Suwon Receives Korean Local Government Association Award for 'New Light Civil Complaint Box' at 2026 Excellent Local Government Policy Awards

Suwon Special City, Gyeonggi Province, received the Korean Local Government Association Award on the 13th at the "2026 Excellent Local Government Policy Awards" held at the National Assembly's Sarangzae in Yeouido, Seoul.

At this awards ceremony hosted by the Excellent Local Government Council, comprised of 60 local governments nationwide, Suwon presented its citizen communication model "Perfectly Captured! Citizens' New Light Civil Complaint Box," making the list of 19 local governments selected for outstanding policies.

Launched last year, the New Light Civil Complaint Box is an offline on-site civil complaint counter with no separate membership registration or online access procedures required. The strategy proved effective by lowering barriers for the digitally disadvantaged, such as elderly citizens unfamiliar with smartphones or computers, allowing them to easily submit handwritten opinions at City Hall, District offices, and community centers, as well as at libraries and traditional markets in their neighborhoods.

On-site response was proven by the numbers. From a 100-day pilot operation starting in May last year, the city received 1,658 civil complaints and processed 86% of them, achieving a 70% citizen satisfaction rate. In the first half of this year (January 15–April 24), 915 complaints were filed, effectively serving as a channel to address quality-of-life grievances in safety and traffic (256 cases), roads and construction (235 cases), and urban and environmental sectors (143 cases).

Suwon Special City Mayor Lee Jae-jun, who presented directly at the event, stated, "Suwon City's principle of communicating with citizens is to listen to even the smallest voice and take responsibility to the end. We will also revisit 'impossible complaints,' find solutions, and repay citizens with tangible changes they can experience."