23 civilian experts from academia, law, public service, civil society and political parties join four subcommittees covering resident autonomy, youth growth, ecological transition and inclusive welfare
Seodaemun-gu is combining on-the-ground voices with specialist expertise to strengthen policy execution and deliver tangible change for residents.
Effective policymaking requires both diverse field perspectives and rigorous expert review working in tandem.
Seodaemun-gu has established a collaborative framework to raise the quality of its key policies by gathering professional insight and broad public input.
The district announced Monday that it has completed the formation of the ninth-term Seodaemun-gu Policy Advisory Committee and begun operations to provide expert counsel and discuss ways to advance major policies.
The committee is tasked with translating the district's governing vision — "A Golden Age of Seodaemun, Built Together by All" — into concrete policies and campaign pledges, while strengthening their execution and overall quality.
The committee is chaired by Seodaemun-gu District Mayor Park Woon-ki and comprises 32 members in total: nine ex-officio members drawn from the heads of district bureaus and offices, and 23 civilian appointees.
The civilian appointees come from a wide range of fields, including academia, law, public service, civic organizations and political parties. They bring expertise in governance, urban planning, the environment and labor, as well as firsthand knowledge of local issues such as youth entrepreneurship, volunteer work and reading education — broadening the scope of policy discussion.
The committee operates four subcommittees aligned with the district's ninth-term governing goals and key campaign pledges, each tasked with developing concrete policy priorities in its area.
The Resident Autonomy and Fair Labor subcommittee will explore ways to develop the local community based on civic participation and respect for workers. The Youth Growth and Shared Economy subcommittee will discuss policy initiatives to expand opportunities for young people and inject vitality into the local economy.
The Urban Planning and Ecological Transition subcommittee will seek sustainable approaches to urban development that address ecological restoration and the climate crisis. The Education, Culture and Inclusive Welfare subcommittee will develop strategies that weave together education, culture and welfare — centered on Seodaemun's identity as a "reading city" and its signature integrated care model tailored to each stage of residents' lives.
The district said it will actively incorporate the committee's expert analysis and field-based recommendations into its major policies and campaign pledges, and will strengthen its cooperative framework to ensure that discussions translate into tangible policy outcomes.
At the committee's inaugural ceremony held Friday at the district office's planning situation room, District Mayor Park said he hoped the body would serve as a forum for policy collaboration that respects differing experiences, perspectives and voices. "Just as we prioritized expertise over partisan interests when forming the transition committee, I expect this advisory committee to be a space where diverse viewpoints are genuinely respected," he said.
Park added that he would work to ensure the district's vision does not remain a declaratory goal but leads to real change. "I will do my utmost to actively reflect the deep insights and creative proposals of our experts across all areas of district administration, so that 'A Golden Age of Seodaemun, Built Together by All' becomes a reality," he said.
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
