Sangju mayor vows to reverse population decline through industry, jobs and tourism

"My administration's core focus will be people and the economy — and I intend to confront the threat of regional extinction head-on. We will shift the industrial structure from production-centered agriculture to a food industry model, attract businesses, help young people put down roots, and revitalize tourism and sports. That will create a virtuous cycle in which population growth and economic recovery reinforce each other. I am confident we can do it."

An Jae-min, 47, is the youngest of the 22 township and city mayors in North Gyeongsang Province, and his days overflow with energy. Sangju's drive for proactive change is very much a work in progress.

Speaking in a Friday morning interview, An said he would pursue "a growth strategy spanning industry, agriculture and tourism to build a Sangju where people come and stay."

About 40 days into his term, An said regional depopulation is an unavoidable reality but that prepared cities can seize new opportunities. "I will work together with residents to build a vibrant Sangju where people gather and the economy comes alive," he said.

The following is an edited transcript of the interview.

— What is Sangju's biggest challenge in this term, and what are your goals?

Sangju is simultaneously grappling with population decline, the threat of regional extinction, youth outmigration, a stagnant commercial district and an aging farming population. The city once had more than 260,000 residents and now faces a serious depopulation challenge. But change can only begin once we acknowledge the crisis. The next four years will be critical in determining Sangju's future. That is why people must be at the center of every policy. When people gather, consumption recovers; when consumption recovers, the commercial district revives. The key is building a virtuous cycle in which businesses invest and young people settle. Administration must also be a tool for changing residents' lives. I will measure policy success by how much change people feel in their daily lives.

— You have emphasized a transformation of agriculture in the industrial sector.

Sangju is one of South Korea's leading agricultural cities, but production-centered farming alone cannot prepare us for the future. We need to build a food industry ecosystem that goes beyond growing produce and connects processing, research and development, logistics and retail. By developing a national food cluster and attracting food companies, we will grow agriculture into a future growth industry.

— Does attracting businesses also connect to population policy?

Exactly. When companies come in, farmers gain stable sales channels and young people gain jobs. When young people settle, schools and commercial districts come back to life and the local economy regains vitality. Ultimately, the most realistic population policy combines good jobs with quality residential, education, medical and cultural environments.

— How can expanded transport links and the Daegu-North Gyeongsang integrated new airport benefit Sangju?

Better transport infrastructure does not automatically make a city grow. What matters is creating reasons for people to stay and an environment that attracts business investment. Laying roads is less important than raising the city's competitiveness so that people and companies follow those roads here.

— You have identified tourism and sports as new growth pillars. Can you elaborate?

Sangju is rich in natural and historical-cultural assets — Gyeongcheon Island, Gyeongcheondae and the Nakdong River — but we still lack the kind of tourism that keeps visitors overnight. I want to link rural experiences, leisure and sports with tourism to make Sangju a city where people linger. Hosting national-scale sporting events and training camps can drive local spending on accommodation, food and shopping. I will actively use sports and tourism as tools for revitalizing the local economy.

— Administrative reform is also cited as a priority. How do you plan to improve communication with residents?

I have asked the civil service to look first for ways to make things work rather than reasons why they cannot. Administration should not be an organization that explains regulations — it should be one that solves residents' problems. I will embed a proactive, field-based approach to administration and improve meeting and reporting culture to raise the speed and efficiency of government. Communication must not become a performative exercise. I will establish a standing channel through which any resident can propose policies and share opinions. I will treat residents not as subjects of administration but as partners in city governance, and I will build an open administration in which their voices are reflected in policy.

— How do you plan to manage the city's limited finances?

Welfare and public safety will be protected without compromise, while I will invest boldly in areas that strengthen the local economy and the city's competitiveness. Tourism, sports and cultural events will be approached not as simple occasions but as economic policy — tools for building the city's brand and drawing outside visitors. I will treat the budget not as expenditure but as investment in the future, making deliberate choices about where to concentrate resources. I will repeatedly emphasize "together" as the core value of this term. The city's future cannot be built by the mayor alone. Residents, public officials, National Assembly members, provincial and city council members, people with roots in Sangju who now live elsewhere, and the broader community must all join forces. The goal of this term is not grand slogans but building the city's competitiveness through small, tangible changes that residents can feel in their daily lives — one at a time. Together with residents, I will write a new chapter in Sangju's growth, a city bustling with people and a thriving economy.

— Finally, is there anything you would like to say to the people of Sangju?

I believe youth is a source of strength. Sangju stands at the edge of a cliff right now. This is the city that gave the Gyeongsang region its name, the seat of the Gyeongsang Provincial Office that served as the de facto provincial capital of its era, and a place that once had more than 260,000 residents — yet our population has now fallen below 90,000. There is an enormous amount of work to be done. But at the same time, I am confident. Sangju's future cannot be built by administration alone. It must be built together with residents. I will not look away from the hard realities of population decline and economic stagnation. I will change industry, jobs, the residential environment and tourism, one by one. I will build a city where residents feel change in their daily lives and think, "I'm glad I live in Sangju." Over the four years of this term, I will work with residents to build a vibrant Sangju — a city where people gather and the economy thrives.