Park Wan-su marks 100 days in office with three-pronged reform plan
Reforms target provincial administration, organizational culture and public institutions
'The 9th elected term must be when residents feel real results,' governor says
South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-su unveiled a three-pronged reform plan covering provincial administration, organizational culture and public institutions, pledging to expand public participation and sharpen administrative execution so residents can feel tangible results.
The provincial government held a press briefing Tuesday at the provincial government conference room, with about 50 journalists in attendance, where Park presented what officials called the "three major provincial reform measures." The plan centers on incorporating public opinion into policy and making the progress of policy implementation publicly available.
At the briefing, Park cited five key achievements from his first 100 days: the designation of a specialized complex for shipbuilding and offshore plant materials, parts and equipment; the enactment of the small modular reactor special act; the establishment of a manufacturing AI data center in South Gyeongsang Province; the push to partially open the Bujeon–Masan double-track railway; and the introduction of a generative AI-based integrated welfare platform. "I will focus on execution-driven administration so that these achievements translate into quality jobs and real improvements in residents' lives," he said.
On the administration front, Park plans to hold an annual provincial assembly to incorporate public opinion into major policy directions and budget planning. He will also pursue a "Future Together Talk" series with all 18 cities and counties to discuss policy, while strengthening on-the-ground communication with residents on livelihood issues. The status of policy implementation and the handling of public proposals will be disclosed online, and a regular reporting session chaired by the vice governor will monitor progress. The province also plans to make public the full review and processing of submitted public proposals.
The organizational culture reforms focus on performance-based rewards and greater efficiency. Staff handling disaster response, high-intensity or unpopular duties will receive extra points toward promotion, and special promotions and pay raises will be expanded. The province will also pursue AI conversion of routine and repetitive tasks, operate a standing communication channel and take steps to prevent workplace harassment.
For public institutions, the reform plan calls for incorporating resident-evaluation indicators into assessments of agency heads' performance, and for gradually raising the performance bonus ceiling tied to management evaluations. Each institution will conduct its own organizational review to eliminate overlapping or redundant functions, and will be required to carry out a signature community-contribution project and a public-pledge project.
Park also flagged several other major pending issues: a second round of public institution relocations, attracting a consolidated headquarters for power-generation public enterprises, keeping the Naval Academy in Jinhae, building an aerospace complex city, and enacting a special act for the development of the South Sea coastal zone. The provincial government said it would concentrate its administrative resources on advancing these initiatives.
"Building on the foundation laid during the 8th elected term, I will make the 9th elected term a period in which South Gyeongsang Province clearly takes off and residents feel the results," Park said. "I will carry out our promises to residents one by one, with accountability."
ook967@heraldcorp.com
