[Provided by the Daegu mayoral transition committee]
[Provided by the Daegu mayoral transition committee]

Daegu mayor-elect Choo Kyung-ho has been reaching out to civic organizations ahead of the launch of the ninth directly elected city administration.

Choo visited Daegu Chamyeo Yondae, a local civic watchdog group, on Friday to hear firsthand views on regional issues and ways to expand citizen participation.

The visit signaled his intent to actively incorporate diverse voices from civil society into the city's governance.

At the meeting, participants exchanged views on a range of issues, including ways to boost civic engagement, advance local autonomy, promote human rights and build a more sustainable community.

Representatives of Daegu Chamyeo Yondae said civil society has a key role to play in the city's development and stressed the need for open communication throughout the policy process.

"Civic organizations are important partners in regional development," Choo said. "Innovation and change in Daegu cannot be achieved through administrative effort alone, so I will consistently engage with civil society to find solutions together."

He added that he would "create an environment where citizens can participate more broadly in the policy process and freely share their views, so that city governance is truly carried out with the people." He also pledged to keep meeting a wide range of civic groups to ensure that on-the-ground voices are faithfully reflected in policy.

An official at Daegu Chamyeo Yondae said it was rare for a mayor-elect to visit a civic group in person, calling the move "symbolically significant as a demonstration of his commitment to engaging with civil society."

Meanwhile, Choo has recently visited a series of organizations — including the Daegu branch of Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice, the Daegu Women's Hotline and groups representing people with disabilities — as he broadens his outreach to civil society.

Local observers are watching closely to see whether this pattern of engagement will translate into stronger collaborative governance and communication once he takes office.


kbj7653@heraldcorp.com