City launches pledge review panel with inaugural meeting

Hanam has begun the formal process of finalizing 104 campaign pledges for its 9th elected-term administration, submitting them to public scrutiny as the city pursues its goal of becoming the Greater Seoul area's top city for work, residence and leisure.

The city held the inaugural meeting of its 9th elected-term pledge implementation review panel Thursday at the city hall situation room, presenting appointment certificates to 20 citizen representatives selected through an open recruitment process designed to reflect the balance and diversity of each district.

The panel will serve as a civic participation body, reviewing the appropriateness of the proposed pledges and closely monitoring their progress and implementation from the perspective of residents in each living zone.

At Thursday's meeting, 104 pledges across five policy areas were unveiled in full — the result of departmental reviews and expert consultations conducted since June. The pledges comprise 28 welfare commitments, 26 in economy and culture, 25 in residential and urban development, 15 in transportation and 10 in education.

Among the priorities, the city highlighted several flagship projects aimed at overcoming a weak economic base and securing future growth drivers: the development of an AI innovation cluster in the Gyosan new town, simultaneous pursuit of a K-culture complex and a K-Han River national garden, urban development of the Camp Colburn site, and extensions of subway Lines 3 and 9.

The city plans to share panel feedback with relevant departments by Friday, complete a final review, and publish the confirmed pledges on its website by Oct. 8. Even after the pledges are finalized, any changes or adjustments to individual projects will require panel review, ensuring continued transparency and objectivity in city administration.

"Campaign pledges are a precious and solemn promise made to citizens, so it is only right that we openly disclose what we are pursuing, how we are pursuing it, and how adjustments are made — and seek their judgment together," Hanam Mayor Lee Hyeon-jae said. "I ask the panel members representing each district to look carefully and serve as a bridge, conveying the candid voices of residents so that policies people can truly feel in their daily lives are brought to completion."


pjh@heraldcorp.com