Gangneung mayor makes rounds at National Assembly, government offices and civic groups

Gangneung has long had a reputation as a city of stately traditions — a popular tourist destination whose established residents prided themselves on reserve. That image is beginning to change.

Where the city once rarely pressed the central government or the National Assembly for anything, it is now doing so with growing frequency in pursuit of change.

Gangneung Mayor Kim Joong-nam has been meeting in quick succession with lawmakers, government officials and civic organizations to seek support for the city's key priorities, including the construction of a new KTX station.

On Tuesday, Kim met with a series of National Assembly and government officials to propose two flagship projects he said are fundamental to the city's development: the establishment of a new KTX Nam-Gangneung Station and the creation of a tentatively named National Gangneung Cultural Heritage Research Institute.

The new KTX station is a campaign pledge from the ninth directly elected mayoral term. The project is expected to relieve congestion at the existing Gangneung Station, which has reached capacity, while laying the groundwork to expand the city's transport potential ahead of the planned opening of the Jejin–Gangneung and Suseo–Gangneung rail lines.

On the proposed cultural heritage research institute, Kim said the facility would give the city the infrastructure to respond swiftly to major disasters — citing the large-scale wildfire that struck Gangneung in April 2023 — and establish a research hub for cultural heritage across Gangwon Province.

Kim also held his first meeting since taking office in the ninth term with two Seoul-based civic groups: the Gangneung Citizens' Association in Seoul and the Gangneung High School Alumni Council in Seoul.

The gatherings were an opportunity to ask those living in Seoul and the greater metropolitan area to do more for their hometown. Kim expressed gratitude for their affection for Gangneung and urged them to lend greater support to the city's development. The assembled alumni, long known for their dignified reserve, appeared to welcome the city's newfound momentum and responded with enthusiasm.

"I will continue to raise awareness of Gangneung's priorities, seek support and attention, and work to build a Gangneung that is changing for the better," Kim said. "I intend to further strengthen my external outreach going forward."