'Namyangju City's 1-Day Honorary Mayor' Embodies Jeong Yak-yong's Spirit, Successfully Concludes 25th Program

Namyangju City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Joo Kwangdeok) operated the "25th 1-Day Honorary Mayor" program for seven elementary school students in the district at city hall on the 23rd.

Joo Kwangdeok, mayor of Namyangju City, operated the "25th 1-Day Honorary Mayor" program for seven elementary school students in the district at the city hall on the 23rd. Provided by Namyangju City

The "1-Day Honorary Mayor" program is designed to provide children, who may have limited opportunities to participate in administrative affairs, with hands-on experience in city administration, helping them to develop democratic citizenship and leadership skills.

The students appointed as honorary mayors on this day were seven fifth and sixth graders recommended by four elementary schools in the district. They received their certificates of appointment from Mayor Joo Kwangdeok in the mayor’s office.

The students toured key facilities and learned about the administrative structure and the roles of public officials through activities such as a city hall tour, experiencing the issuance of civil documents, learning about city administration through quizzes, visiting the disaster situation room, and observing the video system at the Byeollae-dong Smart City Integrated Center.

In the afternoon, they visited the Jeong Yak-yong Historic Site and the Silhak Museum, where they listened to cultural explanations and gained a deeper understanding of Dasan Jeong Yak-yong’s achievements and Silhak, concluding the program with a satisfaction survey.

The city stated that it expects this program to serve as an opportunity for students to proactively understand city administration as key participants, while also increasing their interest in the local community and democracy.

Joo Kwangdeok, mayor of Namyangju City, encouraged the students by saying, "Jeong Yak-yong left behind more than 500 volumes of writings during his lifetime, guided by his belief in 'never stop recording.' I hope that all of you, as honorary mayors, will also develop the habit of always recording in order to design your dreams and future."