Democratic Party Candidate Sung Su-seok for Icheon Mayor Announces 'Five Shared Economic Growth Pledges'

[News S=Reporter Um In-yong] Sung Su-seok, the Democratic Party's candidate for Icheon mayor, announced on the 1st the 'Five Shared Economic Growth Pledges' for revitalizing the local economy, declaring that he will bring about structural transformation to ensure that various development projects underway in Icheon lead to local economic revitalization.

Candidate Sung stated in a press release on the 1st, "Currently, Icheon is undertaking large-scale projects including thousands of billions of won in apartment construction, industrial complex development, and logistics facility projects without cease." He added, "However, local ready-mix concrete and construction material companies, equipment and transportation businesses, and local enterprises are either excluded from construction sites or have extremely low participation rates, creating serious relative deprivation."

He continued, "There are many businesses making huge profits in the region, while the voices from the field emphasize that substantial tangible benefits remaining in the local economy are far inadequate." He emphasized, "Now is the time to establish a virtuous cycle structure where the fruits of development are returned entirely to the local community."

To achieve this, Candidate Sung first pledged to introduce the 'Icheon Priority Purchase and Priority Use System.'

The plan is to strongly encourage the use of major construction materials and equipment produced in Icheon, such as ready-mix concrete and asphalt concrete, by concluding local business participation agreements in the approval process of not only public works but also large-scale private development projects.

Furthermore, he stated, "We will transparently disclose to citizens the actual use of local businesses at apartment construction sites, industrial complexes, logistics centers, and other facilities, allowing citizens to directly evaluate companies' contribution to the local economy. We will also introduce a 'Local Subcontracting Target System' to ensure tangible work opportunities for local construction, equipment, and transportation companies."

In particular, he explained, "We will implement an 'Expanded Priority Purchase Policy for Locally-Produced Products in Public Works' where Icheon City Hall, subordinate agencies, and affiliated organizations prioritize purchasing products from local small and medium enterprises and goods from small business owners, taking the lead in opening sales channels first as a public sector."

He added, "Through the establishment of a new 'Local Economic Shared Growth Agreement System,' we will comprehensively promote ▲local workforce recruitment ▲local material use ▲local business subcontracting participation ▲expansion of local agricultural products and small business utilization."

While emphasizing, "For companies operating on Icheon land and generating profits in Icheon, it is natural to coexist and achieve mutual growth with the local community," he stated, "I will establish a healthy economic ecosystem where the economic effects generated in the region do not leak to the outside but circulate again within the region."

Furthermore, he expressed, "I will create a shared growth city, Icheon, where large enterprises and local small business owners grow together." He added, "I am committed to completing a practical economic policy where Icheon's money circulates in Icheon, and this in turn leads to increased employment and income for citizens."