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You know, a special wall was set up at Seoul City Hall today. It is a wall displaying the list of patents acquired by Seoul Metropolitan Government officials in association with their assignments. We at Seoul Metropolitan Government named the wall People Who Changed the Future. The items displayed include: a rainwater drain designed to prevent traffic accidents or electric shock due to rainwater puddles formed on roads particularly during the rainy season; a device attached to a fire hose (usua

Recently, I spent much time trying to find a solution to the huge debts of Seoul Metropolitan Government and the disclosure of budget items. Another important issue I am working on is the water use fee. The water use fee was adopted in 1998 as a measure for the improvement of the water quality in Paldang Lake, a major water source for Seoul. Each resident in Seoul pays 170 won a year per ton of tap water (as of 2011). Each household in Seoul has paid 40,000 won. All in all, residents in Seoul h

We at Seoul Metropolitan Government are making multifarious efforts to reduce the city’s debts. Right after my inauguration as Mayor, I got briefed on how much Seoul Metropolitan Government owed: close to 20 trillion won and daily interest of 2 billion won. I asked the city officials how they could go to sleep in such a situation. The lion’s share of the debt is attributable to the reckless urban development projects implemented by SH Corporation. The key to solving the problem is to sell off s

According to the weather forecast, it looks like rain tomorrow. Thus, we will have to cancel the events scheduled for tomorrow, i.e., pedestrian-only hours in Sejong-ro and bike road along Cheonggyecheon Stream.We at Seoul Metropolitan Government have held events like this plus Nanum marketplace, farmer’s market, and performances once a month, and we plan to hold them once a week in the second half of the year. Please look forward to the events held in Gwanghwamun and Sejongno.

Here’s good news for all those in Seoul. On May 14, we received word from the UN Division for Public Administration and Development Management of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) that four policies of Seoul Metropolitan Government were selected as winners of the UN Public Service Awards (UNPSA). The Welfare Criteria for Seoul Citizens (in the people’s participation promotion sector) won the Grand Award. The Eco-Mileage System (in the people’s participation promotion sector),

  Since the destruction of Sungnyemun Gate (a.k.a. Namdaemun) by fire in February 2008, I have felt like a sinner whenever I pass by the site for not having been able to protect the country’s National Treasure No. 1. Perhaps, such sentiment is shared by all Koreans. On May 4, we held a ceremony for the completion of the restoration work for the gate. Many people gathered to attend the ceremony. Today, an agreement was made between Seoul Metropolitan Government and Cultural Heritage Administratio

  Today is Teacher’s Day. I would like to present carnations to my respected teachers. I have met many good teachers, but Ms. Park Sil-gyeong, my third grade homeroom teacher, is the one who left the biggest impression on me among many good teachers. In a class on nature, she asked us to name a device using wind. I answered “bellows.” She said, “That’s right. You’re a good boy, Won Soon.” Her words at that time still resound vividly in my mind, 45 years later. In my early days, I gained notoriet

  Each one of us has a message of hope that he/she keeps for himself/herself and which he/she turns to in times of difficulty. We at Seoul Metropolitan Government now suggest that you share such message with others. Please submit messages that will give others hope, sense of love, or courage. The messages we will select will be hung on the outer walls of public buildings, including Seoul Metropolitan Library, in the form of placards. The subject of the messages submitted should be abridged to se

  I bet many of you have thought a connection ramp should have been installed in sections of highways in Seoul. To meet such need, we at Seoul Metropolitan Government have decided to add connection ramps to the following places: Jeongneung-gil, Naebu Ringway; Hwarang-ro, Bukbu Expressway; northern interchange of Hannamdaegyo (Bridge) and Seongsudaegyo (Bridge), Gangbyeon Expressway; southern interchange of Donghodaegyo (Bridge), Olympic-daero, and; southern interchange, Olympicdaegyo (Bridge). E

  Today, Jedori the dolphin is returned to the sea off Seongsan Port, Seogwipo, Jeju-do where he was caught four years ago. I made the decision to release him as Seoul Mayor 425 days ago, the first decision of its kind made by the head of a local government in Asia. The dolphin was caught in a fisher’s net in the sea off Seongsan Port in May 2009. He was trained and featured in shows held in Seoul Grand Park. In July 2011, people paid attention to him after it was known that he was caught illega

  We at Seoul Metropolitan Government launched the second round of corps of monitors watching cases of harassment in everyday lives. This year, the corps consists of 80 members (20 related to private loans, 20, to pyramid sales, 10, to delayed wage payment, 10, to employment fraud, 10, to real estate transactions, and 10, to mutual aid fraud). The sector related to the franchise business will be added some time later. The members designated thus are those with relevant certifications or experts

While driving, we often come across confusing traffic signs, don’t we? Seoul Metropolitan Government, jointly with the National Police Agency, will get rid of traffic signs that provide confusing information or mar the appearance of streets. There are an estimated 230,000 traffic signs in the city, and 70,000 of them contain confusing information or mar the appearance of streets. We at Seoul Metropolitan Government made the Traffic Sign Installation and Management Manual to carry out the busines