Andong mayor takes office, vows to 'boldly open Andong's next 100 years'

Andong City in North Gyeongsang Province held the inauguration ceremony for Kwon Ki-chang as the 32nd popularly elected mayor — the first of the ninth directly elected administration — at Yeongnam Hall in the Andong Civic Center on Wednesday, drawing about 1,000 attendees including representatives from senior citizen associations and disability, women's and youth organizations, as well as heads of major local institutions.

The ceremony opened with a pre-event performance and proceeded through an oath of office, an inaugural address, a congratulatory bouquet presentation, a reading of congratulatory messages, a video screening, a group performance and a closing celebratory show.

A highlight of the event was a video featuring interviews with residents sharing their hopes for the ninth elected administration, underscoring the mayor's intention to chart the city's policy direction based on citizens' aspirations.

Residents from all walks of life then took the stage together for a performance expressing the theme "Andong where everyone becomes one," marking the new administration's first step toward an integrated future across generations and sectors.

After the ceremony, Kwon held a tea gathering with reporters at the city hall press room, sharing his vision and resolve for the ninth elected administration.

"If the past four years were a time of sowing seeds together with citizens, the next four years will be a time of moving toward a greater leap built on those fruits," Kwon said. "With the spirit of 'only Andong, only the citizens,' I will boldly open Andong's next 100 years."

Earlier that day, ahead of the inauguration, Kwon began his first official schedule of the new term by going out to meet residents who start their day early in Andong.

He visited the city's three bus operators — Dongchun Passenger, Andong Bus and Gyeongan Passenger — to encourage public transit workers who keep citizens moving and to hear their concerns.

He then met taxi drivers at a taxi stand to listen to industry issues and on-the-ground concerns, and visited a local labor dispatch office to hear about the difficulties faced by daily workers.