Seongju-gun chief wraps up 8-year tenure, credits residents for county's growth

Lee Byung-hwan concluded his eight-year tenure as Seongju-gun chief at a retirement ceremony held June 19 at the Seongju-gun Office auditorium.

In his farewell address, Lee expressed gratitude to residents and public officials, saying the years spent laughing and crying alongside the people of Seongju-gun had been "the most brilliant and deeply moving honor" of his life.

He described the past eight years as "a grueling march of creating something from nothing," reflecting on his administration's relentless push for the county's development.

As a result, the county's budget grew from around 400 billion won (about $263 million) at the time of his inauguration to the 600 billion won range during his two terms, laying the groundwork for regional growth.

Major projects he pursued included securing a Seongju station stop on the Southern Inland Railway, opening a ridge trail across Gayasan, and winning designation of Seongju Lake as a tourism site — all aimed at creating new engines of growth for the county's future.

Alongside this, he cited the reorganization of downtown Seongju, the establishment of a children's adventure facility called Nolbenjers and a care center, the rollout of smart senior centers, and the creation of one park golf course per township as key achievements.

"The accomplishments of the past eight years were never the result of my efforts alone," Lee said. "They were made possible by the support of residents and the dedication of public officials."

After leaving office, he plans to return to his hometown of Gwanhwa-ri in Seonnam-myeon and remain engaged with the community.

Lee was first elected Seongju-gun chief in 2018 and won re-election in 2022, leading the county for eight years. He is credited with building a new foundation for growth and advancing regional development during his tenure.