Avoid Formality in Executive Meetings and Enhance Practicality
Eup, Myeon, and Dong Heads as Communication Channels with Citizens... Must Implement Field-Oriented, Tangible Administration
Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu of Suncheon, presiding over the first executive meeting of the 8th civil election term (Photo by Suncheon City)
[Suncheon=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] On the 4th, Suncheon Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu presided over the first executive meeting and the town and township chiefs meeting, emphasizing ‘fieldwork, practicality, and communication’ to public officials and urging them to transform into an administration trusted by citizens.
Mayor Noh first demanded a significant improvement in the executive meeting format, which was held every Monday during the 7th elected term.
He ordered the elimination of tea time with executives before the meeting, simplifying the meetings to move away from formal weekly work report sessions, and strengthening practicality and field orientation.
The executive meetings are to be held as issue discussions in the first and third weeks of each month, with the second week dedicated to on-site inspections of major projects or contentious issues, expanding participation to include department heads and the MZ generation to foster a horizontal meeting culture.
The last week is to be operated as an in-depth discussion on projects requiring policy decisions.
He then convened an emergency town and township chiefs meeting, requesting them to strengthen field-oriented communication administration to restore regional harmony and administrative trust after the local elections.
Mayor Noh said, “You have to see the field to notice citizens’ inconveniences, and you have to meet citizens to hear their true thoughts,” adding, “If town and township chiefs only wait for the end of work hours, they will never see the citizens’ inconveniences,” urging them to “visit the field daily and improve citizens’ inconveniences.”
He also emphasized, “Issues closely related to citizens’ lives, such as cleaning up illegally dumped garbage, improving sidewalks that are inconvenient to walk on and have severe unevenness, and organizing illegal storage, should be accurately assessed and addressed, even if it requires securing additional supplementary budgets this time.”
Furthermore, he said, “The enthusiasm for the upcoming 2023 Suncheonman International Garden Expo is not what it used to be,” and added, “The administration must lead passionately first for citizens to take interest,” urging, “The successful hosting of the Garden Expo is not only the responsibility of the organizing committee staff but also requires support from towns and townships, and more communication and cooperation with hometown associations in each town and township.”
Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu’s field-oriented communication was demonstrated on the 2nd, when despite it being a holiday, he toured the Garden Expo sites such as the detention basin and the national garden with organizing committee and national garden officials.
They discussed the direction of the Garden Expo and the national garden, sweating over preparations for the expo, which is only nine months away.
Since the election, Mayor Noh has met citizens by walking around various parts of the city with a backpack.
He personally experienced the city while walking and listened to citizens’ stories. He built trust with citizens and shared the city’s vision.
Even after being elected, he continues to commute on foot, directly addressing citizens’ inconveniences.
Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu told public officials, “The first thing to do is change. By becoming working and studying public officials, we can become a creative organization with competitiveness and regain citizens’ trust,” adding, “The sweat you shed will be the foundation of Korea’s ecological capital, first-class Suncheon.”
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