Changnyeong County Officer Jeong Hyeeun Receives Presidential Commendation for Resolving Collective Complaint

Honored for resolving a complaint over the
inspection-for-use process for a long-unapproved apartment complex

Changnyeong County in South Gyeongsang Province presented a Presidential Commendation on the 2nd during its regular county briefing to Jeong Hyeeun, an administrative officer in the Urban Planning and Architecture Division, for her contribution to resolving a collective complaint arising from a long-unapproved apartment complex.

County Governor Sung Nak-in presents a Presidential Commendation to Administrative Officer Jung Hye-eun during the county’s regular briefing on the 2nd. [Photo provided by Changnyeong County]

On October 2, 2026, Jeong received a Presidential Commendation for helping resolve a complaint concerning the processing of an inspection for use of an apartment complex that had long remained unapproved. The award was presented at the Civil Petition Innovation Case Reporting Session, jointly organized by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and chaired by the President.

Residents of Dowon Apartments in Changnyeong-eup had been unable to obtain an inspection for use for 24 years after the project plan was approved. This caused significant difficulties in exercising their property rights and in their daily lives, and the issue had led to a collective complaint that remained unresolved for many years.

In response, the county worked with the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission and South Gyeongsang Province to draw up an agreement and mediation plan. It also formed a task force involving 11 departments, including the Urban Planning and Architecture Division, and promptly completed the inspection-for-use process.

During this process, Jeong held on-site mediation meetings, advanced the project through the task force, and faithfully carried out her duties through the ceremony to hand over the inspection-for-use certificate. Her efforts contributed to resolving the long-running collective complaint.

County Governor Seong Nakin said, "I am grateful for the hard work of the employees who resolved this collective complaint through close consultation and coordination among the relevant agencies, even though it was difficult to meet the procedures and requirements set out in the relevant laws and regulations. This award is especially meaningful because it gives us an opportunity to widely publicize the county's outstanding examples of proactive administration."

The Presidential Commendation recognizes Changnyeong County's commitment to responsible and proactive administration by addressing residents' difficulties and seeking solutions on the ground. The county hopes its approach can serve as a model for local governments nationwide seeking to resolve long-unsettled collective complaints.

Changnyeong County's resolution of the complaint over the inspection for use of the long-unapproved apartment complex is expected to have significant administrative and social impacts. Beyond resolving a single apartment-related complaint that had remained unresolved for years, the effort could help protect residents' property rights, restore trust in government, promote proactive administration, and ease tensions in the local community.

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