Yecheon-gun chief An Byeong-yun takes office, vows to build future with residents

An Byeong-yun was inaugurated as Yecheon-gun chief on Tuesday, marking the formal launch of the ninth directly elected county administration.

Speaking at the ceremony at the Yecheon County Community Center, An said he stood before the audience with a deep sense of the weight of the public's choice. "I will carry out the people's mandate to develop and grow Yecheon," he said.

An acknowledged the challenges the county faces — a shrinking population, a sluggish local economy and an exodus of young people — and said the region must adapt. "In an era of change driven by AI and robot technology, the future cannot be built on the methods of the past," he said. "I will create a Yecheon that grows together with its residents through new ideas and bold challenges."

He outlined the administration's key priorities: balanced development between the new town and the original downtown, corporate investment and job creation, promotion of cultural tourism and sports, strengthening agricultural competitiveness through smart farming and sixth-industry models, welfare and education expansion, and open governance in partnership with residents.

An said he would focus particularly on attracting businesses, boosting industrial complex competitiveness and responding to the relocation of public institutions, with the aim of creating quality jobs and revitalizing the local economy to draw young people back to the county.

An also pledged to strengthen communication with residents. He said he would hold a monthly "open county chief's office" session where anyone could freely share opinions. "I will be a county chief who listens on the ground and finds answers on the ground," he said.

He added that governance is not something a county chief does alone. "Administration is something decided and taken responsibility for together with the people," he said, expressing his commitment to participatory governance in which residents are involved from policymaking through to outcomes.

"The county chief's office is not a position to enjoy authority — it is a position to bear responsibility," An said. "I will keep every promise made to the people and repay their trust through action over words and results over pledges."