Uljin-gun County Chief Hwang Yi-ju assists passengers boarding and alighting at a bus stop in front of the Uljin-gun county office as part of his "traveling field county chief's office" outreach initiative. [Uljin-gun]
Uljin-gun County Chief Hwang Yi-ju assists passengers boarding and alighting at a bus stop in front of the Uljin-gun county office as part of his "traveling field county chief's office" outreach initiative. [Uljin-gun]

The ninth directly elected administration of Uljin-gun in North Gyeongsang Province has marked its first 100 days in office.

According to Uljin-gun on Thursday, the ninth-term administration, which launched July 1 under the banner "Change and Innovation! A Leaping Uljin," has focused on stabilizing livelihoods, field-centered governance and resolving local issues.

The county has set practical, resident-oriented administration as its core direction, pursuing policies aimed at improving daily living conditions and revitalizing the local economy.

Among its early initiatives, the administration sought to provide every resident with 300,000 won ($224) in livelihood support funds, but the county council rejected the measure during budget deliberations. The county is also working to introduce a "happiness energy basic income" scheme designed to return the fruits of regional development to residents.

Since taking office, County Chief Hwang Yi-ju has been listening directly to residents through a "traveling field county chief's office" initiative, visiting major project sites and community areas to address problems on the ground. The county also plans to raise administrative transparency and effectiveness by opening senior staff meetings to the public and reviewing existing projects.

Uljin-gun has also been strengthening external cooperation to tackle local issues. In July, it held a policy consultation with National Assembly member Park Hyung-su to secure central government funding for 2027.

On Sept. 14, the county held a policy forum with Democratic Party lawmaker Im Mi-ae, discussing the construction of the Cheongsong–Hupo expressway, the widening of National Route 36 to four lanes, and issues related to nuclear power plants in the area.

Under the future vision of "Uljin, capital of the energy industry," the county is also working to attract businesses and industries to create quality jobs.

The county plans to address areas closely tied to residents' daily lives, including the stable operation of Uljin County Medical Center, expanding specialized medical infrastructure, and improving transportation and welfare services.

"What matters as much as the growth of future industries is ensuring that the benefits flow back to the local economy and residents' lives," County Chief Hwang said. "Going forward, I will continue to focus on looking after livelihoods and strengthening on-the-ground communication — listening to residents and correcting what is wrong."


kbj7653@heraldcorp.com