Seocho-gu Selected as an Excellent Institution in the National Local Government Innovation Evaluation... Yangcheon-gu Selected as an Excellent Institution in Innovation Evaluation for 4 Consecutive Years

[Seoul District News] Seocho-gu Receives High Praise for Various Innovation Projects Including ‘Seocho Smart Senior’ and ‘Seocho Smart Hub Center’ in Five Areas Such as Institutional Autonomous Innovation · Maintains Overwhelming Lead as No.1 with 124 Cases (17.4%) Registered out of 711 Excellent Cases in Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s ‘Government Innovation 1st Street’... Yangcheon-gu Highly Rated for Implementing Resident-Centered Administration by Integrating Smart Technologies like Smart Keeper, Smart Maru, and Big Data Platform Smart Map... Jungnang-gu Wins Minister of Health and Welfare Award for ‘Alcohol Harm Prevention Month’... Dongjak-gu Youth

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seocho-gu was selected as an ‘Excellent Institution’ in the 2021 Local Government Innovation Evaluation hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the 9th, recognizing it as an ‘Innovative Administrative City.’

The ‘Local Government Innovation Evaluation’ is conducted by the ‘Local Government Innovation Evaluation Group’ composed of private experts and the ‘National Evaluation Group’ recruited from the general public, evaluating all local governments into three grades (Excellent, Average, Poor).

The evaluation criteria include five areas: ▲Inclusive Administration ▲Institutional Autonomous Innovation ▲Participation and Cooperation ▲Trusted Government ▲Innovation Diffusion and Public Perception.

In particular, the district’s ‘Seocho Smart Senior’ project, which helps bridge the digital gap between generations, was highly evaluated for significantly contributing to eliminating blind spots in public services under the inclusive administration category. Additionally, the ‘Seocho Smart Hub Center,’ which established a mobile-based work processing system to improve work efficiency, received favorable evaluations in the institutional autonomous innovation category.

Other innovative projects include ▲‘Hope Ladder Project’ supporting complete independence of children aging out of care through a multifaceted support system from basic livelihood support to psychological and emotional safety, ▲‘Single Single Project’ supporting single-person households needing social safety nets such as vulnerable health and women’s safety, ▲‘Seocho Women’s Job Corporation,’ an innovative project for women with career interruptions, ▲‘Seocho-type Shared Daycare Center,’ which drastically reduced waiting times for child admission by combining various childcare facilities including public, private, and home daycare centers, ▲‘Seoripul Saem,’ a Seocho-type educational safety net to eliminate educational opportunity inequality for low-income vulnerable groups, ▲‘Seocho Child Development Center’ for infants and toddlers at risk of disabilities, ▲‘50 Plus Center’ for life redesign for people in their 50s, ▲‘Immediate Text Reporting Window for Personal Local Income Tax’ enabling one-stop reporting of national and local taxes without visiting local government offices, and ▲‘Mobile Real-time Electronic Notice System’ that sends electronic notices of license plate seizure via mobile phone immediately upon detecting delinquent vehicles.

Meanwhile, Seocho-gu maintains its top position with an overwhelming lead by registering 124 cases (17.4%) out of a total of 711 excellent cases nationwide on the ‘Government Innovation 1st Street’ operated by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

Cheon Jeong-wook, Acting Mayor of Seocho-gu, said, “This achievement is the result of all employees’ efforts toward innovative administration,” adding, “We will continue to promote innovation in various fields, from organizational culture to resident-centered projects.”

Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) announced that it was selected as an excellent institution for the fourth consecutive year in the ‘2021 Local Government Innovation Evaluation’ hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, recognizing its achievements in resident-perceived innovative administration.

The ‘Local Government Innovation Evaluation’ is a system that evaluates efforts and achievements for regional innovation based on five categories and 14 detailed indicators: ▲Institutional Autonomous Innovation ▲Inclusive Administration ▲Participation and Cooperation ▲Trusted Government ▲Innovation Diffusion and Public Perception, targeting 243 local governments nationwide.

To ensure fair and objective evaluation, the assessment involved the ‘Local Government Innovation Evaluation Group’ composed of private experts and the ‘National Evaluation Group’ recruited from the general public.

In this evaluation, Yangcheon-gu was recognized for actively incorporating smart technologies into district administration, such as ▲Smart Keeper project to prevent missing persons among people with developmental disabilities and dementia patients, ▲Smart Maru at bus stops utilizing ICT advanced technology, and ▲Smart Map, a big data platform integrating all district data for easy visualization, thereby implementing resident-perceived innovative administration.

Additionally, ▲Youth Digital Supporters assisting local small business owners’ transition to non-face-to-face and digital economy, ▲Activation of online and offline resident participation platforms for community innovation, and ▲Yangcheon-gu Innovative Administration Best Practice Contest decided directly by residents were selected as excellent innovation cases and highly evaluated.

Kim Soo-young, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, “I am proud to have achieved the progressive result of being selected as an excellent institution for four consecutive years in the Local Government Innovation Evaluation,” adding, “I thank the staff who worked together despite difficulties due to COVID-19, and we will continue to implement resident-centered local administration through bold challenges and innovation.”

Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) received a commendation from the Minister of Health and Welfare for the ‘2021 Alcohol Harm Prevention Month.’

This commendation recognizes the district’s efforts to create a healthy drinking culture environment in the community, prevent alcohol-related harm, and promote a culture of moderation to improve public health.

Since March last year, the district has been implementing the ‘High-risk Drinking and Alcohol Harm Prevention Project’ in collaboration with the Catholic University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. In November last year, it also established the nation’s first ‘Public-Private Council for Alcohol Harm Prevention in Jungnang-gu’ and has been operating it to prevent alcohol-related harm in various ways.

The ‘Public-Private Council for Alcohol Harm Prevention in Jungnang-gu,’ involving Jungnang-gu Office and 14 related organizations, works to reduce alcohol-related harm and foster a healthy drinking culture through screening and counseling for high-risk drinkers and alcohol prevention education.

The 14 public-private council members include Jungnang-gu Office, Jungnang-gu Council, Jungnang Police Station, Seoul Eastern Education Support Office, Jungnang-gu Medical Association, Jungnang-gu Dental Association, Jungnang-gu Pharmaceutical Association, Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul Medical Center and Wonjin Foundation-affiliated Green Hospital, Pungsan Medical Foundation Dongbu Jeil Hospital, Mental Health Welfare Center, Korea Food Service Industry Association Jungnang Branch, Alcohol Culture Improvement Jungnang Council, and Resident Autonomy Committee.

Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, said, “We will make greater efforts to prevent alcohol-related harm so that residents can enjoy a healthy drinking culture and lead happy lives,” adding, “We ask for active participation and interest from residents in creating a healthy and safe drinking culture.”

The district plans to continue the ‘NoMAD (No More Alcohol to the Drunken)’ campaign involving the Korea Food Service Industry Association Jungnang Branch and dining establishments until 2023.

Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Sung-soo), ranked first in Seoul for two consecutive years (2019 and 2020) in the ‘Korea Local Autonomy Competitiveness Index (KLCI) Evaluation,’ will accept first-round applications for the Resident Village Community Project, which completes local autonomy, from February 15 to 18.

The 2022 Songpa-gu Village Community Integrated Public Contest includes five categories: ▲‘Our Village Activity Support’ to discover village issues and find solutions, ▲‘Autonomous District Specialized Project (Graduation Class of Public Contest)’ supporting resident groups in multi-year public projects to establish legal entities, ▲‘Village Vitality Supporters (Social Problem Solving Type)’ supporting the operation of the ‘Village Vitality Center’ (scheduled to open in March 2022) as an integrated platform for resident autonomy, ▲‘Making a Livable Village’ supporting activation of community meetings, and ▲‘Resident Group Federation Project (Expansion Group)’ supporting solidarity activities among resident groups, with applications accepted sequentially.

The first round will recruit for ‘Our Village Activity Support’ and ‘Autonomous District Specialized Project (Graduation Class of Public Contest).’ Any project that discovers village issues led by residents and proposes solutions in areas such as education, environment, childcare, and safety is eligible.

In 2021, a total of 62 projects were conducted, with excellent cases including ▲‘Clean Village Warm Neighbors,’ where marriage immigrant women in the Machun-dong area created a new community spirit through environmental beautification activities such as plogging and ice pack recycling, ▲‘Aja Mom,’ connecting family and village through co-parenting, and ▲‘Munjeonggol Volunteer Group,’ promoting environmental maintenance and community activation centered on the Dangsan tree in Munjeong-dong.

Eligibility requires a resident group (organization) of three or more people residing or having a living base (workplace or school) in Songpa-gu with prior experience in village community public contest projects.

Applications can be submitted by accessing the Seoul Village Community Comprehensive Support Center website and filling out the relevant form from February 15 to 6 p.m. on February 18.

Based on criteria such as public interest and voluntariness, 11 teams will be selected through proposer participation and expert evaluation, with project funding of approximately 4 to 5 million KRW per team. Results will be notified in mid-March.

For more details, please refer to the Songpa-gu Office notices or the Songpa-gu Village Autonomy Center website announcements.

Mayor Park Sung-soo said, “Resident participation is most important to complete ‘Songpa Leading Seoul,’” adding, “I hope diverse and challenging village community projects suited to the village’s situation will be selected to create a better Songpa-gu together.”

Dongjak-gu (Mayor Lee Chang-woo) is recruiting ‘2022 Dongjak-gu Youth Policy Network Members’ until March 11.

The ‘Dongjak-gu Youth Policy Network’ is a public-private communication channel established in 2020 to create customized policies from the youth’s perspective. Over the past two years, it has proposed various youth policies such as the ‘Ju(宙)topia Project’ to solve housing concerns and a youth culture magazine, with a total of nine projects reflected.

Any youth aged 19 to 39 residing or active in Dongjak-gu can participate, and this year, a total of 52 members will be recruited.

Youth wishing to participate can download the application form from the ‘Notices and Announcements’ board on the Dongjak-gu Office website and submit it by visiting (2nd floor, Job Policy Division, Dongjak-gu Office), registered mail, or email.

Selection results will be posted on the district website in March, and activities will commence with an online inauguration ceremony.

Members of the Dongjak-gu Youth Policy Network will perform activities such as ▲discovering and proposing youth policies, ▲monitoring youth policies, and ▲promoting youth exchanges until December, with one renewal possible.

For more information, contact the Job Policy Division.

Jeon Hye-young, head of the Job Policy Division, said, “Dongjak-gu, with three universities concentrated along with the Noryangjin academy district, feels a responsibility to lead youth policies,” adding, “By expanding policy participation opportunities for youth, the direct beneficiaries, we will create youth policies that resonate more deeply.”

Meanwhile, the district opened the ‘Noryangjin Youth Job Center’ in 2019, the first among Seoul’s autonomous districts, and established the ‘Youth Startup Support Center’ the same year to support youth career exploration and employment/startups. This year, it plans to accelerate the creation of new regional growth engines by establishing a startup nurturing investment fund worth 34 billion KRW to support startup growth.

Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) will provide comprehensive e-commerce education through the ‘Influencer Growth Support Program’ targeting career-interrupted women and youth in the region.

The ‘Influencer Growth Support Program’ is an all-in-one 15-week training that supports trainees in independently producing digital content to grow as a brand and generate wealth, including comprehensive SNS education such as Instagram and live commerce, as well as field training.

As part of the ‘City-District Upward and Cooperative Job Creation Project,’ the ‘Influencer Growth Support Program,’ selected as an excellent project in 2021, produced a total of 28 graduates from the first and second cohorts last year. It matched them with local small business owners needing promotion, creating over 750 promotional contents, earning recognition for its achievements and continuing this year.

Those wishing to participate as the third cohort of influencers can apply through the Dongdaemun Employment and Economy Center website by March 6. After document and face-to-face evaluations, final successful candidates will be announced on March 18. Training will run from March 22 to May 12, followed by field training operating live markets around June and July.

On the 16th at 2 p.m., an explanatory session and Q&A for the third program will be held on the official Instagram account of Deugandeme, open to anyone with an Instagram account to freely join and ask questions. For detailed inquiries, contact the Business Team 2 at the Dongdaemun Employment and Economy Center.

Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, said, “We aim to support residents in creating competitive content themselves and synergize with Dongdaemun-gu’s infrastructure, where commerce is well-developed,” adding, “We will continue various supports, including the Influencer Growth Support Program, to vitalize e-commerce and make the city attractive to young people.”

Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon) will recruit food truck operators for the Food Truck Zone at Exit 2 of Doksan Station from February 14 to 18.

Geumcheon-gu operates the Food Truck Zone in the plaza in front of Exit 2 of Doksan Station to provide stable business locations for food truck operators and entertainment for residents.

A total of two food trucks will be recruited, with each operator allowed to apply for one truck. Selected and permitted operators can operate for one year from the designated start date.

Applicants must be registered residents of Seoul as of the announcement date (February 7, 2022), not restricted from bidding qualifications under Article 92 of the Enforcement Decree of the Act on Contracts to which Local Governments are Parties, and capable of reporting food truck business and owning a food truck. Franchise or corporate food trucks are not eligible.

Those wishing to participate can download the application form and business plan from the ‘Notices and Announcements’ section on the Geumcheon-gu Office website and submit them in person to the Regional Economy Division (11th floor) of the district office.

Geumcheon-gu will form a selection committee to evaluate menu composition, cooking expertise, hygiene and quality, and truck design, selecting operators in order of highest scores. The final selection results will be posted on the district office website on February 23.

Yoo Sung-hoon, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, said, “The Food Truck Zone is operated to improve the pedestrian environment by regulating illegal street vendors and revitalize the local economy,” adding, “We encourage many applicants who wish to operate food trucks.”

Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) will accept submissions for the ‘Creative Idea Proposal Contest’ for the first half of 2022 until June to incorporate creativity and innovation into district administration.

The ‘Creative Idea Proposal Contest’ is a policy to discover creative opinions and innovative ideas from residents and district officials. It aims to develop policies with an active mindset and solve current issues to improve administrative services.

This year, the district will again collect creative ideas from residents and employees. Participation methods include submitting anytime through various channels such as the Eunpyeong-gu website (Citizen Participation - Idea Yard), the National Petition System (General Proposal), and the employee administrative bulletin board.

Among the proposals adopted in the contest, final selections will be made through evaluation, with the district mayor’s commendation and prize money awarded according to the innovation grade.

The district has previously collected various ideas from residents and officials to enhance competitiveness and productivity in district administration and reflected them in governance. It also benchmarked excellent cases from other institutions and applied them, making various efforts for district development based on creative ideas.

Last year, the district discovered five excellent benchmarking cases and applied them to governance. In the first half of last year, a total of 224 ideas were received through ongoing idea collection and Eunpyeong Hope Job idea collection, selecting one grand prize and six encouragement awards. In the second half, 119 ideas were received, with proposal evaluations scheduled for this month.

Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, said, “To respond flexibly to rapidly changing administrative demands, we must incorporate a creative mindset throughout district administration,” adding, “I hope this contest will bear fruit in enhancing district competitiveness.”

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