Lee Ki-hyung inaugurated as Gimpo mayor, vows to 'start great leap forward from citizens' voices'

Lee Ki-hyung was officially inaugurated as the ninth-term mayor of Gimpo on Tuesday, marking the start of a new chapter for the city's administration.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at Gimpo Arts Hall, Lee said he would "find Gimpo's future in the voices of its citizens," presenting communication and field-centered governance as the core operating principles of his term.

Under the banner of "A Great Leap Forward with Citizens," the new administration plans to pursue policies closely tied to residents' daily lives so that people can directly feel the changes taking place.

At the ceremony, citizen representatives from eight sectors — transportation, economy, education, future industries, youth, welfare, culture and the environment — took part in a session presenting their visions for Gimpo's development.

"Gimpo must seize new opportunities for growth amid the country's new growth momentum," Lee said. "The starting point of city governance is the citizens' voice, and the most important principle of this term is communication."

He said he would move away from policy decisions driven by administrative bodies alone and pursue an open style of governance that seeks solutions together with residents.

The key directions Lee outlined for Gimpo's development include resolving transportation inconveniences and expanding mobility, strengthening educational competitiveness for the AI era, expanding access to cultural activities, revitalizing the local economy and neighborhood commerce, and building a city that reinforces welfare and public safety.

"Citizens' sense of self-worth is the city's competitiveness," Lee said. "I will run a city government that listens by their side, decides together with them, and shows results."

The inauguration ceremony also featured a vision performance in which citizen representatives conveyed their hopes for each sector.

In the environment sector, participants called for the creation of an ecological and cultural city; in welfare, the building of a warm community; in youth, laying the groundwork for young people's growth; and in culture, expanding citizens' access to cultural life. On the economic front, participants envisioned a city where businesses and small merchants grow together; in future industries, the establishment of an advanced industrial base; in education, the nurturing of future talent; and in transportation, improvements to metropolitan transit links.

Meanwhile, Lee plans to visit each town, township and neighborhood to meet residents directly and hear their views on local issues and policy direction.

Attention is now focused on whether the ninth-term Gimpo administration's vision of a "great leap forward with citizens" can translate into tangible changes — including improved transportation and a more vibrant local economy — that residents will actually feel.