With the Change of Hapcheon County Governor, Administration Completely Shifts to 'Citizens First'

Immediate Temporary Bus Deployment for Residents 'Stranded by Route Abolition'

Residents Praise as a Model of Proactive Administration with "Action Before Reporting" Approach

Gyeongnam Hapcheon-gun is receiving praise for promptly providing temporary buses to residents experiencing inconvenience due to bus service suspensions. Photo by Kim Wook assa113@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters reporters Choi Soon-kyung and Kim Wook] Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongnam Province, deployed free buses for local residents stranded due to the sudden suspension of bus services without prior notice.

According to the county, the bus route operating twice daily between Daeyang-myeon, Samga, and Jinju stopped running without prior notice starting in early November.

Although the suspension was attributed to deficits, the sudden absence of buses that served as the residents' means of transportation left elderly people who used the route to visit hospitals frustrated and stranded.

Upon hearing the news, the county mobilized all available budget to provide free buses.

Moon Yoon-chul, 58, who returned to his hometown of Hapcheon Samga several years ago, praised Hapcheon-gun’s administration on his Facebook on the 5th, stating, “Hapcheon-gun demonstrated proactive administration with ‘action first, report later.’”

Moon said, “Previously, the bus route in Hapcheon Samga was discontinued, causing frail elderly residents to be unable to visit hospitals in Jinju and increasing complaints from residents. Seeing County Councilor Shin Kyung-ja, a native of this area, working tirelessly, I requested help from Hapcheon-gun. The county immediately deployed temporary buses, and since the 16th, about 10 days after the route was discontinued, buses have been running twice daily as before.”

Moon concluded, “The administration’s ‘action first, report later’ approach is the true face of governance. I thank Director Lee Gyu-su and the related officials for listening to even the small voices of the residents. The continuous growth of Hapcheon will be possible together with its residents.”

Director Lee Gyu-su said, “Thanks to all the officials led by the Head of the Economic and Transportation Division, I am glad that the residents’ inconvenience was quickly resolved,” crediting the staff.

Moon Dong-gu, Head of the Economic and Transportation Division, said, “We were shocked by the bus company’s suspension of service without prior notice. The county governor was informed and immediately ordered action.”