The dark streets became bright thanks to the efforts of the Saebit Civil Service Center
[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] "I deeply appreciate the civil servants at the Saebit Civil Service Center for creating a bright street where my daughter can safely return home even late at night."
Hong, a resident of Seongjia Apartments in Gwonseon-dong, Gwonseon-gu, Suwon, was moved by how the street from the bus stop to home, which felt frightening after 10 p.m. in September, had changed dramatically in just three months thanks to the civil servants' efforts.
Until recently, residents of Seongjia Apartments and Hanyang Apartments in Gwonseon-dong had to use the sidewalk next to E-mart Suwon branch to travel the approximately 250 meters from the bus stop to the apartments. However, after 10 p.m. when the store closes, the street lights (operated by E-mart) turn off, making the street so dark that it was difficult to see, causing inconvenience.
In response, resident Hong visited Suwon's Saebit Civil Service Center in September and filed a complaint, saying, "The street becomes too dark after 10 p.m., and there are concerns about crime and safety accidents. I hope for prompt action." Hong's daughter had once been chased by a strange man on her way home late and had to flee. The street was so dark that she had to turn on her mobile phone's flashlight when passing through.
Hong said, "My daughter heard that Suwon's Saebit Civil Service Center was launched in April and suggested, 'Let's try asking for help.' I had filed a complaint a year earlier, but it wasn't resolved well, so honestly I didn't have high expectations. However, I couldn't refuse my daughter's request and visited the Saebit Civil Service Center."
Hong explained the situation in detail to the veteran civil servants at the Saebit Civil Service Center. The day after visiting the center, Team leaders Lee Myung-gu, Park Wan-jae, Lim Tae-woo, and Hong Seung-hwa, along with E-mart Suwon branch officials, visited the site with Hong at night and carefully identified the problems.
Two days later, civil servants from relevant departments inspected the site again and coordinated with E-mart Suwon branch to develop a solution. E-mart Suwon branch repaired the street lights and agreed to keep them on until midnight. The Urban Safety Integrated Center installed CCTV, and the Gwonseon-gu Safety and Construction Division installed two additional street lights. The Gwonseon-gu Parks and Green Spaces Division pruned the trees around the street lights to make the street even brighter.
Hong expressed gratitude, saying, "I didn't have high expectations, but I was moved to see about 10 civil servants visit the site the day after I filed the complaint and listen carefully to the complaint details."
An official at Suwon's Saebit Civil Service Center said, "We are grateful to the store manager of E-mart Suwon branch and all the related personnel who actively cooperated in resolving this citizen complaint. As civil servants, we did what we needed to do, and we are also grateful to the citizens who repeatedly thanked us." The official continued, "We will check if there are similar cases in our area and take the lead in creating a better living environment for our residents."