[Seoul District News] Yangcheon-gu Achieves Grade 2 in 2021 Public Institution Integrity Assessment by Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, Reaffirming Status as Excellent Public Institution... Yongsan-gu's Im Hwa-seop and Ryu Sang-hoon Selected as 'Civil Servants of the Year'... Gwanak-gu Shoemaker Group Donates Over 130 Million Won in 32 Years Through Love Shoe Shine Event... Yeongdeungpo-gu Hosts 'Smart Medical Fam Tour' with Foreign SNS Influencers... Launch of 3rd Resident Autonomy Committee for 'Geumcheon-style Resident Autonomy'
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) has achieved a comprehensive integrity rating of Grade 2 for six consecutive years in the '2021 Public Institution Integrity Measurement' conducted by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.
The public institution integrity evaluation, led by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, was conducted on 592 institutions nationwide. The evaluation reflected survey results on corruption experiences and work integrity from residents who have dealt with public institutions (external integrity) and affiliated employees (internal integrity), as well as the occurrence status of corruption incidents.
Yangcheon-gu received scores higher than the national average in both internal and external integrity, maintaining a comprehensive integrity rating of Grade 2 from 2016 through this year, demonstrating its excellence as a district with outstanding integrity.
In particular, throughout this year, various integrity policies were implemented to strengthen employees' awareness of integrity and raise vigilance against corruption risks. These included the 'Integrity Report Simulation Training,' where employees directly report hypothetical corruption situations such as bribery and improper solicitation to the reporting center, and the operation of 'Haewoori Integrity Talk,' a mobile anonymous reporting channel for corruption and power abuse, helping employees effectively respond to corrupt acts.
Additionally, educational programs tailored to employees' perspectives, such as the 'Integrity Golden Bell,' designed to make theoretical education on the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act and the protection system for whistleblowers engaging and fun, and training on the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act for permit and tax administration practitioners, have actively contributed to raising integrity awareness and fostering a clean organizational culture.
Mayor Kim Soo-young stated, “Beyond simply preventing corruption, Yangcheon-gu's goal is to implement integrity administration that residents can feel through kind and proactive work processes,” adding, “We will not be satisfied with the current evaluation results and will strive further to realize 'life-oriented integrity' that residents can experience through continuous communication with them.”
Yongsan-gu (Mayor Seong Jang-hyun) selected Lim Hwa-seop, Head of the Infectious Disease Control Team (left), as the grand prize winner and Ryu Sang-hoon, Welfare Planning Team Leader, as the main prize winner of the 11th Cheongbaek Public Official Award.
Team Leader Lim Hwa-seop is a 26-year veteran public official who began his public service career in 1995 and has demonstrated outstanding capabilities in the health sector, dedicating himself to the district's health policies.
Especially during the prolonged COVID-19 phase, Lim, as the head of the district's Infectious Disease Control Team, took the lead in proactively responding to various quarantine crises such as COVID-19 cluster infections in food establishments and hospitals, earning high praise for actively preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
He also showed a strong commitment to continue infectious disease management work until COVID-19 ends, setting an exemplary standard for others to follow to ensure residents' safe and happy return to daily life.
The main prize winner, Welfare Planning Team Leader Ryu Sang-hoon, is a 31-year veteran public official. Despite handling difficult tasks, he is known for prioritizing others and fostering a pleasant workplace atmosphere, encouraging his colleagues.
Ryu said, “I am happy to receive this great award thanks to the residents and my fellow staff,” adding, “As welfare requires a new role as a social service due to COVID-19, I will do my best to ensure no welfare blind spots occur through non-face-to-face work.”
The district received nominations for the 11th Cheongbaek Public Official Award from inside and outside the organization between September and October. After document screening and verification of achievements, an award committee with 11 external members was held last month to finalize the winners.
The committee decided Lim and Ryu as the grand prize and main prize winners, respectively. The district will provide them with prize money ranging from 1 to 2 million KRW, priority placement in desired departments, overseas training, and other benefits.
Yongsan-gu established the Cheongbaek Public Official Award in 2011 as the first autonomous district in Seoul to foster trust from residents and improve public service culture. Up to this year, 21 public officials (10 grand prize winners and 11 main prize winners) have been selected over 11 editions.
Mayor Seong Jang-hyun said, “Public officials who are honest, frugal, and hardworking deserve proper recognition,” and congratulated the two officials selected as the 11th Cheongbaek Public Officials.
Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) Gwanak Greenery Association has once again delivered warm kindness to neighbors in need, becoming a topic of attention this year.
The Gwanak Greenery Association is a group of shoemaking and repair shop operators active in the area, holding the annual 'Love Shoe Shine' event since 1990 to help neighbors in need.
Until last year, the 'Love Shoe Shine' event has raised about 127.7 million KRW in donations, practicing sharing through talent donation.
This year, due to COVID-19, the 32nd annual sharing event could not be held, but on the 3rd, 29 operators of shoe repair shops in the area individually conducted a 'One-day Love Shoe Shine' event, voluntarily raising 2 million KRW in daily proceeds including repair costs.
The entire donation, given as warm winter support funds, will be used to help vulnerable neighbors such as child-headed households and elderly people living alone without support.
Gwanak Greenery Association President Kang Kyu-hong said, “I hope the small but warm kindness created by shining citizens' shoes will surely reach the neighbors in need around us.”
Related to this good deed, on the 9th, Gwanak-gu held a 'One-day Love Shoe Shine Donation Ceremony' and awarded commendations to two outstanding members who have faithfully carried out activities of the Gwanak Greenery Association.
Mayor Park Jun-hee of Gwanak-gu expressed gratitude, saying, “I thank President Kang Kyu-hong and the members of the Gwanak Greenery Association for consistently practicing sharing toward neighbors in need for 32 years,” and added, “I hope voluntary sharing culture will continue to spread widely in our society like the Love Shoe Shine event.”
Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Chae Hyun-il) conducted a familiarization tour of medical tourism attractions on November 30 with five global SNS influencers who play a role in promoting the excellence of Yeongdeungpo Smart Medical Special Zone worldwide.
This familiarization tour was organized to widely promote the charm of Yeongdeungpo's medical tourism and enhance its recognition by creating online content featuring excellent medical institutions and various tourist resources in the region through cooperation with global SNS influencers with high domestic and international influence.
All participants were screened for symptoms such as fever and sore throat and vaccination status at the start of the tour, and strictly followed quarantine guidelines including mandatory mask-wearing, hand sanitizing, and social distancing throughout the tour.
The first itinerary was the 'Medical Tourism Information Center' located in Yeongdeungpo Times Square Plaza. Participants experienced medical facilities such as blood pressure measurement, foot massage, and InBody analysis under the guidance of counseling staff, experiencing the advanced medical services of Yeongdeungpo.
Next, they moved to Yeouido, Korea's representative financial industry hub, and visited the Marriott Hotel, one of the cooperating institutions of the Yeongdeungpo Smart Medical Special Zone. They toured various types of rooms, restaurants, swimming pools, and business centers, taking in the latest tourism accommodation facilities.
Then, they visited JC Bit Somang Eye Clinic, which has excellent medical technology infrastructure including a retina center, special examination rooms, and presbyopia and cataract centers, experiencing Yeongdeungpo's professional and systematic treatment system and foreign patient attraction services.
Finally, they visited E-Land Cruise, Yeongdeungpo's representative waterfront park on the Han River, enjoying the open views and cultural tourism resources while using the cruise ship facilities.
One of the participating influencers said, “Through this tour, I felt that Yeongdeungpo-gu's medical institutions and tourist facilities are ready to provide optimal services to foreign medical tourists,” and added, “I will actively promote the charm of Yeongdeungpo-gu's medical tourism to foreigners around me through SNS.”
Going forward, each influencer plans to produce video or image content based on their experiences during the familiarization tour and upload it on SNS platforms to actively promote Yeongdeungpo's advanced medical tourism resources domestically and internationally.
Mayor Chae Hyun-il of Yeongdeungpo-gu said, “Considering the influence of global influencers, we arranged the itinerary to highlight Yeongdeungpo's top medical tourism attractions,” and added, “I expect the activities of SNS influencers to widely publicize Yeongdeungpo's rich medical tourism resources at home and abroad, playing a significant role in attracting foreign patients and revitalizing the local economy through job creation.”
Dobong-gu (Mayor Lee Dong-jin) has prepared a program called 'Tell Us Your Hopeful New Day' to listen to and support residents' New Year's wishes and stories through the January 2022 issue of the Dobong-gu newsletter 'Dobong News.'
'Tell Us Your Hopeful New Day' is a participatory event that collects residents' New Year's wishes through 'Dobong News,' selects warm and resonant wishes, and introduces them in the January issue of Dobong News and on the blog.
Anyone interested can participate, and the submission period is from December 8 to December 16. Submission formats are free, including prose, letters, poems, drawings, calligraphy, etc., and it is preferable to submit photos related to the wish (story).
Written wishes should be sent along with the application form to the person in charge via email (always257@dobong.go.kr). The application form can be downloaded from the Dobong-gu website (Notices).
Selected participants will receive a small cultural gift certificate, and the selection results will be individually notified on December 17.
Mayor Lee Dong-jin of Dobong-gu said, “I hope many will share hopeful messages that convey words and wishes left unspoken during the COVID-19 period and provide warm comfort to neighbors.”
Meanwhile, Dobong News is Dobong-gu's representative newsletter, providing residents with information on various institutions, facility usage, festivals, events, education, and exhibitions every month, and conveying residents' voices through various events and contributions. All issues of Dobong News can be viewed on the Dobong-gu website under ‘Announcements/Budget, Dobong News.’
Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon) will hold resident autonomy committee appointment ceremonies at each community service center from December 13 to 16, announcing the launch of the '3rd Resident Autonomy Committee.'
Geumcheon-gu selected a total of 449 resident autonomy committee members through an open recruitment in October, online resident autonomy school education, and a member selection committee by district.
The appointment ceremonies will be held in small groups by district in accordance with COVID-19 conditions. Appreciation plaques will be presented to the 2nd term chairpersons who worked hard for resident autonomy development over the past two years, and appointment letters will be awarded to new members. After the ceremony, members will be guided on the goals and directions of the Geumcheon-style resident autonomy committee, such as 'characteristics of each district' and 'discovery of common agendas,' and have time to share opinions on future resident autonomy operations.
Geumcheon-gu was the first basic local government nationwide to implement resident autonomy committees in all districts in 2017 and has led resident-driven projects to solve local issues over the past four years. In December last year, Sihung 3-dong won the grand prize in the regional revitalization category at the 'National Resident Autonomy Expo.' The resident autonomy committee has become a benchmark for local governments nationwide as a model.
Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon of Geumcheon-gu said, “If the past four years were a relentless effort by residents and officials to create Seoul-style resident autonomy committees, now is an important time to grow and establish Geumcheon-style resident autonomy committees,” adding, “Building on the achievements of the 1st and 2nd term members, I expect the 3rd term members to achieve resident-led regional development over the next two years.”
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