Kang Ki-yoon takes office as Changwon mayor, vows to 'restart the city's heart'

Kang Ki-yoon was officially inaugurated Tuesday as the fifth mayor of Changwon Special City under the ninth round of direct local elections, launching an administration centered on putting citizens first.

The city held the inauguration ceremony that morning at the Citizens Hall of City Hall, with about 360 people in attendance, including National Assembly lawmakers, city and provincial council members, and residents.

In his inaugural address, Kang said Changwon stands at a critical turning point that demands a new leap forward. "I will restart the heart of a city that has stopped beating and innovate city administration through citizen-centered, practical and accountable governance," he said.

He presented "Citizens First, Happy Changwon" as the governing vision for his term. The four key goals are: creating a dynamic economy and quality jobs, achieving balanced development across the city's districts, building a robust welfare and safety net, and establishing Changwon as a city of culture and distinction.

Kang, who has served as a business executive, National Assembly lawmaker and head of a public institution, said he will focus the city's resources on making Changwon a business-friendly city, strengthening manufacturing competitiveness and nurturing future industries. He also pledged balanced development across the Masan, Changwon and Jinhae districts, and the construction of a welfare network covering both youth and the elderly.

Kang called on the city's civil servants to move away from a supplier-driven approach to administration and shift toward a citizen-centered model grounded in creativity, initiative, performance and accountability.

After the ceremony, Kang visited the city hall press room and the civil servants' union office, then shared lunch with frontline workers including building maintenance staff, signaling the start of an outreach-focused tenure.