Mayor Kim Bora: "Citizens' Voices Are the Starting Point of City Governance...Open Administration Will Continue"

Mayor Kim Bora Concludes Policy Empathy Talk
Announces Vision for Ninth Administration,
Listens to Residents' Feedback by Sector
'Prosperous Anseong for All' Initiative Launched
Mayor Kim Responds Directly to Citizens' Proposals

Anseong City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kim Bora), as it wrapped up the two-week 'Second Half of 2026 Policy Empathy Talk' to mark the launch of the 9th popularly elected administration, made clear its commitment to making on-site communication with citizens the starting point for city governance.

Bora Kim, Mayor of Anseong City, held the final Policy Empathy Talk on the 31st and explained the direction of city administration. Provided by Anseong City

On July 31, Anseong City held the final Policy Empathy Talk, explaining the direction of municipal administration and listening to residents’ everyday concerns and ideas for regional development through open conversation.

On this day, residents of Iljuk-myeon requested improvements to the park golf course facilities and the repair of aging roads, while workers called for the expansion of roads around workplaces and better commuting conditions. Citizens presented a wide array of opinions, not only regarding daily inconveniences but also on ways to spur local development, and the city announced its intention to actively incorporate these suggestions into future policies.

This Policy Empathy Talk went a step further from the traditional town-by-town visiting format, instead having officials seek out various groups directly, including farmers, workers, and apartment residents. The approach has been praised as a new communication model where administration proactively reaches out to listen to citizens’ voices.

At the site, there was a broad-ranging discussion covering practical, everyday tasks in transportation, housing, education, and social welfare, as well as strategies to enhance cultural tourism competitiveness, invigorate local industry, and chart the city’s future direction for development. Citizens directly proposed local issues, and the city widened the consensus by explaining its policy directions in response.

Bora Kim, Mayor of Anseong City, is listening attentively and responding to a citizen's question during the final event of the "2026 Second Half Policy Sympathy Talk" held on the 31st. Provided by Anseong City

Mayor Kim Bora presented the 9th administration’s city vision, 'The Completion of a Prosperous Anseong for All,' and outlined the six core goals and key projects: ▲An inclusive economy ▲Universal infrastructure ▲Robust safety nets ▲Democratic public spaces ▲Culture and arts in daily life ▲Ecological sustainability.

The city plans to thoroughly review the feedback gathered through this Policy Empathy Talk by field, assess feasibility, and ensure these can be sustained as policies that citizens can genuinely experience and benefit from.

One citizen who attended the event said, “It was a meaningful time that helped me gain a deeper understanding of the community where I live,” and added, “It inspired a desire to contribute, even if just a little, to Anseong’s development.”

Mayor Kim stated, “I sincerely thank all the citizens who participated in the events. The beginning and end of the ninth popularly elected administration must always be accompanied by citizens’ voices. This Policy Empathy Talk has been a process in which citizens truly became the protagonists in communication.”

Bora Kim, mayor of Anseong, is hosting the "2026 Second Half Policy Empathy Talk" held on the 31st. Provided by Anseong City

She went on to say, “I will take to heart the various opinions shared on site, and will respond with tangible changes and achievements so that everyone’s life can improve. Moving forward, I will continue to make unwavering progress toward a great Anseong and dignified Anseong citizens.”

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