Seo Young-hak, 55, the mayor-elect of Yeosu, has filled his transition body — the "Crisis Overcome, Civic Sovereignty Planning Committee" — largely with professionals born in the 1970s and 1980s.
The committee comprises 15 members, including a chair and vice chair, along with 14 advisory members, all drawn from leading field experts across various sectors.
The heavy recruitment of emerging scholars in their 40s and 50s and younger field specialists reflects a deliberate push to build a results-oriented team rather than reward political allies or repay campaign debts.
Ahn Ki-wan, a professor in the Department of Forest Resources at Chonnam National University who has served as dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and president of the Korean Forest Economics Society, will chair the committee.
Kim Dae-hee, secretary-general of the Yeosu YMCA and a long-time advocate for youth, environmental and civic causes in the local community, was named vice chair. Jeong U-ju, an advisory member of the National AI Strategy Committee, will design a blueprint to transform Yeosu into a smart AI city.
Kim Hee-jin, a Chonnam National University professor specializing in marine ecology and fisheries, and Kim Yun-hyeong, an agricultural economics expert also at Chonnam National University, joined the committee to advance the modernization of Yeosu's core fishing and farming industries and to stimulate the marine economy.
Choi Yu-jin, a senior researcher at the Gender Equality Research Division of the Korean Women's Development Institute, will work toward building a gender-equal city, while Park Dong-wan, co-chair of the Fiscal Sovereignty Citizens' Movement, will focus on improving fiscal efficiency in Yeosu's city administration.
"Yeosu now stands at a grave crossroads, facing demands for a structural transformation of its industry and urban fabric — from population decline to sluggish growth in its industrial complexes," Seo said. "I composed the transition committee with expertise and young practical ability as the sole criteria, strictly excluding any rewards for campaign contributors or political considerations."
The committee will kick off with a signboard-hanging ceremony and preliminary meeting on Friday, then conduct intensive activities through June 29 — a total of 17 days — during which it will receive departmental briefings from city offices and hold sector-specific consultations before announcing its final policy direction.
parkds@heraldcorp.com
