Kim Jeong-jung, a first-time local government chief, began his tenure as Yangyang-gun county governor with an unusual move: he issued a public apology for a series of past administrative failures in the county — even though none of them were of his making.
He then worked with the transition committee to finalize "One Yangyang, Running Again" as the county's governing vision.
Yangyang-gun wasted no time preparing to welcome summer visitors. The pledge to clean, tighten and oil the county's operations — starting with a literal cleanup — moved straight into action.
To give beachgoers a pleasant road environment, the county has significantly expanded the routes covered by large road-sweeping vehicles to include the main beach access roads.
Paris runs street cleaners partly because of the crowds dining at roadside terraces. Yangyang is expanding its road-sweeping operation to keep the town clean and presentable for tourists.
During peak weekends and the high season, when visitor numbers surge, the county plans to adjust sweeper schedules flexibly based on traffic volume and foot traffic — maximizing cleaning efficiency while minimizing inconvenience to tourists.
The village chiefs' council and the women's association of Sonyang-myeon in Yangyang-gun carried out a beach cleanup at Songjeon Beach and Dongho Beach just before the official opening of the swimming season.
The effort aimed to provide tourists with a clean and comfortable beach environment ahead of the peak summer season. Participants collected household waste and marine debris left on the beaches, helping prepare the sites for opening day.
On Wednesday, participants pressed on despite rain, with village chiefs, women's association heads and Sonyang township office staff donning raincoats to join the cleanup. Braving the wet conditions, they combed the beaches and collected litter throughout.
To present a fresh image of rural life to visitors and new residents, the county also launched a "Clean Rural Village" corps to run a rural waste collection support project. The corps focuses on shared public spaces such as farm roads, drainage channels, riverbanks and community halls.
"We will spare no effort on both aesthetic improvements and safety management," a Yangyang-gun official said. Attention is now turning to what results the combined public-private push will deliver as the county moves forward with energy and confidence.
Meanwhile, the Yangyang-gun gubernatorial transition committee concluded all its activities Friday, drawing up an action plan listing 50 key campaign pledges to turn the vision of "One Yangyang, Running Again" into reality. The committee visited key project sites — including the Osaek cable car project, the planned K-salmon aquaculture complex and the Yangyang transit-oriented development zone — to explore workable alternatives. Kim sent a clear message of unity by making the extraordinary appointment of a member from the opposing party as transition committee chair.
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