Policy Begins with Citizens' Voices... Andong Kicks Off 2026 with "On-Site Listening"

Mayor Kwon Ki-chang Holds Kickoff Ceremony in Gangnam-dong
Launching the “Empathy and Communication” Tour Across 24 Towns and Districts

Andong City has embarked on its 2026 journey by making the voices of its citizens the starting point for municipal administration.

On January 12, Andong City held a kickoff ceremony in Gangnam-dong and officially launched the “2026 Empathy and Communication Day with Residents of Towns and Districts,” a program that will tour 24 towns and districts over the course of about a month.

Kwon Ki-chang, Mayor of Andong, Begins Communication Activities for 2026!

The ceremony was held in Gangnam-dong, where the first residents’ self-governing council in Andong was established, adding significance to the event. This clearly delivered the message on-site that the core of city administration will be “citizen participation.”

During the event, a calligraphy performance was held under the theme of “Daedonghwayung Ilsinhungrae,” the 2026 New Year’s slogan of Andong City. The phrase, completed alongside the image of a red horse symbolizing the Year of the Fire Horse, encapsulates the city’s philosophy that “when all citizens unite with one heart, new changes and prosperity are achieved every day.”

Kwon Ki-chang, Mayor of Andong, who personally participated in the performance, stated, “With the determination to unite the will of the citizens and create a new Andong, I will build a city where change sprouts every day,” adding, “I will ensure that both the beginning and end of administration are with the citizens.”

In the subsequent “Dialogue with Residents” session, district heads explained city policies and provided work reports, followed by an open Q&A session where citizens asked questions and the mayor responded directly. A wide range of opinions were exchanged, from resolving everyday inconveniences to addressing local issues and discussing mid- to long-term development tasks, thereby deepening on-site communication.

Andong City plans to promptly review policy proposals and suggestions collected during the tour and incorporate them into city administration. Projects requiring budget allocation will be included in the first supplementary budget of 2026, institutionalizing “communication that does not end with words.”

A city official commented, “We focused on re-examining citizen proposals made since the start of the eighth popularly elected administration and sharing current municipal issues,” adding, “We will realize administration that citizens can truly feel, where their voices are directly reflected in policy.”

Andong’s decision to prioritize field engagement over reports is shaping the character of its 2026 municipal administration. Attention is now focused on how quickly and accurately the process of turning citizens’ words into policy will operate.