Seongap Kim, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, Receives Applause for Leadership in Overcoming COVID-19 Crisis through 'Co-Governance'

On the 6th and 7th, a countermeasure meeting with heads of professional organizations was held at the district office planning situation room... Time was spent sharing opinions on cooperation items by organization and response plans

Kim Seon-gap, Mayor of Gwangjin District (far right), is speaking at a countermeasure meeting with heads of related organizations held on the 6th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Kim Seon-gap, the mayor of Gwangjin District, has received applause for actively planning and promoting a strategy to overcome the novel coronavirus crisis through ‘collaborative governance’ with related organizations and local residents.

This is because Mayor Kim’s ‘crisis leadership’ of ‘overcoming the crisis together with the residents’ is spreading throughout the local community.

The central government, led by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, is holding disaster safety countermeasure meetings with related central ministries such as the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ministry of Education, and disease-related experts to exchange information and prepare response plans by institution, with the intention of applying this approach to local governments.

In particular, the novel coronavirus situation is characterized by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention taking the lead in establishing major policies, while the actual implementation plans are handled by local governments, making the Gwangjin District case a good example of crisis management.

On the 6th, Mayor Kim held consecutive ‘Countermeasure Meetings with Heads of Professional Organizations and Related Facilities for Overcoming the Novel Coronavirus Infection’ at the district office’s planning situation room.

Additionally, on the 7th at 2 p.m. in the same location, he continued the countermeasure meeting by inviting representatives from 15 professional organizations and related facilities, including the Gwangjin District Veterans Hall, local comprehensive welfare centers, and the associations of public and private daycare centers.

This meeting was organized to communicate the current situation to the heads of various professional organizations as the novel coronavirus rapidly spreads, share opinions on overcoming the crisis, and establish an organic cooperative system by function.

The meeting was attended by Mayor Kim Seon-gap, representatives from 18 professional organizations including the Gwangjin District Sports Council, Saemaeul Leaders’ Council, Red Cross Volunteer Society, Residents’ Autonomy Committee Council, and local traditional market merchants’ associations, as well as district executives.

Also, representatives from local universities such as Konkuk University and Sejong University participated to share information on measures for Chinese international students.

In particular, Mayor Kim explained to the attendees the current status of the novel coronavirus infection and the district’s step-by-step implementation plans and response status within the disaster management system.

He then conveyed cooperation requests and shared opinions on response measures.

At this meeting, the district requested each professional organization to cooperate with ▲sharing coronavirus-related information and trend reports by each organization ▲cooperation during disinfection and sterilization processes ▲guidance on preventive measures and distribution of promotional materials ▲distribution of quarantine supplies.

They also asked to temporarily postpone various events involving large gatherings until the situation stabilizes.

At the meeting, the heads of the professional organizations unanimously stated, “It is important to share information to prevent misinformation from reaching residents and to conduct self-prevention measures tailored to each organization’s characteristics.”

They also said, “We will assist in distributing quarantine supplies such as masks and hand sanitizers provided by the district to ensure no blind spots, and if there are areas needing support such as publicity and infection prevention activities, we will actively cooperate.”

Mayor Kim Seon-gap said, “As the saying goes, ‘the more wisdom, the better,’ it is a time when the trust and cooperation of all residents are necessary for Gwangjin District to be safe from the coronavirus,” adding, “Since the virus does not take holidays, please share any needs or good response ideas at any time, 24 hours a day.”

He continued, “Gwangjin District will maintain vigilance so that no part becomes lax and will mobilize all means and methods to take proactive measures.”

Kim Ki-seok, the public relations officer of Gwangjin District, said, “There have been positive responses from related parties who feel that holding related organizations’ countermeasure meetings for two days under Mayor Kim Seon-gap’s leadership to exchange information has been very helpful.”

This attempt to join hands and overcome the crisis together is expected to serve as a good example for other local governments as well.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.