Outreach expanded across four residential zones, drawing more than 1,500 residents to share district vision; format covers pre-submitted proposals and live Q&A
Seongbuk-gu in Seoul is continuing its practice of taking district administration directly to residents in the ninth elected term.
The district held the first session of its "2026 Field District Mayor's Office" on Thursday, drawing more than 1,500 residents.
The program brings District Mayor Lee Seung-ro to residential areas to discuss local issues and share the district's administrative direction with residents. This year's series runs under the theme "Once You Live Here, It's Seongbuk: A Greater Leap for Seongbuk," with four sessions scheduled across four residential zones from Thursday through Oct. 13.
Seongbuk-gu has run the field office initiative in various formats over the years — visiting all 20 neighborhoods directly and, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, broadcasting sessions live on YouTube. This year, the district reorganized the format around four residential zones so that residents can hear about district policy and discuss local issues closer to where they live.
The first session was held at Seongbuk Jungang Church on Wolgok-ro and featured a "Seongbuk District Vision Performance" involving the district mayor and resident representatives. Participants shared the district's administrative direction and key policies, reaffirming the idea that residents and the administration are building the community's future together.
The event also included a segment called "Let's Think It Over Together with the District Mayor," in which the district mayor and relevant departments responded to local issues that residents had submitted in advance. The district said it explained the findings of departmental reviews and future plans, and discussed solutions with residents.
A follow-up segment, "Ask Anything Right Now," gave residents the floor to raise everyday concerns and local issues freely, with the district mayor and department heads answering on the spot. Questions that could not be addressed immediately will be reviewed further, with findings and next steps communicated to residents afterward.
For residents unable to attend in person, the entire event was streamed live on the district's official YouTube channel, Seongbuk TV. Viewers could also submit questions and comments through the live chat.
"I believe the answers to good administration lie in the places where residents actually live their lives," District Mayor Lee Seung-ro said. "It was meaningful to go directly into residential areas, share the district's direction and vision for the future, and answer residents' questions on the spot." He added that he would continue to listen carefully to every resident's voice and pursue an administration that finds its answers in the field.
Seongbuk-gu plans to hold the second session Tuesday, followed by the third on Oct. 7 and the fourth on Oct. 13.
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
