Mayor Seo Young-hak creates new bureaus including a population, youth and education division under the city's ninth elected administration; changes take effect in January next year.
With the 2026 Yeosu Island Expo approaching its closing day, the city of Yeosu is undertaking a major administrative reorganization aimed at improving policy efficiency, shaping long-term strategy and responding to industrial challenges.
The overhaul will create three new bureaus — an Industry and Economy Bureau, a Population, Youth and Education Bureau, and an Agriculture, Forestry and Livestock Bureau — while the temporary Expo Support Group will be dissolved at year's end.
According to the city, seven new division-level units will be established, including a Future Strategy Office, while two existing units will be abolished. The overall structure will be adjusted to 15 bureaus, offices and groups, 93 division-level units and 395 teams — an increase of two bureaus, offices or groups, five division-level units and 12 teams over the current setup.
The newly created Industry and Economy Bureau will consolidate industry, economy, energy, labor and retail functions under one roof, linking industrial transition with support for businesses and workers.
A new Labor Co-prosperity Division will be established to support workers' rights and welfare, while the Agricultural Products Distribution Division will be reorganized into an Industrial Distribution Division to expand marketing channels for agricultural and fishery products and pursue overseas markets.
The Population, Youth and Education Bureau will address the pressing issue of population decline by integrating youth and education policy and strengthening care services.
Within the Social Welfare Bureau, a new Integrated Care Division and a disability policy team will be set up to coordinate care services and support people with disabilities.
A Future Strategy Office reporting directly to the mayor will plan and coordinate major policies and key projects, while an AI Innovation Division will work to incorporate artificial intelligence into city administration and local industry.
The Civic Communication Office will be renamed the Civic Sovereignty Office — following the example of neighboring Suncheon — to broaden public participation in policy.
A new Civic Autonomy Division will also be created to help residents engage directly in solving local issues. The existing direct-petition team will be renamed the Rapid Civil Affairs Team, with a target of responding on-site within 48 hours as a general rule.
The Agricultural Technology Center in Jusam-dong will be restructured from four divisions into two, with its agricultural policy and distribution functions transferred to the main city hall.
The reorganization will increase the city's civil servant headcount by 50 to 1,986, reflecting national policy directions and local demand.
"We plan to proceed with the reorganization with the goal of implementing it in January next year, following the necessary procedures including revisions to relevant ordinances and regulations and review by the city council," a city official said.
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