Yun Byeong-tae, Mayor of Naju, Communicates with Staff... Accelerates Improvement of Public Service Atmosphere

[Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yuk-bong] Yoon Byung-tae, mayor of Naju, Jeollanam-do, is actively working to improve the rigid atmosphere in public service.

According to the city on the 15th, Mayor Yoon spares no time in casual communication with employees, such as having lunch with new employees every month in the cafeteria and visiting task departments' offices every two weeks to share snacks.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae of Naju held a communication session with the staff of the Education Support Division.
[Photo by Naju City]

He also offers congratulations, consolation, and encouragement through tea time with employees returning after personal events such as weddings or family bereavements, providing psychological and emotional support.

Usually, lunch or snack gatherings between the mayor and general employees, excluding executives, have been regarded as simple annual events held during year-end or New Year's ceremonies or on the anniversary of the mayor's inauguration.

Since taking office, Mayor Yoon has carefully prioritized communication schedules with employees despite his fully packed monthly agenda.

Regardless of rank, he aims to bridge generational gaps through informal conversations and lead by example from superiors to foster an organizational culture of mutual respect and empathy.

On January 19 of this year, Mayor Yoon had lunch with four newly appointed employees in the cafeteria.

Listening to their reflections on entering public service, work stress factors, recent interests, and concerns, Mayor Yoon shared sincere advice based on his experience as a senior public official.

The snack communication visits to each department have been held biweekly since a surprise visit to the Future Strategy Office at the end of last year. Subsequently, he visited the Livestock Division (December), the Traffic Administration and Construction Divisions (January), and on February 14, he visited the Education Support Division office.

At this meeting, Mayor Yoon mentioned last year's awards in lifelong learning and engaged in a warm conversation with the employees.

He also encouraged the employees working hard to implement policies for creating a ‘Premium Education City,’ a key pledge and major administrative policy of the 8th local government.

The Education Support Division was reorganized from the existing Innovation City Education Division into a dedicated education department through the 8th local government’s organizational restructuring.

It consists of five teams?‘Education Policy,’ ‘Lifelong Education,’ ‘University Cooperation,’ ‘Naju City Library Operation Support T/F,’ and ‘Bitgaram City Library Operation Support T/F’?with a total of 24 employees. It also manages the Naju Education Promotion Foundation, which handles scholarship affairs, talent development, and career experience programs.

Especially since the launch of the 8th local government, various educational welfare policies are set to be implemented, including the establishment of the ‘Future Education Support Center’ connecting schools and local communities, ‘Elementary School New Student Enrollment Support Fund’ (100,000 KRW Naju Love Gift Certificates per person), ‘Dream Fulfillment Learning Card’ (100,000 KRW annual cash points linked to the middle school free semester system), and ‘Naju Love Learning Voucher’ (150,000 KRW annually) to guarantee learning rights for citizens aged 19 and older.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae said, “Education is the most important and challenging factor that guarantees sustainable regional competitiveness amid the crisis of population decline, including population inflow and birth rates. I am grateful to the employees who have done their best in achieving many awards last year and promoting educational policies of the 8th local government despite difficult conditions.”

He added, “The 8th local government’s education policy focuses on filling the gaps and limitations of public education, including the Office of Education, and serving as a mediator connecting schools, local communities, public institutions, and educational resources to meet diverse educational demands. I hope employees will dedicate themselves to this work.”

Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yuk-bong baekok@asiae.co.kr