Gyeonggi Lawmaker Protests to Bring Back Goyang City's Cat Mascot

A Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly member staged a protest demanding the return of Goyang City's beloved cat mascot, his office said Wednesday.

Myung Jae-sung, a Democratic Party lawmaker representing Goyang's fifth district, held a one-person picket demonstration in front of Goyang City Hall calling for the reinstatement of "Goyang Goyangi," the city's official character.

The cat mascot was created by Goyang City in 2012 and gained widespread popularity through social media, winning the top prize at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's "Local Character Awards" in 2019. The character has contributed to the local economy through various promotional content and branded merchandise.

However, the mascot's use has declined since the current mayoral administration took office. Mayor Lee Dong-hwan said during a city council session in November that "promotional strategies using the character have failed to elevate the Goyang city brand, instead becoming fixated on the cat character without leading to effective policy promotion." He added that there are "no specific plans to utilize the Goyang Goyangi character."

"Local governments across the country are pouring resources into character development to boost regional image and connect with the public, yet Goyang alone is leading the charge to erase its mascot," Myung said. "The value of a character lies in its continuity. It is incomprehensible that a character beloved by citizens was discontinued simply because it was created under a different political party."

Myung also conducted a protest wearing a cat costume at Hwajeong Rodeo Street, a popular shopping area, on Tuesday.