[Opinion] "Adding to Residents' Happiness... Creative Proactive Administration in Gapyeong-gun"

Seo Taewon, Gapyeong County Governor

With rapid social changes, the demands on administration have become very diverse and complex. At the same time, it has become more important than ever for public officials to actively respond by demonstrating creativity and expertise.

In complex administrative situations, proactive administration, where public officials do not simply adhere to regulations but aim to solve problems centered on the residents, has established itself as a key factor in improving the quality of life for the residents.

‘Proactive administration’ refers to the attitude of boldly improving unreasonable regulations and prioritizing the public interest even in situations where laws and regulations are unclear. The important point here is to move away from the passive attitude of “it’s difficult because there are no regulations” and to seek solutions from a positive perspective.

In other words, it is about pursuing change with the mindset of “I will find a solution no matter what.” To this end, Gapyeong-gun has introduced various systems supporting proactive administration since the 8th elected term.

One of these is the ‘Proactive Administration Support and Exemption System,’ which acts as a protective shield allowing public officials to make swift decisions even in unclear situations.

It helps public officials find the best solutions without hesitation in situations where there are no precedents or regulations are unclear. Thanks to this system, public officials have been able to reduce the burden of responsibility issues and provide optimal administrative services for the residents.

Additionally, Gapyeong-gun encourages excellent proactive administration through the ‘Proactive Administration Reward System.’ After evaluation, public officials receive promotion points or awards, and through the proactive administration mileage system, they can be rewarded based on their achievements, thereby increasing motivation. This leads to more active and creative changes in administration for the residents.

Actual cases clearly demonstrate that these policies bring tangible changes to the lives of residents. For example, the gas facility improvement case at a multi-family housing complex in Cheongpyeong-myeon resolved a gas facility issue that had been left unresolved and exposed to danger for over two years through proactive administration.

The county continuously communicated with residents and focused on solving the problem, successfully securing residents’ safety. This achievement was recognized at the Gyeonggi-do hosted Proactive Administration Best Practice Competition, proving that proactive administration plays an important role directly linked to residents’ safety.

Another case is the swift decision on the location of an incineration facility in preparation for the ban on direct landfill of household waste starting in 2026. Through resident briefings and a public contest process, consensus was formed and rapid administrative procedures were carried out. This case is evaluated as a model of proactive administration cooperating with residents.

Along with proactive administration, Gapyeong-gun is also conducting crackdowns and penalties to eradicate complacent ‘passive administration.’ Representative examples of passive administration include ‘adequate convenience’ where important information related to work is not grasped and handled, ‘neglect of duty’ where tasks are not handled or responses are delayed without special reasons, and ‘desk administration’ where tasks are handled conventionally for convenience despite more effective methods existing.

The county will strengthen crackdowns and penalties for neglect of duty and other issues to actively eradicate passive administration. Furthermore, it plans to spread the culture of proactive administration through cooperation with various institutions and to strengthen resident-centered administration through best practice competitions and educational programs.

All public officials in Gapyeong-gun will do their best to respond to residents’ demands and promote the public interest based on creative and flexible thinking. Proactive administration is not just an improvement in administrative services but a powerful force that practically changes residents’ lives. Through proactive administration for the residents, Gapyeong-gun will open a bright future together with its residents.