Mayor visits frontline departments, encourages staff and listens to field concerns
Guri Mayor Shin Dong-hwa toured a series of frontline city departments on Wednesday to mark the launch of the ninth directly elected municipal administration, visiting the Guri Topyeong water purification plant, a sewage treatment facility, a waste transfer station, a public health center and Inchang Library to encourage staff and hear their concerns firsthand.
The visits were organized to express gratitude to frontline employees who quietly carry out essential work to keep residents safe and their living environment clean, and to listen directly to the difficulties and suggestions they encounter on the job.
Shin toured sites spanning water and sewage operations, environmental management, public health and library services — all areas closely tied to daily life — checking on facility conditions and working environments while engaging with staff.
At the Guri Topyeong water purification plant and the sewage treatment facility, Shin reviewed the status of water supply and drainage operations and urged thorough facility management and accident prevention so residents can feel safe in their daily lives.
He then stopped by the waste transfer station, where he encouraged sanitation workers laboring in the summer heat to maintain a clean urban environment and thanked them for their efforts.
At the public health center and Inchang Library, Shin shared current priorities with staff working to promote public health and a reading culture, and listened to the challenges they face and areas in need of improvement. He also stressed that frontline input is essential to delivering better public services and encouraged open communication.
"With the belief that the answer is always in the field, I will listen carefully to every opinion from our employees and swiftly review anything that needs improvement so it can be reflected in city administration," Shin said. "I am sincerely grateful to all the staff who are quietly dedicated — in places unseen — to the safety, health and quality of life of our citizens."
He added that the vision of the ninth municipal administration — "Bold Challenge, Shining Guri" — begins on the ground. "We will build an organizational culture where public servants can take pride in their work, and create change that citizens can truly feel, grounded in communication and trust," he said.
Meanwhile, Guri city plans to continue visiting key project sites, community settings and frontline departments to hear directly from residents and public servants, strengthening a field-first approach to administration centered on open communication.
pjh@heraldcorp.com
