Park Wan-soo, the Governor of Gyeongnam Province, personally visited Tongyeong and Geoje, areas that suffered significant damage from record-breaking heavy rains this summer, to inspect holiday prices and listen to residents’ voices. This on-site visit went beyond a simple holiday greeting; it was arranged to console local merchants, firefighters, and self-reliance program participants who are overcoming the flood damage. It holds great significance in that the Governor directly checked the actual cost of living felt by citizens and sought immediate solutions on the ground. In a time when everyone is saying they are afraid to open their wallets ahead of Chuseok, the Governor’s presence in traditional markets communicating with merchants provided a small comfort to many. In particular, returning to those who worked tirelessly in the summer flood scenes to express gratitude and assess their difficulties demonstrates the desirable direction for public administration. We will take a detailed look at how the provincial government is moving to ensure that no one is left behind and everyone can spend a warm Chuseok during the remaining holiday period.
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Why Governor Park Wan-soo Visited Tongyeong and Geoje to Check on Local Livelihoods Ahead of Chuseok
1. Shopping and Price Check at Tongyeong Central Traditional Market
On the 21st, Governor Park personally visited Tongyeong Central Traditional Market to exchange warm greetings with merchants ahead of the busy holiday season. He went through shops selling dried seafood, live fish, vegetables, and shellfish one by one, even purchasing items for holiday offerings himself. He also had casual conversations with local residents who came shopping, directly feeling how much prices have risen recently. He met separately with the Merchants Association to hear firsthand accounts of how the market is recovering after last summer’s floods. He also held a meaningful session to exchange sincere opinions on environmental improvements and revitalization plans for traditional markets. He instructed the accompanying officials to carefully examine the holiday prices felt by citizens and to devise measures to alleviate the financial difficulties of merchants. He reaffirmed his commitment to meticulously attend to every small request made on the ground. The Governor’s visit served as an opportunity for struggling merchants to find some relief and strength. This initiative, which involved filling shopping baskets while walking through the market alleys, will remain a model case for revitalizing traditional markets.
Governor Park visited Tongyeong Central Traditional Market, directly purchasing holiday items to check grocery prices and communicate with merchants.
2. Visiting Tongyeong Fire Station to Encourage Flood Response Heroes
After touring the Tongyeong market, Governor Park immediately headed to the Tongyeong Fire Station to express his deep gratitude to the firefighters. During the extreme heavy rains in August, members of the Tongyeong Fire Station engaged in over a hundred instances of drainage support and landslide rescue operations. It was a gathering to commend the efforts of the firefighters who risked their lives on the front lines of the flood scenes to protect the lives and property of citizens. The Governor shook hands with each firefighter, asking them to maintain fire prevention measures and a state of readiness for rapid response even during the holiday break. He emphasized that creating a work environment where firefighters can rest peacefully while protecting citizens’ safety is also an important duty of the provincial government. He also promised unwavering support from the province to ensure that the efforts of firefighters working in dangerous conditions are not in vain. Fire station staff expressed their gratitude, saying they gained great strength from the Governor’s unexpected visit and warm encouragement. Although it is a time when one might get caught up in the holiday spirit, the sight of those who do not let their guard down to protect citizens’ safety is reassuring. It was a precious time of on-site communication that reaffirmed the principle that safety is the top priority.
He visited the Tongyeong Fire Station, which played an active role in last summer’s flood scenes, to encourage the members and urge thorough preparation during the holiday period.
3. Visiting Geoje Local Self-Reliance Center to Meticulously Check Working Conditions
After completing his schedule in Tongyeong, Governor Park visited the Geoje Local Self-Reliance Center to meet with workers and staff participating in self-reliance programs. This center carries out various self-reliance projects, including manufacturing “Hope Lunch Boxes,” operating convenience stores, and cultivating agricultural products. The Governor meticulously inspected every corner, from the training hall and food pre-processing workshop to the cafeteria and woodworking workshop. He discussed various ways to ensure that products made by each business unit have proper competitiveness in the market and can expand their sales channels. He checked the working conditions of participants on the ground, directly verifying whether heating and cooling facilities were well-equipped and if there was sufficient rest space. He emphasized the importance of laying a solid foundation for true self-reliance, going beyond simply providing jobs to those who want to work. Participants expressed that they were moved by the Governor coming personally to listen to their grievances and care for their working environment. It was a scene that demonstrated the core of welfare: instilling the hope that hard work leads to self-reliance.
He visited the Geoje Local Self-Reliance Center to inspect the workshop environment and meticulously check the working conditions of self-reliance program participants.
4. Urging Smooth Progress of Geoje Local Self-Reliance Center Construction Project
During the on-site inspection of the Geoje Local Self-Reliance Center, Governor Park repeatedly emphasized the importance of facility expansion and revealed strong determination. Currently, the province is investing a budget of over 4.7 billion won to build a new self-reliance center, aiming for completion by 2029. Once the new center is built, more residents in the Geoje area will be able to participate in self-reliance programs in a comfortable environment. The Governor instructed that all processes, from the design stage to completion, be carried out without any issues according to plan. He urged that the space layout be practical so that the center can serve as a cradle for those dreaming of self-reliance, not just a building. The project must be guided in a direction that maintains transparency in budget execution and allows local residents to enjoy substantial benefits. If the self-reliance foundation in the Geoje area becomes even stronger, more people will be able to break the vicious cycle of poverty and stand as full members of society. Expanding such welfare infrastructure to help each citizen achieve self-reliance is a core task that Gyeongnam Province will continue to pursue.
He instructed the smooth completion of the 4.7 billion won Geoje Local Self-Reliance Center construction project, which is underway with a target completion date of 2029.
5. The Provincial Government’s Promise for a Warm Chuseok for Everyone
Governor Park’s recent livelihood visits to Tongyeong and Geoje were ultimately the fulfillment of a promise to meticulously care for all citizens so that no one is left behind. He did not forget the pain of residents who lost their livelihoods or faced significant inconvenience due to unprecedented heavy rains this summer, visiting them to offer comfort. He shared warmth by shaking hands with merchants struggling with rising prices ahead of the holiday and firefighters working hard on the front lines. He made efforts to fill the blind spots of welfare by supporting the self-reliance of those silently sweating on the ground. This field-centered administration serves as a great driving force for citizens to restore their trust in the government and welcome a warm holiday. True leadership is not just sitting at a desk receiving reports, but rushing to dusty sites to listen to voices. Gyeongnam Province plans to continue checking measures for preventing various safety accidents and stabilizing livelihoods during the holiday period. It has repeatedly confirmed its policy to mobilize all administrative resources to ensure that all citizens can spend a plentiful and warm Chuseok.
He pledged to promote meticulous livelihood stability so that no one is left behind, from flood victims to self-reliance participants.
6. Future Outlook for Gyeongnam Brought by On-Site Communication
Governor Park’s visit to Tongyeong and Geoje was not a one-off show of administration but an opportunity to lay the foundation for sustainable regional development. The act of taking full responsibility for flood recovery sites until the end washed away citizens’ anxiety about disasters and gave them peace of mind. The comfort and promises of support offered to traditional market merchants and self-reliance participants will serve as a catalyst to inject vitality into the local economy. Going forward, Gyeongnam Province is expected to actively reflect the voices from the field in its policies and carry out administration where citizens are the masters. Readers, why not visit a traditional market near you this Chuseok and offer warm encouragement to the merchants? We also hope you will pay a little attention to neighbors in your community who are silently striving for self-reliance, making this a warm holiday. We sincerely support the hope that Gyeongnam Province’s meticulous livelihood policies will lead to real changes, bringing smiles to the faces of all citizens. Please continue to watch as Gyeongnam’s vibrant tomorrow unfolds, with administration and citizens joining hands to overcome difficulties.
Through thorough on-site communication and support, Gyeongnam Province is expected to build a warmer and safer future together with its citizens.
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