Ahn Hyeongju, Gwangju Seo-gu Council Member: "District Office's Passive Administration Needs Change"

Pointed Out During Five-Minute Free Speech

On December 1, Ahn Hyeongju, a member of the Gwangju Seo-gu Council, criticized the Seo-gu District Office's passive and complacent administration during the 2nd plenary session of the 336th regular session, stating that it undermines residents' trust and employee morale.

Ahn Hyeongju, Member of the Gwangju Seo-gu Council. Provided by Gwangju Seo-gu Council

Ahn first addressed the serious issue of youth outflow in Seo-gu, pointing out that despite urging changes in youth policy and a more proactive administration in February, the district office's passive work attitude continues to deprive young people of valuable opportunities.

In particular, the 'Master Success School' program, which was ambitiously launched with a budget of 30 million won, saw a reduction of 13.54 million won in expenses such as instructor fees due to low participation.

Ahn stated, "Even though master craftsmen who represent South Korea devoted their precious time for the youth of Seo-gu, the relevant department failed to make sufficient efforts in promotion and participant recruitment," adding, "This administrative inadequacy is an inexcusable result of passive administration."

He continued, "If the lack of commitment leads to the discontinuation of this project, which now faces the risk of being abolished next year, it would mean depriving young people of opportunities," and strongly urged, "The Seo-gu District Office must no longer stand by and ignore the reality of youth outflow."

Additionally, he raised the issue of wasted administrative resources caused by errors in tallying consent forms for the establishment of public daycare centers. He explained that, under the Infant Care Act, apartment complexes with more than 500 households are required to establish public daycare centers, but this requirement can be waived if a majority of residents oppose it.

In the case of Sangmu Central Xi Apartments, the district office blindly trusted the number of consenting households (477) submitted by the developer and proceeded with the selection of a private consignment operator. However, on-site verification revealed that the number had been miscounted, and a re-confirmation is now underway. If it is found that majority consent was not actually obtained, the current procedures will have to return to square one.

In response, Ahn apologized for the relevant standing committee's review and approval of the private consignment proposal based on incorrect data, and criticized the district office for relying solely on the developer's materials without directly verifying the facts, calling it a complacent administrative attitude.

He further emphasized, "Inadequate procedures cause inconvenience to residents and add extra workload for public officials. Therefore, it is essential to move away from a passive administration that relies only on document checks and ensure responsible verification."

Finally, Ahn stated, "These two cases are clear examples of irresponsibility and complacency in the overall work of Seo-gu's administration," and urged, "For the sustainable development of Seo-gu and the welfare of its residents, it is time for the executive branch to change and practice responsible administration."

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