Seoul district mayors launch 24‑hour direct citizen hotlines

Starting 3 August, Yeongdeungpo District announced a "direct citizen hotline" that lets residents send complaints, suggestions or requests via a dedicated mobile number (010‑6400‑8450). The mayor, Jo Yu‑jin, reviews messages personally and replies by SMS, with the office coordinating rapid follow‑up and 24‑hour coverage through an on‑call team.

The service, first piloted by former Seongdong mayor Jung Won‑oh, has spread to other Seoul districts, including Mapo (Mayor Yoo Dong‑gyun), Jungnang, Gwangjin, and Gangnam (Mayor Kim Hyun‑gi). Each mayor distributes their own mobile number, enabling residents to bypass conventional channels and receive direct feedback. The approach aims to reduce administrative barriers, improve transparency by publishing response statistics online, and allow mayors to visit sites in person when issues require field verification.

Officials say the model enhances “life‑centered” governance and plan to monitor its impact on resident satisfaction and policy responsiveness across the city.