Anyang Mayor Choi Dae-ho Holds 'Commemorative Roundtable Discussions for 3rd Year of Eighth Popular Election Term'

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Yu Je-sung] Anyang City announced on the 15th that it will hold a series of roundtable discussions with public and partner organizations through the end of next month to commemorate the 3rd year of the eighth popular election term.

These roundtable discussions serve as a communication forum to reflect on-the-ground voices in city governance, with Mayor Choi Dae-ho directly visiting 9 organizations to listen to major issues and suggestions from each institution.

The first roundtable discussion was held on the 14th at the 5th floor training room of the Anyang Labor Rights Center near Beomgye Station, under the theme "Small Start, Big Joy – A Happy Anyang Where Working Citizens Thrive."

The Anyang Labor Rights Center, established with the launch of the eighth popular election term in 2022, is the nation's first labor rights dedicated organization in the form of a nonprofit corporation, and has been working to protect workers' rights in the Anyang area and foster a healthy labor culture.

The roundtable discussion was moderated by Seo Jin-sook, Chairperson of the Yeoju Yangpyeong Democratic General Labor Union, with panelists including Park Moon-kyoo, Secretary-General of the Anyang Labor Rights Center; Yang Seung-hyun, labor attorney; Kwon Hye-rin, instructor at the Anyang Labor Rights Center; Eo Pyeong-sook, Chair of the Anyang Branch of the National Long-term Care Worker Association; and Lim Jung-ok, Executive Director of the Gyeonggi Central Apartment Workers Association, among other labor field experts and practitioners.

Participants shared on-the-ground cases including △workplace harassment remedies △achievements in youth labor rights education △art therapy programs for long-term care workers △coexistence culture building for apartment workers △psychological counseling support for vulnerable workers, and △rest areas for mobile workers, jointly exploring the direction toward making Anyang a city where labor is respected.

The city plans to continuously spread the philosophy of administrative innovation and labor respect and coexistence based on discussions from this series of roundtable talks.

Meanwhile, the next roundtable discussions are scheduled to take place sequentially at △Anyang Volunteer Center (21st) △Anyang-Gunpo-Uiwang-Gwacheon Joint Meal Support Center (23rd) △Anyang Citizens Professional Football Club (28th) △Anyang Urban Development Corporation (30th) △Anyang Talent Development Foundation (November 3rd) △Anyang Cultural and Arts Foundation (November 13th) △Anyang Youth Foundation (November 18th), and △Anyang Industry Promotion Agency (November 27th).

Mayor Choi Dae-ho stated, "Centered on the Labor Rights Center, we will establish a comprehensive support system encompassing counseling, education, solidarity, and policy proposals, further strengthening the foundation for protecting workers' rights and creating healthy workplaces," and added, "With the spirit of 'many hands move mountains,' I will stand in solidarity with workers and implement city policies that turn crises into opportunities."