"Do We Have to Make a New Banner Every Time?" ... Gangbuk District Mayor Jeong Changsu's First 100 Days of "Small but Certain Actions"

Changing Everyday Practices Through "Sohwakhaeng"
Improving Gifts for Newborns, Fee Discounts for Single-Parent Families, and Senior-Center Food Budgets

Gangbuk District Mayor Jeong Changsu marked 100 days in office in the district's ninth popularly elected administration on October 8. He chose to start by changing small, long-standing practices in the day-to-day work of local government.

Gangbuk District Mayor Jeong Changsu, wearing a sequined outfit, greets senior citizens at the “Gonggyeonghaeyo Saranghaeyo Senior Citizens’ Festival.” Provided by Gangbuk District.

He has shared these changes on Facebook under the name "Sohwakhaeng," and the series has reached 24 installments. The term is commonly understood to mean "small but certain happiness," but he gave it a new meaning: "small but certain actions."

It started with a banner in a meeting room. At the first expanded executive meeting after taking office, Mayor Jeong noticed the number "1" on the banner hanging at the front of the room. That meant a new banner with "2" or "3" would have to be made every time the meeting was held.

A projector and screen were already installed in the meeting room. Mayor Jeong asked, "Do we need to make a new banner every time we have a meeting?" He decided to keep only banners that were absolutely necessary and use the screen for recurring meetings and events. It was the first Sohwakhaeng he posted.

He left the mayor's office untouched, too. Since taking office, Mayor Jeong has continued to use the existing furnishings and facilities without renovating the office or buying new furniture. His reason was that there was no need to replace things that were still perfectly usable. Instead, he had the film covering the glass in the office entrance door removed. The district said the move reflected his intention to open up the mayor's office and communicate more closely with residents.

The way the district provides residents with cool water has also changed. Instead of handing out bottled water in plastic bottles every summer, the district installed "Gangbuk Oasis" last September near Beolli Bridge on the Ui Stream, along a red-clay trail, where residents can fill their cups with cold water and ice. The change improved convenience for residents while reducing single-use plastic.

The district also took another look at its welfare programs from the perspective of the people receiving support. It reconsidered whether including pay-as-you-throw garbage bags among the items provided to families with newborns, on the grounds that they were practical, was in keeping with the purpose of a "congratulatory gift." As a result, it decided to let parents choose the baby products they need, and is taking the necessary steps with a view to introducing the change next year.

During a visit to the Gangbuk Wellbeing Sports Center, Mayor Jeong reviewed fee discounts and found that older adults and recipients of basic livelihood security benefits were eligible, but single-parent families were not. He ordered improvements so that single-parent families could also receive discounts on fees for public facilities.

Support for older adults also began with concerns close to home. In response to feedback that rising prices made it difficult to prepare side dishes, the district increased its food-supply budget for senior centers. It is also preparing for a major cleanup of the centers to ease the burden of cleaning on older adults.

At a celebration for older adults, he took the stage himself. After work, Mayor Jeong went to a neighborhood karaoke room with his wife and practiced songs he thought older adults would enjoy. He also got a glittery jacket for the occasion. When he began singing at the event, one older attendee came to the front of the stage, took Mayor Jeong's hand, and joined in the song.

Jeong Changsu, head of Gangbuk District, tours the Gangbuk Wellbeing Sports Center. Provided by Gangbuk District.

Many of these changes are still underway. The improvements to gifts for families with newborns will take effect next year, while preparations for the senior-center cleanups are still in their early stages. It will take a little longer before residents can feel the changes in their daily lives.

Mayor Jeong said, "I will take another careful look at things in local government and residents' lives that we have taken for granted." He added, "I will act immediately on what can be changed and keep up these 'small but certain actions' so residents can feel even the smallest changes."

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