Anyang City’s municipal newsletter ‘Our Anyang’ won the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award at the Korea Communication Awards. Anyang City’s municipal administration news poem ‘My Love, Our Anyang (hereinafter referred to as Our Anyang)’ won the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award in the planning and design category at the 34th Korea Communication Awards.
As a result, the city received an award at the Korea Communication Awards for three consecutive years. The Korea Communication Awards is the most prestigious award in the country related to company newsletters organized by the Korea Company Newspaper Association. Woori Anyang broke away from the existing stereotypes and gave the cover the image of ‘a place you want to visit with an Instagram-worthy feel.’
In addition, through the content ‘Anyang Now’, it included Anyang’s major events and new news directly related to the lives of citizens, and shared citizens’ colorful and interesting thoughts through ‘Citizen Empathy’.
In addition, it was evaluated as enhancing citizens’ cultural sensitivity through participatory events such as ‘Subscription Event’, ‘Coloring’, and ‘Anyang Four Cuts’, as well as ‘Healthy Recipe’, ‘That Person’s Studio’, and ‘Anyang Gallery’.
Anyang Mayor Choi Dae-ho said, “We will continue to fulfill our role as Anyang City’s representative media by delivering a variety of information to citizens and actively reflecting their opinions.” As a result of the city’s recent survey on satisfaction with Woori Anyang, 84.9% of respondents responded that they were ‘satisfied.’
Meanwhile, Anyang City, the first city in the country to improve the system for paying veterans honorable pay to veterans, won an encouragement award at Gyeonggi Province’s civil service service contest.
At the ’2024 Civil Service Improvement Best Practice Contest’ held at the Ramada Plaza Suwon Hotel in Ingye-dong, Suwon at 10 am on the 22nd, Kim Young-pyo, director of the Anyang City Audit Office Civil Complaint Ombudsman Team, presented the case of ‘Improvement of the Veterans Honor Allowance System for Veterans of Merit in the War.’
As a result of on-site evaluation by experts (70%) and online evaluation by residents (30%), Anyang City received an encouragement award by receiving high scores in indicators such as creativity and effectiveness.
Anyang City has been paying a monthly veterans’ honorary allowance of 100,000 won to veterans since 2010, and since 2017, upon the death of a war veteran, it has been paying the veterans’ honorary allowance to the spouse of the veteran in accordance with the ordinance.
However, most of the spouses of veterans are elderly and have difficulty accessing information, so there are many cases where it is mistaken that payment of Veterans Honor Allowance is stopped when the veteran dies. Local governments or the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs do not have information on the spouse, so they are omitted from the payment list. There was a blind spot.
Accordingly, from April to June of last year, the city individually confirmed by wire with 31 districts within the jurisdiction whether veterans had received honorary pay.
Through this, 135 people who were eligible to receive the Veterans Honor Allowance but had not applied due to ignorance of the system were identified and encouraged to apply, and a budget of 113 million won was secured through the supplementary budget in the fourth quarter of last year to pay the Veterans Honor Allowance.
In addition, the scope of application guidance and promotion was expanded to allow senior citizens to easily access administrative information, and the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission also shared Anyang City’s case in July of this year and recommended that it be spread to local governments nationwide.
Accordingly, when the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs provides information on war veterans to local governments, local governments can identify and register new subjects by checking spouse information through computer network inquiries.
Anyang Mayor Choi Dae-ho said, “Thanks to the sacrifices of our martyrs, the Republic of Korea is what it is today, and Anyang is what it is today. I hope that Anyang City’s best practices in innovative civil service services will spread throughout the country and create a society where war veterans are more respected.”
Economy Queen Reporter Choi Hana
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Interview Between Time.news Editor and Anyang City Communication Expert
Editor (E): Welcome! Today, we have a special guest joining us to discuss Anyang City’s recent achievements, particularly the remarkable recognition received at this year’s Korea Communication Awards. Thank you for being here!
Expert (X): Thank you for having me! I’m excited to share insights into Anyang City’s initiatives and successes.
E: Let’s dive in! Anyang City’s municipal newsletter, ‘Our Anyang’, recently won the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award. Can you tell us about what makes this newsletter stand out?
X: Absolutely! ‘Our Anyang’ has transformed into a vibrant communication tool that not only shares vital city information but does so in a visually appealing and engaging manner. The newsletter incorporates community-driven content like ‘Anyang Now’, which highlights major events, and ‘Citizen Empathy’, showcasing residents’ unique perspectives. This approach resonates with readers and encourages active participation, making it a beloved resource.
E: It’s impressive that Anyang City has won this award for three consecutive years! What do you think has contributed to this sustained success?
X: Consistency is key. Anyang City has redefined its communication strategy, breaking away from traditional formats. By creating a newsletter that is not just informative, but also aesthetically pleasing—with an Instagram-worthy cover image—they’ve tapped into the current preferences of the community. This blend of engaging content and design has kept citizens coming back for more.
E: You mentioned the various participatory events that enhance cultural sensitivity. Can you elaborate on some examples and their impact?
X: Certainly! Events like ‘Subscription Event’ and ‘Anyang Four Cuts’ encourage community involvement in a fun and creative way. These initiatives allow residents to express themselves while fostering a greater sense of identity and belonging. Programs like ‘Healthy Recipe’ and ‘That Person’s Studio’ also promote well-being and community relationships, all contributing to a richer cultural landscape in Anyang.
E: Speaking of well-being, Anyang City has also been recognized for its innovative veterans’ allowance system. What do you believe makes this initiative particularly noteworthy?
X: The system is commendable for its forward-thinking approach to honoring veterans and providing continuous support to their surviving spouses. Since 2010, veterans have received a monthly allowance, and when they pass away, their spouses continue to receive financial support, which is crucial for many elderly residents. Recognizing the barriers that some spouses face in accessing this information is vital, and Anyang City has taken steps to ensure that this support continues seamlessly.
E: It sounds like Anyang City is dedicated to not only supporting its veterans but also ensuring that the information reaches those who need it. How does the city plan to maintain and improve these initiatives moving forward?
X: Mayor Choi Dae-ho has emphasized the city’s commitment to being a reliable source of information. This includes ongoing surveys like the recent one, where 84.9% of respondents expressed their satisfaction with ‘Woori Anyang’. The city plans to continuously gather feedback and adapt its services based on community needs, ensuring that they remain relevant and effective in enhancing citizens’ lives.
E: It’s clear that Anyang City is making significant strides in community engagement and support systems. As we wrap up, what message do you hope resonates with readers regarding Anyang’s achievements?
X: I hope readers understand that effective communication and community care go hand in hand. Anyang City’s success is attributed to listening to its citizens, valuing their opinions, and creating platforms for engagement. This model of participatory governance can serve as an inspiration for other municipalities looking to enhance their community relations as well.
E: Thank you for your insights! It’s been enlightening to learn about Anyang City’s progressive initiatives and their commitment to fostering an engaged and supportive community.
X: Thank you! It’s been a pleasure discussing these important developments.