Mapo-gu held the inauguration ceremony for its 9th directly elected district mayor, Yoo Dong-gyun, at the grand hall of the Mapo-gu Office on Tuesday afternoon.
The event drew National Assembly lawmakers, district council members, heads of affiliated agencies and civic organizations, and local residents, all gathered to celebrate Yoo's inauguration.
Before the ceremony began, Yoo and his wife personally greeted each attendee, expressing their gratitude and welcome.
The program opened with a busking performance, followed by the formal opening declaration, a vision proclamation and inauguration celebration performance for the 9th term, congratulatory messages, a screening of a "Voices of Residents" video featuring resident interviews, guest speeches, the inaugural address, and a closing celebratory performance.
In his inaugural address, Yoo said, "I stand here bearing a profound sense of responsibility as the 9th directly elected district mayor, entrusted with opening a new future for Mapo." He added, "I bow my head in deep gratitude to the residents who have again placed this important duty in my hands."
He went on to say, "The past four years were a time of reflection and preparation — a period of coming to understand this community more deeply — and through that process I heard the heartfelt voices of residents yearning for change." He said the district's new vision for the 9th term, "Mapo on the Move Again! A Future We Build Together," was drawn from those aspirations.
Yoo said improving the living environment would be his first priority, outlining plans to accelerate redevelopment and reconstruction projects and expand sports infrastructure, including a multipurpose cultural and sports center and small-scale park golf courses.
He also said AI-driven administrative innovation would strengthen resident services across civil affairs guidance, health management and public safety, while welfare policies spanning all generations would make everyday care a matter of course.
Yoo said the "Seniors' Meal Table" program would be institutionalized to give it a stable, permanent foundation.
He added that the district would also push to become a destination-style cultural tourism city and step up support for education and youth.
Closing his address, Yoo said, "If the 7th directly elected term was a time of sowing seeds for Mapo's change and growth, now is the time of certain leap forward — a time to make those seeds bloom and bear abundant fruit." He said, "I will build a Mapo where no one is left behind and everyone can be happy together."
The ceremony was also attended by Yoo's mother and his middle school teacher.
Yoo introduced them to the audience, saying, "My mother raised me through difficult times, and my teacher took my hand when I was ready to give up on my studies due to our family's hardship and told me never to let go of learning." He briefly became emotional as he spoke.
He then pledged, "I will lead the district with integrity and honesty — so that I may be a student my teacher need not be ashamed of, and a son my mother can be proud of for the rest of her life." The audience responded with warm applause.
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