Jongno-gu Reviews 290 Resident Suggestions...84.5% Set for Implementation

“On-site Mayor’s Office” Suggestions Now Being Translated into Policy

Jongno-gu, Seoul (headed by Mayor Yoo Chanjong), will pursue 245 out of 290 on-site suggestions submitted by residents as actionable projects, representing 84.5% of the total. Of these, 154 items designated for immediate or short-term execution will be addressed right away, while 91 longer-term tasks that require budget allocations and administrative procedures will also continue moving forward.

Yoo Chanjong, Mayor of Jongno District, is speaking at the on-site mayor's office resident petition review meeting held on the 17th. Provided by Jongno District Office.

According to Jongno-gu on September 21, the suggestions originated from the “On-site Mayor's Office and Residents’ Dialogue,” which was held from July 15 to July 29. The proposals addressed various aspects of daily life, including roads and sewage, parks and green spaces, urban planning, and culture and tourism. On the 17th, the district hosted a “Residents’ Suggestions Implementation Meeting” to review whether the suggestions were being incorporated into actual policies and projects, and to discuss ways to carry them out.

The review found that 154 proposals, accounting for 53.1% of the total, could be implemented in the short term. This includes 76 items that can be put into effect immediately and 78 that fall into the category of short-term execution. Meanwhile, 91 projects, or 31.3%, require long-term consideration due to the need for substantial budgets or complex procedures. The remaining 45 items were deemed difficult to accept because of legal or institutional constraints, but the district plans to revisit their feasibility and alternatives.

The suggestions collected from each neighborhood reflected local circumstances. In Hyehwa-dong, there was a proposal to build a childcare facility and a rest park at the demolition site near Seoul Munmyo and Sungkyunkwan. The demolition has been completed, and in May, the district obtained approval from the National Heritage Administration to develop the site into a park and to construct a new restroom. The district intends to apply for a revised permit to reflect residents’ requests regarding the relocation of the restroom and plans to commission the project accordingly.

In Changsin 2-dong, residents called for measures to eradicate so-called “label replacement,” or mislabeling products’ origin. To address this, the district will raise awareness of the report incentive system and, starting in November, will form a special enforcement team with investigative authority to conduct regular inspections.

In Jongno 1, 2, 3, and 4-ga-dong, residents suggested revitalizing Gugak (traditional Korean music) experiences in the Donhwamun-ro area. Jongno-gu responded by collaborating with Donhwamun Gugak Hall and private Gugak training centers to develop experience programs and will implement a revitalization plan for Donhwamun-ro next year.

In Sajik-dong, requests were made to expand support for public restrooms in the Sejong Village Food Culture Street area. The district plans to amend relevant ordinances in October to create a legal basis and complete construction work within the year. Jongno-gu stated that, throughout the remainder of the 9th elected term, it will regularly review the status of projects and communicate with residents about proposals that are difficult to pursue, seeking alternative solutions where needed.

Mayor Yoo Chanjong said, "The vivid opinions shared by residents on-site are the most valuable foundation for change in Jongno," adding, "We will ensure that residents' suggestions are seamlessly translated into tangible policies and projects."

Last July, Yuchanjong, the district mayor, visited Gyonam-dong. Provided by Jongno District Office.

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