Hwaseong Mayor Jeong Myeonggeun Wins Korean Association for Local Government Studies President's Award for "Proactive Civil Complaint Administration"

Resolved long-standing complaints about stream odors through resident reports and joint inspections
Also received an appointment certificate as president of the Association of Good Local Governments' Gyeonggi-do chapter

Hwaseong Special City in Gyeonggi Province, led by Mayor Jeong Myeong-geun, presented its civil complaint innovation policy at the “2026 Good Local Autonomy Policy Contest,” held at Sarangjae in the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 13th, and received the President’s Award from the Korean Association for Local Government Studies.

Hwaseong Special City Mayor Jeong Myeong-geun (right) poses for a commemorative photo with Chairman Kim Cheol-woo after receiving his letter of appointment as the Gyeonggi-do chapter chair of the Good Local Government Association. Photo provided by Hwaseong City.

Organized by the Association of Good Local Governments, the contest was established to share and promote outstanding policies from local governments nationwide. Nineteen local governments took part in on-site presentations. At the association’s regular general meeting for the second half of the year, held that morning, Hwaseong Special City Mayor Jeong Myeong-geun was appointed president of the association’s Gyeonggi-do chapter.

That afternoon, Mayor Jeong personally presented at the policy contest on the topic “Civil Complaint Innovation in Hwaseong Special City to Make Citizens Happy.” He outlined two key directions for the city: administration that quickly and easily resolves everyday inconveniences, and administration that takes responsibility for complex and recurring complaints through to resolution.

Key achievements highlighted included the “Rapid Response Task Force for Transportation and Road Complaints,” which handles transportation and road complaints through a one-stop process; the “Comprehensive Administrative Observation System,” through which public officials proactively identify and address everyday inconveniences before citizens report them; and the “Living Inconvenience Help QR,” which lets residents easily submit complaints using their smartphones.

Hwaseong Mayor Jung Myeonggeun speaks at the second-half regular general meeting of the Council of Excellent Local Governments. Photo provided by Hwaseong City.

Collaborative administration that breaks down barriers between departments also drew attention. To resolve a long-standing problem of foul odors from a stream, Hwaseong City launched a “Public-Private Collaboration Task Force” involving residents, experts, and relevant institutions. After tracing the source of the odor through joint inspections, the city completed administrative measures and drainage pipe connection work, achieving a fundamental solution.

The case received the Presidential Award last month in recognition of its administrative innovation. The city has also established a system to protect public officials from abusive and unusual complaints and ensure they are handled professionally.

The Association of Good Local Governments is an association of basic local governments that shares outstanding policies closely tied to people’s daily lives. As of this month, 79 cities, counties, and districts nationwide are members.

Hwaseong Special City Mayor Jung Myeonggeun (third from left) poses for a commemorative photo with attendees at the second-half regular general meeting of the Council of Good Local Governments. Photo provided by Hwaseong City.

Mayor Jeong Myeong-geun said, “Civil complaint innovation does not begin by waiting for citizens to make requests; it begins when government agencies proactively identify inconveniences and respond. As president of the Gyeonggi-do chapter, I will broaden policy exchanges among local governments in the Gyeonggi region and make citizens happier through administration that takes responsibility through to the end.”

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