Seoul Jung-gu Accelerates Non-Face-to-Face Communication Efforts

Urgent Neighborhood Issues Discussed and Information Shared via Resident Meeting Video Conference... New Public Official Training Delivered Remotely with Experienced Officials' Lively Guidance

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Jung-gu, Seoul (Mayor Seo Yang-ho) is accelerating the promotion of non-face-to-face and digital services to ensure that residents' lives, temporarily halted by COVID-19, face no inconvenience.

In the unavoidable situation of extended social distancing due to COVID-19, Jung-gu is systematically transforming administrative and communication channels by creating a digital environment where residents can participate in meetings, education, and village festivals during their free time without face-to-face contact, thereby expanding non-face-to-face administrative services.

Last year, various communication channels were established in diverse fields such as the Parent Academy through non-face-to-face methods and support for non-face-to-face sales for small business owners. The foundation for non-face-to-face administrative services was laid by installing the ‘365 Unmanned Civil Service Issuance Zone’ and conducting civil defense cyber education. This year, various non-face-to-face services will be actively promoted to facilitate smooth communication between the district office and residents, among residents themselves, and among staff members.

Among these, online communication with residents at the frontline administrative Dong Resident Centers has received great response from residents.

In particular, Cheonggu-dong, a representative residential area in Jung-gu with a large population of elementary, middle, and high school students as well as young people, conducts neighborhood meetings via video conferencing using Zoom.

Starting with the Tongjang (neighborhood leader) meeting on the 22nd, various neighborhood meetings have been held non-face-to-face to discuss local issues and share urgent information. To support this, resident center staff provided one-on-one training to residents to assist with video meetings.

Choi Hyun-jung (female, 46), who participated in the video meeting, said, “Experiencing the video meeting firsthand was refreshing as it created a natural atmosphere like meeting and talking face-to-face with neighbors, and it was meaningful to share many opinions.”

Going forward, residents plan to operate small-scale video meetings frequently to communicate and take the lead in neighborhood affairs just as before COVID-19.

Customized disaster safety education for residents will also become routine online.

Customized visiting disaster safety education and the popular elementary school safety experience education, piloted in 2019, will be resumed. To make safety education a part of daily life, new disaster education will be launched online for elementary, middle, and high school students through video classes, linked with lifelong education programs for district residents.

Work adaptation training for 53 newly appointed public officials will also be conducted non-face-to-face over two weeks starting from the 18th.

This training combines real-time video education such as ‘Our Department’s Work Introduced by the Department Head’ and ‘Job Training in Eight Fields by Senior Officials’ with recorded video viewing methods.

Mayor Seo Yang-ho said, “Technology for non-face-to-face communication has innovated due to COVID-19, and residents are adapting well to communication methods using this technology. We will further activate untact communication to overcome physical distance and create a better Jung-gu to live in together with residents.”

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