S. Gyeongnam governor makes personal phone number public to take direct corruption reports

South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-su has made his personal phone number and email address public, saying he will personally receive reports of corruption and unreasonable practices within the provincial civil service. The move signals a push to drive organizational reform and tighten official discipline ahead of the launch of the ninth elected term.

Park issued the directive Monday while chairing a meeting of division and bureau heads, instructing provincial officials and executives at affiliated public institutions to use his personal contact information to report internal misconduct, improper practices and ideas for improvement directly to him.

South Gyeongsang Province plans to operate the governor's direct communication channel through the end of this month. "We must thoroughly analyze and wrap up the achievements of the eighth elected term, and systematically compile the campaign pledges and pending issues we promised residents during the election so they can be reflected in the ninth-term administration," Park said.

Park also announced a firm response to any misconduct by public officials during the election period. "If problems are confirmed through an audit committee investigation, accountability must be clearly established," he said, ordering stricter enforcement of official discipline.

Park stressed the importance of hearing residents' voices directly, and directed the province to make his official schedule public and expand access to the provincial government building. South Gyeongsang Province plans to publish the governor's schedule and operate a communication channel to receive policy proposals and public suggestions through the end of this month.

Park identified flood and heat-wave preparedness as top priorities, directing officials to step up on-site inspections of landslide-prone areas, riverbanks and disaster-vulnerable facilities. He also called on the province to make an all-out effort to secure national government funding for key projects during the central budget drafting process, and to actively pursue the attraction of public institutions in the second round of relocations.