Hwaseong Special Status City Opens Manseq Ward Office...New Era of Neighborhood-Focused Administration Begins

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-seong] Hwaseong Special Status City officially launched its system of four general-status districts, declaring a transition to neighborhood-focused administrative services befitting a major city of 1.06 million residents.

On the 2nd, Hwaseong City held the opening ceremony for Manseq Ward Office at the indoor gymnasium of Hwaseong Comprehensive Sports Town with the slogan 'Four Ward Offices, Close by Your Side,' announcing the official launch of the four ward office system.

The simultaneous opening of four ward offices is a national first. Hwaseong City has shifted away from a city hall-centered administrative system to a neighborhood-focused administrative structure, enabling it to provide administrative services closer to residents.

The opening ceremony was attended by approximately 1,000 people including Mayor Jung Myung-geun, Provincial Assembly Speaker Bae Jung-su, Vice Minister of the Interior and Safety Kim Min-jae, National Assembly members Choo Mi-ae, Song Ok-joo, and Kwon Chil-seung, Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor for Administration Kim Sung-joong, provincial and city council members, supporters of the general district launch, and residents, celebrating together the launch of the four ward office system.

The ceremony featured a district launch declaration, a report on the progress of general district establishment, a commemorative video screening, remarks and congratulatory speeches from key attendees, awards for those who contributed to the ward office launch, commemorative performances and cheerleading, and a plaque unveiling and memorial tree planting to share the significance of the new district system.

Mayor Jung Myung-geun stated, "The four ward office system signifies the beginning of the '30-minute neighborhood life zone era' that solves problems close to citizens' daily lives, transcending administrative reorganization," and added, "We will implement customized administration that reflects the unique characteristics and circumstances of each of the four districts."

Manseq Ward oversees three townships (Uejeong, Hyungnam, and Namyang), six myeons (Mado, Songsan, Seoshin, Paltan, Jangan, and Yanggam), and one dong (Saesol), covering the western and southern regions.

Manseq Ward Office operates with 12 departments: △Civil Administration △Safety and Construction △Citizen Services and Land △Taxation 1 △Taxation 2 △Care and Welfare △Economy and Transportation △Urban Architecture △Permit and Citizen Services 1 △Permit and Citizen Services 2 △Environmental Management △and Field Citizen Services Office.

Manseq Ward Office opened at Hwaseong Comprehensive Sports Town in Hyungnam Township (470 Hyungnam-ro, Hyungnam-eup, Manseq Ward). Considering the expansive administrative jurisdiction, the office separately operates a field citizen services center with Taxation 2, Permit and Citizen Services 2, and Field Citizen Services Office at the 4th floor of 112-34 Yeokgol-dong-ro, Namyang Township.

The ward office handles △citizen services and land registration (integrated citizen services, family relations, foreign resident registration changes, real estate and land-related matters, etc.) △taxation (municipal and provincial tax assessment and collection) △welfare (integrated investigation and management, near-poverty level support, medical assistance, basic pension, various welfare benefits, childcare facility licensing, etc.).

Additionally, it handles △industry and hygiene (sales, physical education, and tourism facility registration, food and public health businesses, agriculture, livestock, and pet registration, etc.) △environment (environmental, wildlife, and noise management) △roads and transportation (roads, parking lots, illegal parking, and abandoned property) △urban aesthetics (advertising and street trees) △licensing and construction (development, forestland conversion, and construction permits and reporting).

The city plans to sequentially hold opening ceremonies for the remaining three ward offices. Byungjeom Ward Office will hold its opening ceremony on the 5th at 10:00 a.m., Dongtan Ward Office at 4:00 p.m. on the 5th, and Hyohaeng Ward Office at 10:00 a.m. on the 6th, each at their respective ward office conference halls.

Mayor Jung Myung-geun stated, "Today marks a significant milestone in the history of Hwaseong Special Status City. The city has been ranked first for nine consecutive years in comprehensive local government competitiveness evaluation, ranked first nationally for three consecutive years in the number of newborns, and continues to rank among the nation's highest in major economic indicators including GRDP," and pledged, "We will build a warm and prosperous Hwaseong Special Status City where not a single resident is left behind."