Goryeong-gun transitions to acting county chief after death of county governor

Goryeong-gun in North Gyeongsang Province announced Friday that Deputy County Governor Jeong Gwang-ho will serve as acting county governor until a successor is elected and inaugurated at the April 2027 by-election, following the death of County Governor Lee Nam-cheol from a chronic illness on Tuesday.

Goryeong-gun held a solemn state funeral on Thursday, honoring the late Lee's dedication to county administration and drawing deep mourning from residents.

After the funeral, senior county officials convened a meeting to review overall county operations under the acting governor arrangement and discuss measures to ensure a smooth transition.

"The people of this county are always at the center of county governance, and my duty under any circumstances is to run county affairs in a stable manner in accordance with law and principle," Acting County Governor Jeong said. "I will pay close attention to the everyday concerns of residents and ensure that public-facing administration is carried out without lapse."