Suwon City to Launch "Bookdodum" Reading Program for Public Officials Starting in April

Suwon City, Gyeonggi Province, will launch the "Bookdodum" reading and learning program for public officials starting in April. This initiative aims to translate insights gained from reading into policy and to drive administrative innovation that citizens can experience firsthand.

Earlier in January, Suwon City became the first local government to select "Bookdodum" as a learning model for public officials to realize its vision of becoming a "reading nation."

The program will operate as a Suwon-style learning system, designed to embed reading into the culture of public service and connect it to policy development.

This program is an expanded and reorganized version of the previous "Wednesday Book Club," where public officials communicated and shared policy ideas through books.

About 20 public officials will be divided into four groups, conducting reading and discussions independently.

Jaeyoon Lee, mayor of Suwon (second from the right in the front row), is attending a Suwon city officials' book club and taking a commemorative photo. Provided by Suwon City

Participants will share insights and explore solutions to municipal issues through monthly group discussions and quarterly joint debates.

Books will be selected to enhance policy insight, reflecting the work of public officials and trends of social change. Ideas generated from these discussions will be incorporated into policy, with the aim of driving tangible improvements in citizens’ daily lives.

The books needed for the program will be purchased from local bookstores. By sourcing books locally, the city will return public institution spending to the community and strengthen partnerships with local bookstores, laying the foundation for mutual prosperity.

Lee Jaejun, Mayor of Suwon, stated, "In-depth reading and discussion among public officials are important driving forces that resolve citizens’ concerns and enrich lives. Through Bookdodum, we will enhance the quality of administration and establish a warm reading culture that grows together with the local community."

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