New appointee brings expertise from National Grievance Commission, Seoul audit body
Uiwang appointed a new ombudsman Tuesday for a four-year term to protect residents' rights and improve unreasonable administrative practices.
An ombudsman investigates grievances that citizens experience as a result of unlawful or unjust administrative actions or irrational policies, doing so from an independent, third-party perspective. When necessary, the ombudsman may issue corrective recommendations or formal opinions to safeguard residents' interests.
Since the Uiwang ombudsman system launched in August 2024, it has received and handled more than 90 citizen grievance cases, making notable strides in protecting residents' rights and strengthening public trust in local government.
The newly appointed ombudsman, Lee I-dong, is a specialist in citizen grievance resolution who has worked at the National Grievance Commission and the Seoul Metropolitan Government's audit committee, where he focused on handling complaints, ensuring administrative transparency and protecting residents' rights.
"Drawing on my years of experience resolving citizen grievances, I will spend the next four years listening closely to the voices of Uiwang residents and carefully examining their concerns from their perspective," Lee said. "I will do my utmost to ensure that residents' rights are protected."
Mayor Kim Seong-je said the ombudsman system had played an important role in resolving citizen grievances and building trust in local government. "I hope the ombudsman will continue to listen even more attentively to residents' voices and actively work to resolve their difficulties from their point of view," he added.
The newly appointed ombudsman will work three days a week — every Monday, Tuesday and Friday — consulting with residents and investigating their grievance cases directly. Citizens who need assistance may visit the ombudsman's office on the second floor of City Hall or submit a grievance through the Uiwang city government website.
The Uiwang ombudsman plans to strengthen its role as a communication channel between residents and the city administration, examining inconveniences and difficulties caused by administrative actions more objectively and impartially and, where necessary, pursuing corrective measures and systemic improvements.
pjh@heraldcorp.com
