"100,000 Jobs Set in Motion" ... Changwon Special City Announces Reorganization ... Resident-First Administration

Strengthening disaster, safety and financial management functions
Transforming Changwon into a resident-first, business-friendly city

Kang Kiyoon, mayor of Changwon Special City in Gyeongsangnam-do, is launching the first reorganization of the city administration to set the fifth administration on a full-fledged path to growth.

On November 4, Changwon Special City announced a comprehensive overhaul of its administrative structure, aiming to prioritize residents and transform the city into a business-friendly one. The reorganization will strengthen disaster, safety and financial management functions and integrate economic, industrial and job policies.

Changwon Special City Hall. [Photo courtesy of Changwon City]

The reorganization will focus on strengthening resident safety, revitalizing the livelihoods economy, responding to pending issues, enhancing expertise and improving organizational efficiency. The city also plans to add only the minimum number of staff needed to meet growing administrative demands.

◆ Strengthening the foundations of city administration: resident safety and fiscal soundness

The city will establish a Disaster and Safety Bureau, bringing the Disaster Response Division, Safety Policy Division and River Division together to strengthen coordination from disaster prevention through response. It will also establish a Structural Management Division to centrally manage safety inspections and maintenance of major road structures, including tunnels, bridges and retaining walls designated as Class 1 or Class 2 facilities.

A Finance Bureau will also be established to bring budget, revenue, expenditure and asset management functions together in one place and strengthen the efficiency and accountability of fiscal operations, including by eliminating unnecessary spending and redundant projects.

◆ Supporting resident-centered administration, business growth and the livelihoods economy

The existing Autonomous Administration Bureau will be renamed the Resident Administration Bureau, and a Resident Autonomy Division will be established to oversee resident-first projects and on-site administrative services for residents. Policies supporting population growth, young adults, youth and foreign residents will also be integrated under the Population and Youth Policy Division to strengthen resident-centered administrative services.

The Future Strategic Industries Bureau and the Economy and Jobs Bureau will be consolidated into the Economy, Industry and Jobs Bureau. A Business Partnership Division will be established to focus on supporting businesses and resolving challenges they face on the ground. Youth employment and startup support functions will be consolidated under the Job Creation Division, focusing on the key pledge to create 100,000 jobs. Investment attraction and future industry functions will also be placed within the bureau to support business growth and revitalize the local economy.

◆ Strengthening strategic project planning and coordination and administrative expertise

A Strategic Coordination Office Task Force will be established as a division-level unit to coordinate complex issues and major projects across departments. The Urban Public Development Bureau will be reorganized as the Urban Strategic Projects Group, with a Strategic Projects Division and a Clean Energy Division established to strengthen the planning of large-scale projects and the implementation of energy policies.

Tourism and marine leisure functions will be consolidated into the Tourism and Leisure Division, while the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Division will be split into the Senior Care Division and the Disability Welfare Division to strengthen expertise in each field. Responsibilities under the First and Second Vice Mayors will also be adjusted, with the First Vice Mayor focusing on basic administration, disaster management and finance, and the Second Vice Mayor focusing on the economy, industry and specialized projects.

◆ Some agency functions moved to city hall... improving policy coordination and efficiency

Parks, green spaces and forestry functions will be integrated with the Climate and Environment Bureau to form the Climate, Environment and Greenery Bureau, while the Cultural Facilities Office will be converted into a Cultural Facilities Division and placed within city hall. This will improve coordination among environmental and green-space policies and strengthen policy responses for the opening and operation of major cultural facilities, including the Korea Democracy Hall.

With this reorganization, Changwon City’s administrative structure is set to change from 11 bureaus and offices, 8 directly affiliated agencies and 8 offices to 12 bureaus and offices, 8 directly affiliated agencies and 6 offices.

Changwon Special City Mayor Kang Kiyoon said, "This reorganization is an overhaul of the city’s administrative structure to create an environment where residents come first and to move toward becoming a city where businesses can grow and quality jobs are created. We will pursue key pledges and pending projects at speed and build a city administration that residents can see changing in their everyday lives."

We hope Changwon City’s first administrative reorganization will bring genuine hope to residents and lead to sustained administration that makes businesses feel motivated to work, earning the city government a warm welcome from residents.

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