Park Jung-hyun, the new chairman of the Presidential Committee for Decentralization and Balanced Development, said on the 12th that he would "draw on experience built up in the regions to support a national shift in which the regions themselves become engines of growth."
The presidential committee held an inauguration ceremony for Park, its third chairman, the same day. Park, whose post carries ministerial rank, was born in 1964 in Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province, and graduated from Buyeo High School and Dongguk University with a degree in political science and diplomacy. He served as special policy adviser to the South Chungcheong governor and as the province's vice governor for political affairs before serving as Buyeo county mayor from 2018 to 2026, covering the seventh and eighth terms of elected local government.
In his inaugural address, Park identified the government's "five hubs and three special zones" balanced growth strategy as the central task of region-led growth, and laid out a plan to translate industrial gains into higher incomes, jobs and better living conditions for residents.
He said he would link regional industries with workforce training to ensure corporate investment leads to quality jobs and the creation of local industrial ecosystems, drawing cooperation from relevant ministries and local governments. "A structure in which a region's central city, the surrounding cities and counties, and farming, mountain and fishing villages develop together is also important," he stressed. He also cited helping young adults settle in the regions and expanding health care, caregiving and other living infrastructure as key tasks.
On administrative mergers and mega-region cooperation, Park said he would "move forward while respecting the will of residents and local conditions." He also plans to review whether projects included in mega-region special agreements are translating into actual investment, jobs and improvements in transport and everyday services. He intends to link the construction of a presidential office and a National Assembly complex in Sejong, as well as the relocation of state-run institutions to the regions, to building up a foundation for regional growth.
"I will report the tasks that need attention to the president and work out solutions with the relevant ministries," Park said. "For the tasks we set together, I will see them through to implementation and results."