Gochang County Selected as an "Excellent Institution" for the Second Consecutive Year in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Local Government Innovation Assessment

Exterior view of Gochang County Office

Gochang County has solidified its status as a leading innovative local government in Korea by being selected for the second consecutive year as an excellent institution in the "Local Government Innovation Assessment" organized by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

In this assessment, which comprehensively measures the innovation capacity of local governments nationwide and the level of innovation felt by residents, Gochang County received an "Excellent" rating again this year following last year. This result proves that Gochang County's innovative administration has gone beyond producing temporary outcomes and has been firmly established as a core organizational competency.

In particular, in this year's assessment, Gochang County was praised as a model of innovative administration for achieving consistently outstanding results across all areas of administration, rather than focusing on specific sectors.

Specifically, it received high marks on indicators for improving services through the use of AI and digital technologies in line with the trends of the times, and for laying the foundation for an AI Transformation (AX).

The county streamlined the required contract documents, which previously amounted to 10 types, into a single integrated contract performance pledge form, drastically reducing unnecessary visits and administrative burden. It also earned positive evaluations for implementing resident-centered smart administration, such as enhancing website accessibility for information-vulnerable groups through public web innovation.

Balanced achievements across all administrative areas also stood out. To encourage participation in innovation activities and spread their outcomes, the county took the lead in mentoring activities by presenting a workforce response model for aging rural areas to other local governments. In addition, to strengthen public-private cooperation and close blind spots in welfare, it built a dense social safety net through "Neighborhood Welfare Security Guard" activities linked to senior employment programs.

Along with these efforts, practical policies that are changing residents' lives, such as operating an express bus service between Gochang County and Incheon International Airport and constructing dormitories for foreign workers, were key factors behind the county being selected as an excellent institution for two consecutive years.

Gochang County Mayor Sim Deok-seop stated, "Being selected as an excellent institution for two consecutive years is thanks to the dedicated efforts of all public officials who have not feared change and have worked together for the happiness of our residents," adding, "We will continue to refine Gochang County's unique, differentiated innovation model and pursue warm and smart administration that residents can tangibly feel in their daily lives."