Yeongdeungpo-gu Supports Native Speaker Online English Learning from Grade 1 to High School Senior... Dobong-gu Operates Citizen Auditors Composed of Residents and External Experts

Elementary to High School 2-Month Course for 2,600 Students Annually with Tuition Support... 1:1 or 1:4 Classes, Mon/Wed/Fri 30min or Tue/Thu 45min Sessions... Personal Fee: 1:1 KRW 71,000, 1:4 KRW 10,000, Free for Socially Disadvantaged... Dobong-gu Forms 7 Specialized and 20 Volunteer Resident Auditors... Gangbuk-gu Shortens Real Estate Office Opening Processing from 7 to 1 Day

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Chae Hyun-il) is supporting 'Native Speaker Online English Learning' to provide high-quality educational opportunities to students in the area.

Amid growing economic difficulties for residents due to COVID-19, this program aims to meet the demand for affordable online learning and provide equal foreign language learning opportunities to socially disadvantaged groups without discrimination.

The classes are conducted by E&Oz, an online video English learning operator, in a level-based 1:1 or 1:4 format with native-speaking teachers.

The course lasts for two months, and approximately 400 students per session, totaling around 2,600 students annually, are expected to receive tuition support.

Applicants register on the website, take a level test to assess their proficiency, and then select their preferred day and time from the level-based courses offered. Classes are available either Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for 30 minutes or Tuesday and Thursday for 45 minutes.

The tuition fee for 1:1 classes from 1st grade elementary to 3rd grade high school is 89,000 KRW per month, and 28,000 KRW per month for 1:4 classes. However, with district support, students only pay 71,000 KRW for 1:1 and 10,000 KRW for 1:4 classes. Notably, recipients of national basic livelihood security, persons with disabilities, and national merit recipients attend free of charge.

Applications can be made through the online English learning website. Those who complete membership registration will receive a notification text before recruitment. Adults can also apply, but tuition support is not provided for them.

For more details, refer to the district office website or contact the Yeongdeungpo-gu Online English Learning Center or the Future Education Division of Yeongdeungpo-gu Office.

Mayor Chae Hyun-il of Yeongdeungpo-gu said, “We hope that native speaker online English learning will help close the learning gap widened by COVID-19,” adding, “We will create a prestigious educational city where all students can equally benefit without discrimination by providing diverse learning opportunities.”

Dobong-gu (Mayor Lee Dong-jin) operates the ‘Citizen Auditor System,’ where external experts and residents directly participate in administration, aiming to enhance administrative diversity and implement more transparent governance.

Since its inception in 2013, Dobong-gu’s Citizen Auditors consist of ‘Professional Citizen Auditors’ with qualifications in fields such as civil engineering, architecture, landscaping, health, welfare, and taxation, and ‘General Citizen Auditors,’ local residents actively engaged in district development.

On the 28th of last month, Dobong-gu held the ‘5th Citizen Auditor Appointment Ceremony and First Half Regular Meeting,’ appointing 27 citizen auditors (7 professional and 20 general auditors), and began activities on the 9th of this month with a joint inspection of the Ssangmun-dong Village Vitality Center new construction.

Previously, only professional citizen auditors participated in joint inspections of public construction sites, but since 2022, both professional and general citizen auditors from the relevant neighborhood participate together, expanding and strengthening the system to actively reflect local residents’ demands during construction.

Additionally, starting this year, audit activities have been newly promoted in COVID-19 related areas such as temporary screening clinics and multi-use facilities like restaurants and religious sites. The role has been further expanded by selecting major projects in civil engineering, landscaping, health, and welfare sectors requiring audits.

Despite COVID-19 last year, Dobong-gu Citizen Auditors conducted 17 audit activities, including inspections of flood damage prevention measures, construction sites like the Dobong-dong Multipurpose Sports Center, and monitoring various events such as the Dobong-gu Lantern Festival.

Mayor Lee Dong-jin of Dobong-gu stated, “The Citizen Auditor System has greatly contributed to enhancing transparency in district administration through participation by external experts and residents. With expanded and strengthened activities this year, we will do our best to further improve the integrity of Dobong administration and resident satisfaction.”

Gangbuk-gu (Mayor Park Kyum-soo) announced that starting from the 25th, it will implement the ‘Real Estate Brokerage Office Registration 1-day Service.’

In the context of economic slowdown due to COVID-19, this service shortens the processing period for registering a brokerage office from the previous 7 days to just 1 day to revitalize the economy and improve convenience for residents.

Previously, registration applications for newly opened real estate brokerage offices could only be submitted from the building handover date, and it typically took 7 days to receive the registration certificate. Consequently, applicants inevitably faced economic and time losses between leasing the building and starting actual business. With this improvement, business can commence the day after application.

Furthermore, the registration and tax departments have been unified to eliminate the inconvenience of applicants having to visit multiple departments. Previously, applicants had to visit separate departments for registration and tax matters, but now everything can be handled by visiting the registration department alone.

Upon application, the department uses computerized systems to check for disqualifications, verify building suitability, insurance subscription status, and other related matters. Once payment of registration license tax is confirmed, applicants receive the brokerage office registration certificate.

Mayor Park Kyum-soo of Gangbuk-gu said, “We expect this service to reduce residents’ time and economic costs and improve the level of civil services in Gangbuk-gu,” adding, “We will continue to actively incorporate innovative and diverse opinions to resolve residents’ inconveniences and lead the creation of a trustworthy Gangbuk-gu.”

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