A Glance at Seoul City Administration in 2020... Seoul History Compilation Committee Publishes '2020 Seoul City Administration Diary'

Publication of the Seoul City Administration Record Summarizing Seoul Municipal Governance

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul History Compilation Institute announced on the 17th that it has published the '2020 Seoul Municipal Administration Diary,' which compiles Seoul's municipal administration and statistical data for 2020.

The newly published '2020 Seoul Municipal Administration Diary' contains data on Seoul's municipal administration status throughout 2020. Since 1972, the Seoul History Compilation Institute has compiled major municipal administration diaries annually by gathering Seoul's municipal administration data, and since 2015, it has been compiling the Seoul Municipal Administration Diary by adding monthly statistical data, daily weather, and major news.

Last year saw many changes due to COVID-19. According to the statistical data included in the municipal administration diary, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 70.5% of non-wage workers, i.e., self-employed individuals, either closed their businesses temporarily or shortened their business hours, which led to a decrease in sales. Reflecting this, the average depression score among Seoul citizens due to COVID-19 was 6.19 out of 10, with the main causes of depression being 'vague anxiety about infection' (52.4%, hereafter combined results of 1st and 2nd priority), 'frustration due to refraining from going out' (43.4%), and 'COVID-19 related media coverage' (29.5%) in that order.

There were also significant changes in daily life. Regarding changes in daily life compared to before COVID-19, Seoul citizens reported the highest increase in 'frequency of using delivery food' at 74.1%. This was followed by an increase in 'messenger usage' at 67.9%, 'online grocery shopping frequency' at 67.4%, and 'time spent with family' at 56.4%. Additionally, since the outbreak of COVID-19, leisure activities have changed, with indoor activities increasing compared to 2019, while outdoor activities have decreased, which is noteworthy.

The municipal administration diary also includes the Seoul Gazette, which records Seoul's ordinances, notices, and announcements for 2020. The Seoul History Compilation Institute's website offers the municipal administration diary as an e-book. The diary is not for sale, and more detailed information about the book can be found at the Seoul History Compilation Institute or public libraries within Seoul.