Hwaseong's Million-Strong Special City Preparatory Committee Conveys Citizens' Wish for 'New District Office'

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Lee Su-won] Park Bong-hyeon, chairman of the Hwaseong Special City Preparatory Committee composed of citizen representatives from each eup, myeon, and dong, met with Hwaseong Mayor Jung Myung-geun on the 18th to request the early submission of an application to Gyeonggi Province and the Ministry of Public Administration and Security for the prompt establishment of general district offices.

Chairman Park stated, "Through a regular meeting last March, we discussed the necessity of promoting district offices and key policy directions for establishing a metropolitan administrative system for a city of one million," adding, "We will actively cooperate in the establishment of four district offices in Hwaseong City and continue communicating with the city to create a unified voice of citizens."

The establishment of district offices requires consideration from multiple perspectives, including △administrative demand △convenience for residents' daily life △regional balanced development. The city has been consistently preparing alternative plans through reviews of administrative system restructuring and research projects; however, since living environments differ by area and opinions vary by region, a unified voice from citizens is essential.

In preparation for Hwaseong's elevation to special city status next year, the city plans to make an all-out effort for the establishment of four district offices this year.

To this end, the city plans to meet with national assembly members elected in the local constituencies in the 22nd general election, as well as city and provincial council members, requesting their support for the installation of general districts—a wish of citizens. The city will also go through a process of gathering citizen opinions to prepare a residents' consensus plan, then formally apply for the establishment of district offices to Gyeonggi Province and the Ministry of Public Administration and Security this year.