Jongno-gu holds a 100-day residents' report meeting marking the launch of the ninth elected term, featuring updates on 8,000 jobs created, expanded parking enforcement exemptions and a preview of 2027 plans
Jongno-gu will hold a 100-minute residents' report meeting titled "Sotong Lounge With the District Mayor" on Thursday afternoon at the Open Hall on the 10th floor of the district office's main building, marking 100 days since the launch of the ninth elected term.
The event will explain how residents' feedback has been reflected in district administration over the past 100 days and open a discussion on priorities for the remainder of the term. About 100 residents from all 17 neighborhoods — selected for their deep interest in district affairs — will fill the audience.
The program will proceed in three parts: a documentary screening, two presentations and an open Q&A. The opening video covers a range of milestones from the past three months, including the opening of Sodam Nuri Playground — a Seoul-style kids' cafe — renovation work on vacant homes converted into emergency housing, community dialogues, and various festivals and expos.
The first presentation, "100 Days of Change," will trace how residents' voices gathered during more than 120 visits across all 17 neighborhoods since taking office have been translated into concrete action.
The district will report on the results of its "Jongno-type Jobs and Commercial District Co-prosperity Plan" — the first policy signed on the first day of the ninth term. The initiative pooled 63 billion won ($46.4 million) from the central government, Seoul Metropolitan Government, the district and the private sector, with a target of employing 8,000 people by year's end. That target was met within the first 100 days.
A series of measures to ease everyday inconveniences will also be highlighted. Parking enforcement exemptions during midday hours — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — have been extended district-wide, and no citations were issued throughout the recent holiday period, giving local businesses and visitors room to breathe. In addition, 36 blind spots in the security camera network have been identified and new CCTV installations are underway. A residents' sovereignty committee has also been established to create an institutional channel for public input into policy.
Progress on longer-term projects will be reported without embellishment. Construction of a new district office building is set to move into contractor selection in the first half of 2027, following the completion of a Public Procurement Service tender. An ordinance revision to convert neighborhood self-governance committees into full residents' self-governance councils is working its way through the legislative process. A dedicated TF is coordinating revisions to improvement plans at redevelopment and reconstruction sites.
The third segment, "2027: Here's How Things Will Change," will outline next year's district agenda. On the livelihood front, an unsecured special loan guarantee program for small business owners will be expanded to up to 40 billion won, with a 2 percent interest subsidy. The Jongno Love Gift Certificate program will be expanded by up to 50 percent from its current 5 billion won issuance, with the discount rate raised to 7 percent. Special judicial police will conduct ongoing crackdowns on illegal label-switching that misrepresents product origins, protecting the urban manufacturing base in the Changsin and Sungin areas.
Care services will focus on filling gaps created by the district's hilly terrain and aging housing stock. Care vehicles will be expanded to weekend service and new routes will be developed for elderly residents who struggle to get around on foot. A neighborhood management office will be set up in Ihwa-dong to serve older residential areas without apartment management offices, handling home repairs, patrols and welfare checks through a single point of contact.
In urban renewal, a pre-consultation service will be introduced to recommend the most suitable type of improvement project for each area based on local conditions. AI-powered systems that automatically extend pedestrian signal times when hazards are detected will be installed near elementary schools and daycare centers. A street-clearing and beautification initiative will also be rolled out.
On the cultural front, a K-media gallery and media festival will be launched in the outdoor advertising free-display zone near Gwanghwamun. An eco-friendly indoor wooden playground and observation cafe at Samcheong Park — usable regardless of weather — will be completed, and a barrier-free inclusive playground will be built at Marronnier Park.
The final 30 minutes will be devoted to "The District Mayor Answers," in which District Mayor Yoo Chan-jong will respond on the spot to three or four key questions selected from submissions received in advance, followed by an open conversation with residents.
"Over the past 100 days, I confirmed the everyday inconveniences and suggestions residents shared with me not at a desk but in the alleyways," Yoo said. "I will not forget the principle that the answers in administration are ultimately found on the ground, and I will devote every effort to creating changes in Jongno that residents can feel in their daily lives."
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