Residents speak freely about everyday inconveniences and suggestions during informal outdoor session
Geumcheon-gu held a community outreach session called "Geumcheon Field Talk" at Geumcheon Sports Park on Thursday afternoon, bringing District Mayor Choi Ki-chan face to face with local residents.
The program was designed to let Choi visit parks that residents use in their daily lives, hold informal conversations, and hear firsthand about everyday inconveniences and suggestions for district administration.
At the event, Choi greeted residents who had come to the park, exchanged pleasantries and listened to the difficulties they encounter in daily life and what they would like to see from the district.
Park Suk-hee, 68, a resident of Doksan-dong, raised concerns about a bus stop in the area that lacks a rain shelter, leaving commuters exposed to rain and water splashed by passing vehicles.
Do Byeong-nam, 83, of Siheung-dong, spoke about the burden of aircraft noise. "We often have to stop mid-conversation because of the planes," he said. "Even late at night, the sound of aircraft coming and going keeps me from sleeping."
Yang Bok-rye, 71, requested improvements to heating cables and drainage grates in the neighborhood. Choi said the district would review the matters raised.
The district said the session reinforced its commitment to field-centered communication — listening directly to residents' hardships and diverse voices on-site and reflecting their needs in district policy.
Since taking office at the start of the ninth elected term, Choi has set "a vibrant Geumcheon together with residents" as his administrative goal, emphasizing action over words and fieldwork over desk work. On his first day in office he personally inspected sites handling everyday civil complaints and flood-preparedness conditions. He has since visited all 10 neighborhoods in the district to meet residents directly.
The district also operates a text messaging service through which any resident can send everyday complaints, policy proposals or opinions on district affairs. The phone number's last four digits incorporate "09," representing the ninth elected term, and "82," signifying swift action.
The district said it plans to continue engaging residents close to where they live, incorporating their feedback into policy and pursuing administration that residents can feel in their daily lives.
"Listening directly to the inconveniences and needs residents feel in their everyday lives is where communication begins," Choi said. "I will keep listening to residents' voices and continue an administrative approach that finds answers in the field."
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