Incheon mayor Yoo Jeong-bok recently suggested that the front door of city hall should be opened for all citizens, not just for the mayor. (Image : Yonhap)
INCHEON, Feb.24 (Korea Bizwire) – Incheon mayor Yoo Jeong-bok recently suggested that the front door of city hall should be opened for all citizens, not just for the mayor.
When entering Incheon City Hall, the center door doesn’t open for Incheon citizens. Even though there is an automatic sensor, the door won’t budge. It doesn’t seem to be broken, but a note saying ‘use the side door’ suggests an alternate entrance point.
However, the door that doesn’t open up for citizens opens wide when the mayor appears. The ‘mysterious’ phenomenon is possible as the security guard on duty activates the door when the mayor approaches.
Mayor Yoo decided that he would eliminate the ‘mayor’s door’ at an executive meeting, saying that it is not necessary in contemporary times.
The city will change the central door into a revolving door, so that everyone can use it.
City hall officials explain that the ‘mayor’s door’ has existed since the city hall moved to its current location in 1985.
Overly ceremonial protocols have a long history in Korea. The ‘mayor’s door’ is just one of them. However, Incheon is planning to get rid of unnecessary and somewhat unreasonable practices.
The number of hours in which a security guard will stay in front of the mayor’s office will be reconsidered. Though security is necessary, mayor Yoo emphasized that there is no need for a security guard to stand in front of his office all day.
Also, the size of the mayor’s office will be reduced, and instead the number of waiting rooms or conference rooms will be increased. The team in charge of ceremonies will also be restructured.
Mayor Yoo stressed that citizens should be respected more instead of the protocols. “Protocols should exist for the safety of citizens and to make social events run smoothly, not to over ‘serve’ the mayor,” he said.
By Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
