The Start of New Year's Communication Efforts with the Dong Work Report Meeting...Direct Meetings between District Mayor Kim Mi-kyung and Residents Leading to Policies...Establishing the Nation's Best Resident Participation Budget System as a Result of Resident Communication
Kim Mikyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong District, is giving a greeting speech at the Daejo-dong neighborhood work report meeting.
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The Chinese character for communication (疏通) means "to clear a blockage." We usually say communication is poor when cars are stuck and cannot move forward. Similarly, in human relationships, if things do not go well, we say communication is not effective.
The same applies to autonomous district administration. No matter how good a policy is, it cannot be effective if there is a blockage between the administration and residents. Therefore, communication administration is important. Among the autonomous districts in Seoul, Eunpyeong-gu (District Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) has been swiftly implementing communication administration starting with the neighborhood office work report meetings early in the new year.
Mayor Kim Mi-kyung communicates directly with residents through various formats and institutionalizes communication. As a result, the nation’s best resident participation budget system, where residents participate in budget planning and execution, is in operation. Eunpyeong-gu is steadily building the foundation of grassroots democracy.
◇The start of communication efforts: 2020 neighborhood office work report meetings
Eunpyeong-gu’s communication efforts for the new year began with neighborhood office work report meetings. From the 8th to the 22nd, Eunpyeong-gu held story concert-style meetings where residents directly expressed their wishes and desires, and together with residents, the direction of district administration was discussed on-site.
At the neighborhood office work report meeting held at Galhyeon 1-dong Community Center, a resident asked a question regarding health welfare for the elderly. The answer was given by a panel member from the welfare facility. He introduced the "care manager" system and emphasized the importance of resident communication. Through this process, residents learned about the care service system for the elderly. It was a moment when the district office’s concrete policies reached the residents.
In particular, the common theme of Eunpyeong-gu’s 2020 neighborhood office work report meetings was cooperation and communication through network formation. The purpose of these meetings was to strengthen the village community based on this.
◇Communication leads to institutionalization and policy
Communication with residents has been a continuous policy since the inauguration of Mayor Kim Mi-kyung in the 7th local government. After being elected, Mayor Kim formed the "Eunpyeong Tomorrow Preparation Team" to understand the current status of district administration.
The communication efforts continued. A "resident participation-type work handover meeting" was held, starting with neighborhood visits and greetings, to communicate with residents about the direction of district administration and campaign projects.
Additionally, opinions from local residents who could not attend the neighborhood office work report meetings were directly heard through about 20 meetings, including in Jingwan-dong.
Moreover, last year, Eunpyeong-gu celebrated its 40th anniversary by holding a district-wide sports festival to promote resident communication.
Communication efforts led to institutionalization. Meetings turned into policies. Eunpyeong-gu reorganized its structure, elevating the existing Public-Private Cooperation Division to the Cooperation Officer directly under the Deputy Mayor, encouraging residents to become the main agents of district administration. Recognizing the importance of empowering citizens to spread village democracy, a Citizen Education Division was newly established. Institutionalization can be seen as communication becoming more solidified beyond direct meetings with residents.
◇Resident participation budget system as a result of communication and participation
Eunpyeong-gu’s strength in communication is evident in the well-established resident participation budget system that has been running for 10 years. The resident participation budget system carries out customized projects that residents truly need through public contests. For example, the Gusan-dong Library Village, praised by President Moon Jae-in as a model case of the Life SOC project, was built reflecting residents’ opinions from the design to the operation of the library through a public contest.
Also, the overall district budget is reviewed by the Resident Participation Committee composed of Eunpyeong residents, who express the residents’ opinions. This ensures that residents’ voices are reflected in district administration.
Accordingly, in 2019, Eunpyeong-gu was selected as the best local government in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s Resident Participation Budget Policy Forum Development Plan Excellent Policy Competition, showing remarkable achievements in communication and participation compared to other autonomous districts.
Mayor Kim Mi-kyung of Eunpyeong-gu stated, “Encouraging resident communication and participation may slow down administration somewhat, but the confirmed administrative direction manifests as practical results through trust between the public and private sectors,” highlighting the significance of communication efforts.
The Eungam 3-dong neighborhood office work report meeting was uniquely conducted with a concept involving youth. A high school student said, “There are many places in the area where youth should not go, but few places to go. I hope more spaces for youth will be provided,” suggesting the expansion of cultural spaces for youth.
Mayor Kim Mi-kyung, who participated as a panelist with the youth, responded responsibly, “I will gather various demands from youth together with many people who participated in the work report meeting, including high school principals, library directors, members of the National Assembly, district council members, and police station chiefs.”
The expressions of residents leaving the community center after the work report meeting were bright. It was a scene of communication confirmed at Eunpyeong-gu’s neighborhood office work report meetings welcomed in the new year.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
