“Closer to Citizens”… Hanam City Council Completes ‘Meeting with Heads of Local Organizations’

Visited 13 Dong Administrative Welfare Centers... Collected 105 Resident Opinions
Maintain Dignity but Avoid Unnecessary Formalities... Preserve the Original Purpose of Meetings by Enhancing Civil Complaint Hearings
Chairman Geum Gwang-yeon: "Will Thoroughly Address Various Opinions and Complaints through November Administrative Audit"

At the meeting held on the 7th between Hanam City Council and the heads of related organizations in Gambuk-dong, council members and the heads of related organizations are taking a commemorative photo.

The Hanam City Council in Gyeonggi Province (Chairman Geum Gwang-yeon) successfully concluded the ‘Meeting with Heads of Related Organizations at the Dong Administrative Welfare Centers,’ held as part of a direct approach under the motto ‘The answer lies in the field and the voices of residents.’

According to the Hanam City Council on the 31st, the meeting was organized to share the vision of the 9th council’s second half with citizens by directly meeting them on-site. It was led by Chairman Geum Gwang-yeon, Vice Chairman Jeong Byeong-yong, and 10 other council members, with the legislative goal of ‘a dignified council walking with citizens,’ to listen to various opinions and complaints.

Starting on the 2nd with Deokpung 2-dong, Deokpung 3-dong, and Sinjang 1-dong, followed by Gambuk-dong and Cheonhyeon-dong on the 7th, Wirye-dong, Choi-dong, and Sinjang 2-dong on the 8th, Gam-il-dong on the 10th, Misa 1-dong and Misa 2-dong on the 11th, and Deokpung 1-dong and Misa 3-dong on the 25th, a total of 13 Dong Administrative Welfare Centers were visited for the meetings. This was the first time such a meeting was planned in the 9th council’s second half, which opened in July, and it broke away from formalities and conventions by allowing citizens to ask about suggestions and legislative tasks while council members responded, receiving great acclaim.

Heads of related organizations and citizens attending the meeting unanimously said, “While there have been meetings hosted by the city before, this is the first time since the implementation of local autonomy in 1991 that the Hanam City Council, a resident representative body, has prepared a place to gather diverse opinions from residents.” They added, “It was impressive to openly discuss major issues in each dong and everyday inconveniences, and to see the council members meticulously taking notes and listening carefully to each point.”

Heads of related organizations from each dong, including the Federation of Related Organization Heads, Resident Autonomy Chairpersons, Tongjang Association Chairpersons, Saemaul Association Chairpersons, Saemaul Women’s Association Chairpersons, Barugesalgi Committee Chairpersons, Defense Council Chairpersons, Community Security Council Members, and Sports Association Chairpersons, shared local issues and freely discussed policy ideas and suggestions, urging for the preparation of alternatives and follow-up measures.

A total of 105 suggestions were received through this meeting with heads of related organizations. The main common topics included △ expansion of dong office buildings and repairs for leaks during the rainy season, expansion of fitness rooms, and securing parking spaces for old downtown dong offices △ increase in the number of officials at the Dong Administrative Welfare Centers △ road paving and repairs △ expansion of bus routes, which were discussed in depth.

Hanam City Council members promised to take the lead in resolving the complaints discussed at this meeting by continuously communicating with the executive branch and devising various measures to become a more capable council in addressing complaints.

Chairman Geum Gwang-yeon stated, “The Dong Administrative Welfare Centers play an important role in civil administration by directly meeting and communicating with residents and acting as a bridge connecting residents and administration.” He added, “The opinions collected through this meeting will be reviewed and requested to the executive branch during the administrative audit scheduled for November, and future progress will be carefully monitored.”

Chairman Geum also emphasized, “We plan to hold meetings with heads of related organizations at the dong level again next year to strengthen communication with residents. We will deeply consider the various opinions proposed with love for Hanam, and the ideas suggested out of affection for Hanam will be referenced in our legislative activities.”