Seo Gangseok's Service-Oriented Administration: "One-Stop Permit and Civil Affairs Service" Improves Quality of Life for 660,000 Songpa Residents

Over 58,000 Permit Cases Resolved in One Place Without "Going Up and Down"
One-Stop Service to Expand to 500 Types and Streamlined Documentation from March
Mayor Seo Gangseok: "We Will Continue Attentive, Service-Oriented Administration to Improve Residents' Quality of Life"

"When you visit the Songpa District Office to handle civil affairs, you no longer have to go up and down searching for different departments. Everything can be resolved in one visit, from application to receiving your permit."

Songpa District (headed by Mayor Seo Gangseok) is receiving a strong positive response for its "One-Stop Permit and Civil Affairs Service," which allows residents to complete all procedures in one place without having to visit multiple departments.

The "One-Stop Permit and Civil Affairs Service" is an initiative launched by Seo Gangseok upon taking office as Songpa District Mayor. It covers all permit-related areas, including welfare, tourism, real estate, and food, establishing a system where everything from consultation to document issuance can be handled in a single visit.

Seo Gangseok, the district mayor, has been operating the "One-Stop Permit and Civil Affairs Service" since October 2022, the first of its kind in the country, based on his philosophy that "residents are not just petitioners, but sovereign owners."

The number of permit and civil affairs services available through the one-stop system has expanded from 435 types in October 2022, to 450 in 2023, and to 480 in 2024. A total of 58,839 cases have been processed through this service: 6,311 in 2022, 25,868 in 2023, and 26,660 in 2024.

Residents who have used the one-stop service shared feedback such as, "It used to be difficult to deal with permit officials, but now district office staff act as our agents and handle everything, so it feels like we're being treated with respect," and "It used to be a constant cycle of submitting documents, waiting, consulting, and waiting again, but all that inconvenience has disappeared."

Notably, 92% of residents responded that they were satisfied with the changes to the civil affairs administration system. In a public opinion survey conducted last year, the service ranked third among the most satisfying district initiatives, with a satisfaction rate of 81.5%.

In addition, Songpa District was the only district in Seoul to receive the main award at the "28th Civil Service Award," co-hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and SBS last December.

The district continues to improve its services by providing specialized training and courtesy education for dedicated staff, and by publishing work manuals to enhance professionalism. Starting in March this year, the district plans to expand the scope of the one-stop service from 480 to 500 types, and to simplify required documents, significantly reducing inconvenience and providing customized civil affairs services for residents.

Furthermore, the district is making efforts to provide attentive and considerate administration services through initiatives such as the "Haha Hoho Civil Affairs Companion Service," which assists vulnerable groups including seniors and people with disabilities throughout the entire process, and by offering training in courteous administrative services utilizing AI.

Seo Gangseok, Mayor of Songpa District, stated, "The One-Stop Permit and Civil Affairs Service is a representative example of Songpa District's 'service-oriented administration,' based on the belief that 'residents are not just petitioners, but owners.' We will continue to do our utmost to provide service-oriented administrative services that residents can truly experience."

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