Park Kwan-yeol, the mayor of Gwangju, emphasized on August 5 that "administration must find answers not at the desk but in the field," highlighting the importance of direct governance.
Mayor Park is operating a 'Direct Mayor's Office' by visiting disability welfare sites to communicate directly with citizens, continuing his focus on field-centered public administration.
On this day, he opened a 'Direct Mayor's Office' at the Welfare Administration Town, where he listened to the concerns of disability organizations and welfare centers, discussing ways to improve the situation in the disability welfare sector.
This initiative is part of the core philosophy of his administration, '100 Days of Direct Field Engagement,' aimed at implementing field administration by having the mayor visit places where citizens are present.
During his visit to the disability welfare center on the 3rd and 4th floors of the Welfare Administration Town, Mayor Park toured rehabilitation therapy rooms and program operation sites, meeting with users and staff to assess facility operations and welfare services.
He also visited the offices of disability organizations on the 2nd floor, openly listening to the inconveniences faced during facility use and areas needing system improvements.
Notably, the meeting took place at a disability cafe on the 1st floor of the Welfare Administration Town, where participants enjoyed beverages made by disabled workers, drawing attention.
The informal setting allowed for natural exchanges of opinions, with attendees expressing satisfaction, stating, "We could talk comfortably with the mayor," and "It was a meaningful opportunity to convey the voices from the field as they are."
During the meeting, disability organizations presented various policy proposals, including improvements to welfare facility usage, expanded support for disabled individuals' independence, and enhancements to welfare services. Mayor Park responded, saying, "We will carefully review the opinions raised in the field with the relevant departments to ensure they lead to practical improvements."
He added, "Listening directly to the small voices of socially vulnerable individuals, such as those with disabilities, and reflecting them in governance is the core value of direct administration," emphasizing that the goal of his administration is to create a Gwangju where everyone can feel changes in their daily lives and be happy.
This Direct Mayor's Office is being recognized as a new model of 'field communication administration,' where the mayor sits down with citizens to hear problems and seek solutions together, going beyond simple site visits.
Local citizens have also reacted positively, noting, "I felt sincerity in the mayor coming directly to listen rather than waiting in the office for administration."
Welfare center users expressed hope, saying, "If the mayor listens to even the smallest inconveniences, we expect welfare administration to change," and "We hope the Direct Mayor's Office that communicates directly with citizens continues to operate."
Mayor Park concluded, "I will continue to approach citizens more closely and swiftly connect their opinions to policies, promoting citizen-centered administration."
Meanwhile, Mayor Park plans to expand field-centered communication administration through '100 Days of Direct Field Engagement,' visiting various citizen life areas, including welfare, economy, safety, and transportation, to quickly reflect citizens' voices in governance.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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