Government Innovation Mentoring with Seven Local Governments Nationwide
Spreading Citizen Participation Policies and Integrated Care
Gwangju City held a "Government Innovation Mentoring" session on the 18th at the city hall seminar room, sharing key innovative administrative know-how such as integrated care and AI Dangjigi with seven local governments nationwide. Photo by Gwangju City
On the 18th, Gwangju City held a "Government Innovation Mentoring" session at the city hall seminar room, sharing key innovative administrative know-how with seven local governments nationwide. The city introduced its major innovation initiatives, including "Gwangju-style Integrated Care," "24-Hour Public Nighttime Children's Hospital," and "AI Dangjigi."
This mentoring session was organized after Gwangju City was selected as a "2025 Government Innovation Mentoring Institution" by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. The event aimed to share Gwangju's innovative experiences as an outstanding institution with other local governments across the country and to promote exchanges among field practitioners.
Last year, Gwangju City was recognized as an outstanding institution, ranking third among 17 metropolitan and provincial governments nationwide in the government innovation evaluation. Around 20 people attended the event, including Gwangju City officials and representatives from seven mentee local governments: Changwon City in Gyeongnam, Jeongeup City and Gunsan City in Jeonbuk, Gwangyang City in Jeonnam, and Jangheung County, Gurye County, and Gangjin County.
Through this mentoring session, the city shared the implementation process, achievements, trial-and-error experiences, and problem-solving strategies of its flagship policies, including "Gwangju-style Integrated Care," which won the International Urban Innovation Award and the Presidential Award; "24-Hour Public Nighttime Children's Hospital," the first in the country to provide operating cost support for nighttime children's hospitals; and "AI Dangjigi," which introduced artificial intelligence (AI) technology into administration.
In particular, "AI Dangjigi," an AI-based administrative system first introduced nationwide in August last year, received high interest and numerous questions from the mentee local governments. This system improved both administrative efficiency and employee welfare in connection with the abolition of the duty roster system.
Additionally, the city highlighted citizen participation policy evaluation systems, such as the "Policy Evaluation Expo," where citizens participate in every stage of policymaking. During the Q&A session after the event, field practitioners exchanged practical information for adopting outstanding innovation cases and discussed challenges faced on the ground.
Lee Byungchul, Director of Planning and Coordination, stated, "Various innovative policies, including Gwangju-style Integrated Care, are becoming national standards. We will continue to lead innovative administration in Korea through creative and citizen-centered policies unique to Gwangju."
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