South Korean local districts expand direct text services for citizen complaints

Local governments in South Korea are expanding direct text messaging services to streamline citizen communication and resolve civil complaints more efficiently.

In Buk-gu, Gwangju, the ‘Baro Text 365’ system received 500 complaints in its first month of operation. The service operates on a principle of 24-hour reception, responses within 48 hours, and on-site action within 100 hours. Most reported issues related to public safety and road traffic, accounting for approximately 78.6% of total complaints. The district reported an 87.8% processing rate for the initial batch of inquiries.

Similarly, Geumcheon-gu has improved its ‘District Mayor Direct Text’ service to accelerate response times. Since its inception in 2021, the service has handled approximately 1,900 cases, with a significant increase in usage over the last three years. The improved system allows for the bypass of complex internal procedures for simple inquiries and immediate field issues, ensuring faster communication between residents and relevant departments.