Dongdaemun-gu, Why Publish a Gratitude Casebook Illustrated with Pictures?

[Seoul District News] Dongdaemun-gu Prevents Recurrence of Repeated Audit Issues through Sharing Audit Cases and Preemptive Measures · Uses Illustrations for Easy Understanding; Recorded 83 Cases in 6 Areas of Last Year's Internal Audit... Mapo-gu Conducts Illegal Extension Site Investigation via Aerial Photos... Yangcheon-gu Conducts Comprehensive Survey of Illegal Buildings Using Aerial Photography... Gwangjin-gu Expands Holiday Crackdown on Illegal Mobile Advertisements... Dongjak-gu Provides Free Support for Old Banners Starting This Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) has taken the initiative to produce an easy-to-understand audit casebook illustrated with pictures, becoming the first among Seoul’s 25 autonomous districts to do so for the proper execution of employees' duties.

The district aimed to improve recurring audit cases caused by customary practices and thus undertook a complete overhaul of the audit casebook. Using illustrations, it included 83 cases across six areas pointed out in last year’s internal audit to ensure anyone can understand them.

This year’s “2021 Audit Casebook Illustrated with Pictures” breaks away from the conventional rigid and uniform style by incorporating various images to present easy-to-understand audit cases and related laws. The back cover of the booklet features a phrase encouraging readers to reflect on “Myself as a Public Official.”

To save costs, all illustrations used in the booklet were produced internally by the district’s audit office, maximizing the effectiveness of the publication and making it easy for employees to utilize. Feedback from employees who reviewed the casebook will be shared and reflected in future editions.

The produced booklets will be distributed not only to all departments (dong) of Dongdaemun-gu, the Facilities Management Corporation, and the Cultural Foundation but also to Seoul City and 24 other autonomous districts for practical use in daily work.

Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, stated, “We aimed to enhance accessibility for employees by completely revamping the audit casebook, which was previously difficult to understand and rigid. We will continue to implement various policies to ensure that both audit and executing departments can carry out their duties lawfully.”

Mapo-gu (Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun) announced that it will conduct on-site investigations of buildings violating the Building Act based on aerial photographs from April to July.

The district has been conducting annual on-site inspections of illegal building extensions using aerial photos taken by Seoul City to prevent safety accidents and improve urban aesthetics.

This year, a total of 4,027 buildings will be inspected, focusing on ▲ extensions of spaces such as rooftops and terraces ▲ extensions of business spaces using prefabricated panels or tents.

Such extensions must be reported to or approved by the Mapo-gu Architecture Department according to the Building Act; any extensions made without following these procedures are illegal.

Particularly, the main targets of enforcement are outdoor spaces where roofs, pillars, or walls are constructed. Even if a new roof was not built, blocking outdoor-connected parts under existing buildings with walls is subject to enforcement.

The district formed an inspection team of six members, including the Building Maintenance Team Leader. The team conducts preliminary investigations based on building registers and current layout maps before verifying the actual sites. If illegal extensions are confirmed, detailed investigations on the ▲ owner ▲ location ▲ structure ▲ area ▲ usage will be conducted, followed by corrective orders.

Once a corrective order is issued, the violation is recorded in the building register, and acquisition tax and property tax may be imposed depending on the occurrence time. Lease loans may be restricted, and businesses requiring permits or reports under the Sanitation Act may face operational restrictions.

If the corrective order is not complied with after two notices, enforcement fines will be imposed, and the building owner may be prosecuted. In such cases, continuous management will be maintained until correction is completed, with annual enforcement fines imposed.

The district plans to provide ample opportunities for owners to voluntarily remove violations or obtain post-approval through proper procedures. However, those who fail to restore the original state after corrective orders will face administrative actions according to the law.

A district official said, “There have been frequent cases of impersonation of on-site inspection officials demanding money. No public official requests money during inspections, so please report any similar cases immediately to investigative agencies and Mapo-gu Urban Safety Division.”

Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) announced that it will conduct a comprehensive on-site investigation of 4,922 buildings with changes detected in last year’s Seoul City aerial photo analysis by July.

The aerial photography-based illegal building comprehensive investigation is an annual system aimed at preventing safety accidents and creating a pleasant urban environment by encouraging voluntary correction and administrative actions against indiscriminate illegal buildings such as unauthorized extensions.

The main inspection items include unauthorized new construction, extensions, or remodeling without permits or reports, confirmed through on-site verification with aerial photo analysis maps and cadastral maps.

The district will conduct the on-site investigation until July and issue two rounds of corrective orders to owners of buildings confirmed as illegal. If not complied with, enforcement fines will be imposed according to relevant laws.

For violations eligible for approval after the fact (post-approval, reporting, etc.), the district will guide building owners through the related procedures to minimize penalties.

The district warned residents to be cautious of impersonators of public officials who may demand money under the pretense of providing convenience during the aerial photo investigation period.

For detailed information regarding the aerial photography illegal building investigation, contact the Housing Division at the district office.

Kim Soo-young, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, “We will strive to create a pleasant residential environment and prevent safety accidents through administrative actions that encourage voluntary maintenance of illegal buildings detected during on-site investigations.”

Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Sun-gap) is expanding weekend and holiday crackdowns on illegal mobile advertisements to create a pleasant street landscape.

This expansion targets illegal mobile advertisements that are densely installed on weekends and holidays, which are difficult to regulate and harm urban aesthetics.

To this end, Gwangjin-gu has increased the frequency of holiday crackdowns on illegal mobile advertisements such as banners and posters along major roads from twice a month to four to five times a month, supplementing enforcement personnel through maintenance contracts.

Existing weekday daytime crackdowns and twice-monthly nighttime crackdowns will continue, and efforts to eradicate illegal advertisements will be maintained through administrative actions such as fines.

Additionally, Gwangjin-gu is conducting a banner residue cleanup project to help create a clean urban environment.

The banner residue cleanup involves removing leftover strings and other remnants of banners from streetlights and utility poles in the district, conducted quarterly four times a year.

Kim Sun-gap, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, “I hope this opportunity improves urban aesthetics and creates a pleasant street landscape. We will continue to develop and implement various solutions to make Gwangjin clean and safe.”

Dongjak-gu (Mayor Lee Chang-woo) is leading efforts to reduce waste generation and promote upcycling culture and carbon neutrality by distributing discarded banners, which are usually incinerated, free of charge to residents in need.

Last year, about 10,000 discarded banners (approximately 12 tons) including illegal banners were collected in the district, costing about 1.8 million won for disposal. This year, election-related banners are expected to increase from March to June.

Discarded banners do not decompose easily and are incinerated, releasing air pollutants such as dioxins during the process.

Accordingly, from this month, the district will distribute discarded banners free of charge to residents and organizations that need them as part of recycling efforts.

Recycled discarded banners are repurposed into multipurpose sacks such as agricultural bags, aprons, bags, and sneakers, achieving a triple effect of resource circulation, waste reduction, and environmental pollution reduction.

Residents or organizations needing discarded banners can apply to the Street Administration Division. For large quantities, advance application two weeks before the intended use date is required to secure the amount.

For other inquiries regarding free distribution of discarded banners, contact the Street Administration Division.

Lee Deung-ho, Head of the Street Administration Division, said, “Through this project, we will reduce discarded banner waste to prevent environmental pollution and contribute to resource circulation activation and zero carbon emissions.”

Last month, the district created a safe environment for children to commute to and from school by preparing for safety accidents involving falling signs and preventing exposure to harmful advertisements with provocative content.

The maintenance targets included old signs at risk of falling, obscene or decadent harmful advertisements, banners, signboards, and air lights obstructing pedestrian passage.