GOYANG — Min Kyung-sun, mayor of Goyang in Gyeonggi Province, pledged barrier-free public engagement and a push to attract future industries and businesses on his first day working from a relocated office on the first floor of city hall's main building.
Min reported to the newly created mayor's office on the first floor and began full-scale work there, the city said on the 21st. Along with the mayor's workspace, the new office houses the secretariat, the communications and governance office and a citizen lounge in a single space, forming a one-stop communication system that handles everything from receiving complaints to drawing up responses. The aim is to remove barriers between departments and maximize efficiency.
The previous office, on the second floor of the main building, had drawn criticism for poor accessibility. With no elevator, older residents and wheelchair users had to use a wheelchair platform lift or take a longer detour through the city council building — a trip of more than 20 to 30 minutes.
Meeting reporters that day, Min said the barrier-free first-floor office is "not simply a relocation of the mayor's office but a kind of declaration, carrying the symbolic meaning that the mayor will meet Goyang residents anytime, anywhere." He added that it is "a strong message asking not only the mayor but also district office heads, bureau chiefs, division heads and working-level staff to actively meet residents and work to solve problems on the ground."
As his first guests, Min invited executives from the biotechnology, cultural content and aerospace sectors, a disability awareness instructor and members of the local social security council for a tea meeting, where he heard their concerns firsthand.
Son Seung-hyun, chief executive of Westworld, proposed holding regular meetings with businesses to create jobs for young people in the region. Lee Seung-ok, a disability awareness instructor, called for consideration of people with limited mobility when the transport system is reorganized, along with advance training for officials involved.
"Municipal issues and public complaints are not resolved by sitting and waiting," Min said. "Only when the mayor takes the lead in meeting residents on the ground will the public sector change proactively and key projects move faster." He stressed the need for field-centered reform in public administration.
