[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Governor Kim Dong-yeon of Gyeonggi Province instructed that employees be prohibited from working overtime to support department heads ahead of the workshop scheduled to start at 3 p.m. on the 6th. Governor Kim expressed expectations that this measure would be a "small butterfly flap that will bring a typhoon." Until now, employees have waited in the office to prepare and provide materials whenever department heads attended meetings.
On the 5th, Governor Kim posted on his Facebook under the title "The Butterfly Flap That Will Bring a Typhoon," stating, "The 'Opportunity Gyeonggi Workshop' for the second season of Gyeonggi Province's 8th elected administration will be held tomorrow (the 6th). Department heads and heads of affiliated organizations will gather in one place to practice innovative governance that breaks inertia and complacency," adding, "There will be no advance materials, no mobile phones, and no time constraints. In particular, I repeatedly urged that employees must never be made to work overtime to support department heads. These small efforts are the beginning of great change."
He continued, "It will be unfamiliar and uncomfortable. Change can sometimes be painful, but there is a need for the urgency that if we do not endure that change, the lives of residents will suffer," and added, "That urgency is the power that allows Gyeonggi Province to lead South Korea as the center of change, and refusing change and settling for the present is a broad form of vested interest. Let us work together to create the first year of 'Opportunity Capital Gyeonggi' through efforts of radical transformation for the residents."
Earlier, Governor Kim publicly emphasized the "no overtime" rule so that department employees would not have to provide materials or wait in the office as department heads attend the workshop.
In particular, department heads were prohibited from bringing mobile phones to prevent them from receiving materials and participating in discussions via their phones. Accordingly, on the 6th, all general employees at the provincial office, except those in the workshop organizing department and essential personnel, will leave after 6 p.m. Essential personnel will be allowed to take compensatory leave as soon as possible.
The workshop is scheduled to last about 500 minutes from 3 p.m. until late at night on the 6th. About 80 people will attend, including Governor Kim Dong-yeon, the first and second vice governors for administration and economy, chiefs of policy, political affairs, administration, and Opportunity Gyeonggi, department heads, heads of public institutions, and advisory committee members.
The Opportunity Gyeonggi Workshop is divided into two sessions: the "Opportunity Policy Blueprint" discussion, held in subgroups on the "Opportunity Package" or free topics, and the "Signature Policy Discovery" free discussion, which debates core policies that will lead the development of South Korea and Gyeonggi Province and discover future growth engines.
At the weekly policy meeting held on the 4th, Governor Kim repeatedly urged, "Since the workshop will continue late into the night after working hours, please make sure that department employees leave work on time and do not work overtime, and come with your own thoughts."
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