Mayor Kim and other city officials, Choo said he would keep the transition committee to the bare minimum and receive reports directly from civil servants himself.

He added that he would begin receiving department-by-department briefings on pending issues starting next week. "Today I got a broad overview — what issues exist and where things stand," he said.

On the question of who would chair the transition committee, Choo said he had not given it particular thought yet. He described the body as one that would "operate on a completely different scale from a typical transition committee — strictly minimal and working-level."

He also said he would move away from the existing arrangement in which the city fully funds the mayor's official residence.

As for where the transition committee office would be located, Choo said preparations would be made at the Daegu Contents Center next door, adding that he planned to work directly alongside city civil servants.

"I expect the transition committee to be up and running as early as next week," Choo said. "I am a mayor-elect who came prepared. My mind and energy are focused on mapping out city administration, and I will be hands-on from the start."