Gwangju Buk-gu Recognized as Excellent Institution for Proactive Administration for Three Consecutive Years

Pyeongdume Wetland Registration as Ramsar Site Played a Key Role

Gwangju Buk-gu has been selected as an excellent institution for the third consecutive year in the 2025 Comprehensive Evaluation of Proactive Administration by Local Governments, organized by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. A notable achievement highlighted was the registration of Pyeongdume Wetland as a Ramsar Wetland through collaboration among residents, the administration, and environmental organizations.

Gwangju Bukgu District Office building exterior.

Buk-gu announced on the 25th that it ranked within the top 30% among 243 local governments nationwide in this evaluation, earning an "excellent" rating. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety determined the ratings based on five categories?system improvement, activation efforts, implementation results, public perception, and outstanding policies?across 17 detailed indicators, with a panel of private experts and citizens conducting the assessment.

Buk-gu received balanced evaluations for its various system improvements and administrative culture innovation activities, such as capacity-building training for public officials, operation of a proactive administration practice week, management of key tasks, hosting of competitions, and rewarding outstanding public officials.

In particular, last year, Buk-gu Office, Mudeungsan National Park Office, environmental organizations, and residents formed a cooperative network and gathered diverse opinions to register Mudeungsan Pyeongdume Wetland as a Ramsar Wetland, demonstrating close collaboration between the administration and civil society. This marks the first time an urban wetland in a metropolitan city has been registered with Ramsar in Korea.

With this selection as an excellent institution, Buk-gu is expected to receive a government award, institutional commendation, and incentives in June.

Mayor Moon In stated, "The changes felt by residents ultimately depend on how proactively the administration acts," adding, "We will continue to establish proactive administration as part of our organizational culture to create 'pleasant changes' in the future."