Seoul Recognized for Both "First" and "Best Policy" with Prescription Bag Dosage Instructions

Simultaneous Recognition for "First" and "Best" Government Innovation Cases
Prescription Bags with Dosage Instructions Chosen as the Nation’s First Case
Seoul’s Public Funeral Service for the Unaccompanied Selected as the Best Case

The Seoul Metropolitan Government received simultaneous awards for both "Best" and "First" cases in a government competition recognizing innovative examples that enhance public convenience and safety.

On September 2, at the Community House Masil in Jung-gu, the city was honored with plaques for both the "First" and "Best" cases at the "4th Government Innovation First and Best Case Certification Ceremony." Kim Taekyun, the First Deputy Mayor for Administrative Affairs, received the certification plaques from the Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

Among the seven organizations selected this year, Seoul was the only one recognized for both "First" and "Best" cases. Since 2023, the "Government Innovation First and Best Case Competition," jointly hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Korea Institute of Public Administration, has selected organizations that have introduced innovative cases for the first time and those that have implemented the best cases in specific fields.

The Seoul policy chosen as the nation’s first case was "Displaying Dosage Instructions on Prescription Bags." This was an idea proposed by a citizen 12 years ago, which the city adopted and developed into an actual policy. In 2013, the city planned the "Promotion of Medication Guidance through Prescription Bags" project and implemented it in collaboration with Seoul Metropolitan Hospitals and the Seoul Pharmaceutical Association.

This case led the Ministry of Health and Welfare to revise relevant laws, making it common practice for pharmacies to provide prescription bags printed with medication information. Yoo Heejeong, Team Leader of the Health and Medical Policy Division, who was in charge of the project at the time, said, "This project, which Seoul initiated based on a citizen’s suggestion, has spread nationwide, ensuring the public's right to know about their medications and laying an important foundation for preventing drug misuse," adding, "We will continue to listen to citizens’ policy proposals in the future."

Nam Sangwoo, the citizen who proposed the idea of displaying dosage instructions on prescription bags to the city, received a plaque of appreciation for individual contribution at the ceremony.

The policy selected as the nation’s best case was the public funeral service for those who die without family or acquaintances. To address the increasing number of unaccompanied deaths due to social isolation, family breakdown, and poverty, the city introduced the public funeral system in 2018.

The city supports the entire funeral process, from body preparation and encoffining to cremation and funeral ceremonies, providing systematic procedures using dedicated funeral halls at the Seoul Metropolitan Crematorium. In addition, in partnership with the nonprofit organization NanumgwaNanum, the city operates a public funeral counseling and support center, offering funeral consultations 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Over the past three years, the city has supported 3,744 public funerals. From the perspective of supporting the underprivileged, the city has continuously improved the public funeral system, including encouraging volunteer participation through public funeral announcements (2023), regularly opening memorial houses for unaccompanied deceased during holidays (2024), and honoring unaccompanied national veterans (2024).

Jang Kyungsook, Team Leader of the Senior Welfare Division, who is in charge of the project, stated, "Seoul’s public funeral service has been recognized because it represents a societal effort to ensure a dignified end of life for unaccompanied individuals," adding, "We will continue to advance the system to guarantee a dignified end of life and the right to mourn for the bereaved."

Deputy Mayor Kim said, "The simultaneous selection of Seoul’s cases as the first and best in government innovation is the result of our efforts to bring tangible changes to citizens’ lives," adding, "We will continue to identify necessary policies from the citizens’ perspective and pursue innovations that can be felt in the field."