[Interview] Kim Kyung-ho, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, "Rapid Resolution of Local Issues through Dong Area Responsibility System"

Since Mayor Kim's inauguration, the core value of the 8th local government administration has been set as 'communication,' with frequent visits to schools, markets, alleys, parks, and other sites to listen to voices and promptly resolve minor issues... Attention drawn by managing performance evaluations and promoting grade 7 public officials responsible for 15 district areas under the local responsibility system

“The core of the Dong Regional Responsibility System is to think of the Dong Chief as the district mayor and to immediately resolve simple issues on-site at the Dong Community Service Center, while collaborating with departments to find solutions for more time-consuming problems.”

Kim Kyung-ho, Mayor of Gwangjin District, emphasized the ‘Dong Regional Responsibility System,’ which has been operated and established over the past year, stating that based on this system, he will further communicate and carefully address the inconveniences and difficulties of district residents.

In autonomous districts, the Dong is the closest point of contact with residents. Accordingly, it is natural that evaluations of district administration vary depending on the actions of the Dong Chief.

With this in mind, Mayor Kim Kyung-ho immediately implemented the ‘Dong Regional Responsibility System’ upon taking office, receiving positive evaluations.

Many Gwangjin residents say, “Gwangjin District has become faster. When you speak, there is an immediate response. The streets have become cleaner. They explain things clearly,” which is interpreted as a result of the Dong Regional Responsibility System.

Mayor Kim Kyung-ho set ‘communication’ as the core value of the 8th elected term district administration and frequently visits schools, markets, alleys, parks, and other sites to listen to voices. Simple issues are resolved immediately, and for matters requiring more time, he instructs relevant departments to find solutions.

Through various channels, long-standing unresolved projects are being addressed one by one, and residents are directly experiencing changes brought by communication. Notably, remarkable achievements are emerging through on-site administration centered on the Dong Community Service Centers.

First, the Dong Regional Responsibility System has been fully established. This system was implemented in March last year to quickly respond to residents’ inconveniences. It established a cooperative system between the district and Dong offices for fast, on-site civil complaint handling, aligning with the core principle of district administration, ‘resident-centered on-site administration.’ Thirteen fields and 157 locations directly related to residents’ lives were designated as focused inspection areas and patrolled regularly to enhance the efficiency and promptness of complaint resolution.

Through this, the district eliminated seven harmful businesses (cafe streets) in Junggok-dong and Guui-dong areas, which had long hindered regional development. They maintained rainwater drains around restaurant areas, cleaned up illegally dumped garbage, and removed illegal advertisements. They repaired hazardous trees and cracked walls and cleared 15 tons of accumulated waste from households suspected of hoarding. Attention was paid to even small inconveniences in residents’ daily lives across all fields including safety, environment, and cleaning.

The Dong Safety Council is also progressing smoothly. The Dong Safety Council is a project that strengthens disaster safety management functions at the Dong Community Service Center by utilizing local resources familiar with the area. It was established to proactively respond to natural and social disasters and to ensure rapid response in case of disaster occurrence. Since April, Dong Safety Councils have been formed in three Dongs: Junggok 4-dong, Guui 2-dong, and Gwangjang-dong, with 235 residents actively participating. They serve as safety guardians close to residents by conducting safety inspections of steep slopes, wildfire vulnerability monitoring, snow removal operations, and education on flood and typhoon response guidelines. Additionally, they work with local residents to create a pleasant and safe environment by inspecting road potholes and sidewalks, patrolling school routes and crime-vulnerable areas, inspecting facilities, and addressing illegal parking.

Mayor Kim Kyung-ho said, “We will carefully consider various issues occurring within the region together with residents and thoroughly examine inconveniences and difficulties,” adding, “We will continue to do our best to resolve residents’ inconveniences through consistent on-site communication.”