Heo Tae-jeong inaugurated as Daejeon mayor, vows to tackle fiscal crisis head-on with vision of 'Daejeon opened by science, flourishing through people's livelihoods'
Daejeon Mayor Heo Tae-jeong launched his ninth elected-term administration Tuesday, declaring he would confront the city's fiscal crisis head-on.
In his inauguration speech, Heo acknowledged the severity of a fiscal crunch caused by declining tax revenues compounded by the financial burden of large-scale projects. He pledged to pursue what he called "strategic fiscal innovation" — aggressively cutting unnecessary programs.
He also called on city officials to move beyond routine, appearance-driven administration and deliver governance that citizens can tangibly feel, while building a public-service culture where bold innovation is fairly rewarded and proven through results.
Heo outlined six core priorities for his term: restoring people's livelihoods, an AI-driven future growth strategy, building Daejeon into a city for youth, realizing carbon neutrality, establishing a comprehensive welfare system, and creating a city where residents can enjoy themselves, stay active and put down roots.
On livelihoods, he said the city would develop Ontong Daejeon — its local currency platform — into a regional economic platform integrated with welfare and administrative services, injecting vitality into neighborhood commerce and the local economy. On growth, the city plans to build a data center and an integrated AI data platform, and to fuse AI with Daejeon's key industries — biotech, semiconductors, sensors, defense and drones — to secure future growth engines.
Heo also outlined plans to expand youth employment and residential support, introduce citizen-participatory carbon neutrality policies, and build a Daejeon-style integrated care system. He added that the city would strengthen community-based cultural, arts and sports infrastructure and successfully host the 2027 Summer World University Games, with the aim of making Daejeon an attractive city where residents can enjoy themselves and want to stay.
"I will listen to citizens' voices first, look after their lives first, and take their wishes as the compass of city governance," Heo said. "I will boldly write, together with all of you, the era of a Daejeon opened by science and made to flourish through the livelihoods of its people."
kwonhl@heraldcorp.com
