Selected as an Excellent Case of Proactive Administration Including Traditional Market Mask Production

Ulsan Office of Education Presents Superintendent's Commendations to 5 Outstanding Public Officials

Noh Ok-hee, Ulsan Superintendent of Education (6th from the right), and mask makers.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hong Jeonghwan] Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education announced on the 18th that it awarded commendations from the Superintendent of Education to five exemplary public officials who handled their duties with creativity and professionalism through proactive administration.

The outstanding cases selected include: △ Overcoming the COVID-19 crisis and securing masks through mutual growth with traditional markets (Choi Seyoung, Department of Physical Education, Arts, and Health) △ Creating flower paths in front of schools to eradicate illegal parking in school zones (Kim Sinhye, Namsan Elementary School) △ Reducing school workload by collectively placing a provisional seizure on claims for school meal supply payments (Park Gyuwon, Department of Finance and Welfare) △ Ulsan e-Learning Center On! Remote Classes Ok! (Woo Yohan, Educational Researcher) △ Presenting the dream village platform that opens the future through community-based local cooperation (Park Jungyu, Wujeong Elementary School teacher), among five cases.

In March, due to the shortage of masks caused by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), schools also faced difficulties purchasing masks.

Accordingly, the Office of Education tried to purchase reusable cloth masks, but there were no cloth mask manufacturing factories in the Ulsan area. They investigated the possibility of manufacturing cloth masks centered on fabric stores in traditional markets, but it was difficult to mass-produce handmade masks, and each company had limited production capacity.

After several meetings and internal discussions, despite the administrative procedures becoming complicated, it was decided to contract with multiple companies within the markets to produce masks. As a result, seven markets including Jungang Market, Shin Jungang Market, Nam-mok Market, Dong Ulsan Market, Shinjeong Peace Market, Shinjeong Market, and Wolbong Market, along with 76 local workshops, participated.

The Office of Education provided on-site administrative services for each traditional market to reduce administrative inconveniences for small business owners. Through proactive administration by the Office of Education, approximately 110,000 masks were produced in traditional markets and supplied to students in a timely manner.

The Office of Education is implementing a proactive administration system to eliminate passive administration in the public sector and foster a culture that encourages proactive administration. In accordance with the ordinance on proactive administration operation, a Proactive Administration Support Committee was also established, and a proactive administration section was newly created on the website to actively discover proactive administration tasks.

Along with this, through audits linked to proactive administration, an atmosphere is being created where public officials can work proactively with peace of mind, and to protect proactive administration officials, the “Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education Administrative Audit Regulations” exemption clause was revised from a discretionary provision to a mandatory provision.

Going forward, to encourage proactive administration in the public sector, outstanding proactive administration officials will be selected and awarded commendations, and performance rewards such as the highest grade of performance bonuses, shortened service periods for selection as exemplary officials, and opportunities for overseas training will be provided.

An Office of Education official stated, “In the disaster situation of COVID-19, proactive administration that is not bound by customs and conventions is giving trust to the public and revitalizing the public sector,” adding, “We will change the organizational culture so that proactive administration can take root in the field through the ideas and efforts of public officials.”

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