Sharing Successful Governance Cases in Seongdong-gu Including Win-Win Shared Flea Markets for Local Economic Revitalization

[Seoul District News] Seongdong-gu '2021 Cooperative Seongdong Performance Sharing Meeting' Shares Results of 8 Cooperative Projects Promoted This Year via Seongdong-gu Office YouTube... Seongbuk-gu Completes Ecological Restoration of Jeongneungcheon Lower Section (Wolgok Station Intersection~Defense Research Institute) Riverside... Eunpyeong-gu Recognized as Seoul City's Excellent Institution for 'Whistleblower Protection Support'... Gangdong-gu Hosts '2021 Chi-hyu (休) Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition' at District Office Open Yard and Iljasan Lawn Plaza... Seodaemun-gu Wins 'Excellent Local Government Award' at National Senior Job Fair... Geumcheon-gu Launches Age-Friendly City Monitoring Team

'2021 Hyupchi Seongdong Performance Sharing Ceremony Award Ceremony' held on the 23rd

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) will release the video of the ‘2021 Cooperative Governance Seongdong Performance Sharing Meeting (hereinafter referred to as the Sharing Meeting)’ through the Seongdong-gu Office YouTube channel starting from the 28th of this month.

This Sharing Meeting, which shares the achievements of cooperative governance projects carried out with residents throughout the year, was prepared to provide an overview of the process and results of the community innovation plan (cooperative governance) projects.

The video introduces eight diverse projects currently underway this year, including the woodworking volunteer group’s village space creation support project, the Alley Green Project to create a pleasant living environment, the win-win shared pre-market that shares social values and revitalizes the local economy, and the operation of the Seongdong media shared space, making it easy to understand the specific projects achieved through public-private cooperation.

Interviews with project participants, the award ceremony for cooperative governance contributors, and the newly appointed cooperative governance committee members of the third cooperative governance council established this year can also be seen in the video. Videos supporting their future aspirations and activities will be broadcast to add visual interest.

The community innovation plan (cooperative governance) refers to a strategic plan aimed at sustainable regional development by establishing a cooperative governance foundation and solving community problems together with the public and private sectors.

In June, the district achieved excellent results by being selected as the highest grade in the ‘2021 Community Innovation Plan (District Unit Plan Type) Performance Evaluation’ and the ‘Comprehensive Evaluation of Participatory Budget System’ hosted by Seoul City, securing the maximum support amount of 1.1 billion KRW for next year’s community innovation plan project budget.

Starting in 2017 and now in its fifth year, the ‘cooperative governance project’ established an official cooperative governance promotion system by enacting a basic ordinance to activate public-private cooperative governance and forming the ‘Seongdong-gu Cooperative Governance Council’ including private entities and experts in various fields such as welfare, care, and urban regeneration.

Additionally, through the 2019 ordinance amendment that significantly expanded the number of cooperative governance committee members from 30 to 50, a solid institutional foundation was built to allow residents representing more fields and areas to participate together. The district plans to continue actively promoting sustainable regional development by cooperating as partners with residents and administration.

Seongdong-gu Mayor Jung Won-oh said, “The greatest asset gained over five years since starting cooperative governance in Seongdong-gu is that residents have participated in cooperative governance, creating a platform to discuss the direction of public-private cooperation together,” adding, “We will continue to strive to uphold the value of such cooperative governance.”

◆Seoul Seongdong-gu ▲Audit Officer Ko Young-hee ▲Local Economy Division Lee Hyun-sik ▲Safety Management Division Kang Hyung-gu ▲Administrative Management Bureau Park Yong-min ▲General Affairs Division Kim Eun-kyung ▲General Affairs Division Lee Beom-jin ▲Senior and Disabled Welfare Division Bae Eun-hwa ▲Cleaning Administration Division Hong Jong-chul ▲Safety Management Division Jung Hye-sook

Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) has completed the ‘Jeongneungcheon Ecological Restoration and Greening Project’ on the lower section of Jeongneungcheon (from Wolgok Station Intersection to the Defense Research Institute embankment), a frequently used area by residents, to restore ecology and naturalness, and has opened it to local residents in response to diverse demands during the COVID-19 era.

Seongbuk-gu completed the ‘Jeongneungcheon Ecological Restoration and Greening Project’ by receiving 650 million KRW in city funds from Seoul Metropolitan Government to supplement and plant vegetation in the previously poor vegetation area of the lower section of Jeongneungcheon.

Specifically, 12 species of trees such as Japanese plum yew (Taxus cuspidata), round pine, and Korean snowbell, 14 species of shrubs including Nandina, azalea, and hydrangea, and 15 species of herbaceous plants such as Gaura, Korean chrysanthemum, and Coreopsis were planted to provide various visual attractions to local residents.

Additionally, a seasonal garden was newly created, offering diverse and three-dimensional visual experiences to citizens tired from the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, receiving high interest.

The ‘seasonal garden’ is a rock garden harmonizing various seasonal herbaceous plants, evergreen broadleaf trees, and shrubs, providing a small comfort and healing time to residents visiting Jeongneungcheon.

Jeongneungcheon originates from Bukhansan Mountain, flows southeast, meets its tributary Wolgokcheon in Wolgok-dong, and flows south to join Cheonggyecheon. Through the river ecological restoration project in the previously poor lower section of Jeongneungcheon, Seongbuk-gu has newly redeveloped the area into a local attraction.

Residents unanimously say that walking along Jeongneungcheon allows them to enjoy the sense of the seasons and encounter various flowers and landscapes unlike before, making it an excellent and never boring walking course.

A Seongbuk-gu official said, “We expect a quick recovery from COVID-19 and will do our best to make Jeongneungcheon a beloved local attraction through ecological restoration projects.”

Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) announced on the 24th that it was selected as an excellent institution in the ‘2021 Public Whistleblower Protection and Support’ field by Seoul City.

Seoul City selects and awards public officials and institutions that contributed to the protection and support of public whistleblowers among autonomous districts and invested/affiliated institutions.

Eunpyeong-gu was the only autonomous district in Seoul selected as an excellent institution this year and received an award for clearly defining the acts subject to public whistleblowing and the protection of whistleblowers, thereby promoting public whistleblowing.

In July, the district became the first autonomous district in Seoul to enact the ‘Seoul Metropolitan City Eunpyeong-gu Ordinance on the Protection and Support of Public Whistleblowers.’ To strengthen protection and compensation for public whistleblowers, the reporting system was integrated into public whistleblowing by subdividing reports into public reports, corruption reports, code of conduct violations, and irregularities.

Eunpyeong-gu Mayor Kim Mi-kyung said, “We aimed to clarify whistleblower protection and compensation through ordinance enactment to promote public whistleblowing. We will strive to protect residents’ rights from public infringements and corruption. We will continue to lead efforts to practice a fair and corruption-free public service culture.”

Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Moon Seok-jin) announced on the 24th that it recently received the ‘Excellent Local Government Award’ at the ‘2021 Korea Senior Club Association National Senior Job Fair.’

The association holds a national senior job fair every year to discover and encourage local governments and contributors who have contributed to the development of senior job projects. This year, the event was replaced by regional association award ceremonies instead of a nationwide event.

The 2021 ‘Excellent Local Government Award’ was given to six local governments nationwide, including Seodaemun-gu, the only one in Seoul among 226 local governments.

The district was recognized for contributing to the improvement of senior welfare by actively supporting jobs and social activities so that seniors can lead vibrant and healthy lives.

In fact, the district expanded senior jobs by 74.3%, from 2,896 people in 2016 to 5,048 this year, by discovering various jobs such as school disinfection, ice pack collection, and Ansan guardians.

It also received favorable reviews for providing market-type jobs through the senior job specialized agency ‘Seodaemun Senior Club,’ including YamiYami (side dish manufacturing and sales), ChwiikChwiik (mobile car wash), and PposongPposong (laundry collection and delivery).

Seodaemun-gu Mayor Moon Seok-jin said, “We will continue to discover and expand senior jobs to support seniors’ vibrant old age, strengthen social safety nets, and provide supplementary income.”

Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jung-hoon) announced that the ‘2021 Chi-Hyu (休) Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition,’ where residents exhausted by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic can enjoy artworks and heal in daily life, will be held at the Gangdong-gu Office Open Yard and the grassy square in Iljasan Neighborhood Park.

Now in its second year, the outdoor sculpture exhibition was prepared with the purpose of creating a high-quality cultural city by displaying sculptures in the multipurpose cultural space Gangdong-gu Office Open Yard and the nature-friendly Iljasan grassy square.

The exhibition is held under the theme ‘2021 Chi-Hyu (休) Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition,’ featuring works by 16 domestic sculptors: 12 pieces in the Open Yard and 7 pieces in the Iljasan grassy square.

The Open Yard exhibits works expressing human progressiveness, wishing for a hopeful future after COVID-19, on display until January 22, 2022. The Iljasan grassy square exhibits works themed on nature, animals, and rest, available for viewing until January 5, 2022.

Gangdong-gu Mayor Lee Jung-hoon said, “I hope this will be a time to heal the minds and bodies exhausted by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic by enjoying beautiful sculptures in the multipurpose cultural space Open Yard and the nature-friendly Iljasan grassy square,” adding, “The district will continue to do its best to enable residents to easily access artworks in daily life and enjoy culture.”

Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon) held the inauguration ceremony for the Age-Friendly City Monitoring Group on the 23rd at the district office auditorium to create ‘Geumcheon, a city where life in old age is anticipated.’

The event was attended by Geumcheon-gu Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon, District Council Chairman Baek Seung-kwon, and 26 members of the Age-Friendly City Monitoring Group, with the presentation of appointment letters, reading of pledges, congratulatory speeches, and commemorative photos.

The Geumcheon Age-Friendly City Monitoring Group was publicly recruited last November to lay the foundation for creating an age-friendly city and to collect and reflect opinions by generation and region on district policies. It consists of 30 members from various age groups, including office workers and seniors.

They are divided into five subcommittees: Safe Geumcheon, Healthy Geumcheon, Growing Geumcheon, Inclusive Geumcheon, and Public Relations, to monitor Geumcheon’s age-friendly city promotion projects and participate in policy proposals and promotional activities for residents.

Geumcheon-gu shares monitoring results, proposed policies, and ideas with monitoring group members through Naver Band and holds regular meetings to discuss activity outcomes and improvements.

After the inauguration ceremony, a plaque unveiling ceremony for ‘Geumcheon-gu WHO Age-Friendly City Certification’ was held at the main entrance on the first floor of Geumcheon-gu Office.

In preparation for entering a super-aged society, Geumcheon has actively promoted policies to join the WHO Age-Friendly Cities International Network since January this year and received membership certification in October.

By 2024, the district plans to implement 60 projects across eight areas aiming for ▲Safe Geumcheon with free movement ▲Healthy Geumcheon with mutual care ▲Growing Geumcheon through participation and contribution ▲Inclusive Geumcheon where seniors and all generations live together.

Geumcheon-gu Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon said, “We formed the monitoring group to listen to diverse opinions from seniors and residents and to implement policies reflecting voices from the field,” adding, “We will strive to make Geumcheon a city where anyone can live well regardless of age.”

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