Hwacheon County in Gangwon Province has expanded its main office organization to a structure of 1 division, 2 bureaus, and 15 departments to accelerate the implementation of key policies for the 9th elected term. A notable change in this restructuring is the establishment of the Tourism City Division, which will oversee and coordinate tourism and sports as well as urban development.
According to Hwacheon County, the main office has been reorganized from the previous structure of 2 divisions and 10 departments to a new system centered around the Planning and Policy Division, the Administrative Welfare Bureau, and the Tourism City Division. The existing structure of 1 town, 4 townships, 2 directly affiliated agencies, and 1 business office will remain unchanged.
The Hwacheon County Council passed the relevant ordinance on September 3, and the county announced the revised ordinance on September 11. The number of public servants will increase from 515 to 535, with the recruitment of new personnel expected to begin next year.
The Planning and Policy Division will handle government planning and coordination of key projects. The Administrative Welfare Bureau will oversee civil complaints and administrative welfare matters. The Tourism City Division will coordinate tourism, sports, and urban development projects at the bureau level.
New departments such as the Strategic Policy Department, Income Support Department, and Tax Management Department have also been established. This aims to promote key projects of the 9th elected term, including basic income for rural areas, sunshine pensions, and the utilization of idle land.
The civil complaint handling system will shift from a departmental response to a collaborative approach. The county plans to manage civil complaints involving multiple departments at the bureau level to reduce delays and gaps in accountability.
Notably, the establishment of the Tourism City Division reflects a commitment to elevate the tourism industry as a core pillar of the local economy. It is seen as a foundation for expanding seasonal tourism beyond the current focus on the Sancheoneo Festival and park golf, linking regional tourism resources.
The 9th elected term has identified key tasks such as transitioning the Sancheoneo Festival to an AI-based global smart festival, establishing a DMZ peace tourism hub, and fostering year-round tourism and sports industries.
In the county, there is growing anticipation among residents for tourism development in preparation for the opening of the Gwangdeok Tunnel, as well as stay-type tourism connecting Samil Valley, the northern slopes of Hwaksan Mountain, and arboretums.
This restructuring is expected to enhance the execution of key projects by reallocating dedicated organizations and responsible personnel. With clearer stages for policy decisions and inter-departmental coordination, it is anticipated to improve the speed of civil complaint processing and the effectiveness of tourism development.
However, it is premature to conclude that the expansion of the organization alone will meet residents' expectations. The effectiveness of the restructuring will depend on the allocation of dedicated personnel and budgets by region, inter-departmental collaboration, the speed of project implementation, and outcomes linked to residents' incomes.
In subsequent personnel changes, Seo Ki-hyeol has been appointed as the head of the Planning and Policy Division, Nam Jae-seon as the head of the Administrative Welfare Bureau, and Kang Du-il as the head of the Tourism City Division.
The county plans to reflect public service experience, contributions to the organization, work capabilities, and expertise in personnel decisions, while also establishing a predictable regular personnel system.
Kim Se-hoon, the county mayor, stated, “We will create an organizational atmosphere where public officials can work diligently, and ensure that the results of the restructuring lead to prompt civil complaint processing and improved convenience for residents.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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