Eight-year-old fixtures, official vehicle and 'Powerful Chungnam' signs retained
'I will respect the sweat and toil of my predecessors for regional development'
Nearly two weeks after the launch of the ninth directly elected provincial administration under the banner "Connected Chungnam," vision signs at the provincial government headquarters and key gateways to the province's central city still carry the branding of the previous administration.
The sight is unusual compared with past transitions, when incoming administrations would replace vision signs throughout the main office and affiliated agencies overnight — often during late-night hours between the outgoing and incoming governors' ceremonies.
The coexistence of signs from two consecutive administrations, a rare occurrence among South Korea's provinces and cities, is deliberate and symbolic.
Before taking office, Park told a comprehensive briefing of the "Connected Chungnam Preparatory Committee" — the transition team — that "Powerful Chungnam, the Power of the Republic of Korea" was a fine slogan. He said he wanted to minimize sign replacements and leave three-dimensional signs at locations such as the Hongbuk Tunnel as they are.
In the opening of his July 1 inaugural address, Park said, "The directly elected South Chungcheong provincial administration, which began in 1995, has been a sweat-and-blood struggle to develop our region," adding that "the subsequent flow of provincial governance continued with Governor Yang Seung-jo's 'Welfare Chungnam,' which improved the quality of life for residents, and Governor Kim Tae-heum's 'Powerful Chungnam,' which attracted significant government and corporate investment to our region."
Park has also inherited virtually all office furnishings — including desks in the governor's office, reception room and lounge, as well as meeting tables and chairs — replacing only two personal work chairs.
The furniture in the governor's office was purchased in bulk when the provincial headquarters relocated to Naepocheon in 2012 and has been maintained and repaired for more than 13 and a half years since. During the seventh and eighth administrations — a span of eight years — 26 additional pieces were purchased as needed, bringing the total to 63 items currently in use.
The furniture has sustained minor and major damage over the years from the many people who have used it during meetings, visits and official receptions. The province carries out repairs during the governor's extended trips away from the office.
The governor's official vehicle has also been passed down through successive administrations; the car, registered in July 2018, has been in continuous use through the seventh and eighth terms and remains in service now.
The province also plans to use up remaining copies of the "Powerful Chungnam" provincial newsletter — still in their original packaging — over the next two months rather than discard them.
"The history of past administrations represents a response to the demands of the times and deserves full respect," Park said. "I will carry forward the spirit of those administrations together with their signs, furnishings and vehicles."
kwonhl@heraldcorp.com
