In an effort to support CityNet member cities and urban stakeholders to implement good strategies against COVID-19, the second session of the CityNet Consultation Series in succession to the CityNet Webinar I with a focus on Seoul’s cases based on the members’ request was released on Tuesday, May 19, 2020.
In this session, Mr. Yim Geun-hyeong, CEO of CityNet Secretariat interviewed Mr. Cho In-dong, the Deputy Mayor for Planning & Coordination and Mr. Na Baeg-ju, Director-General of Civil Health Bureau regarding the measures and the methods executed by Seoul Metropolitan Government. The recorded interview included the expression of solidarity from Mr. Park Won-soon, Mayor of Seoul and opening & closing remarks by Mr. Vijay Jagannathan, Secretary General of CityNet.
At the CityNet Consultation Series on rapid responses for COVID-19, the urgency of the COVID-19 response and building solidarity between the cities were highlighted. Based upon the survey conducted prior to the interview to assess the demands of our members, the questions under five categories, “clinical/medical management”, “social campaign and governance”, “support measures for vulnerable groups”, “financial support”, and “information shared with CityNet member cities” were answered by Seoul Metropolitan Government. The selected questions were answered by the interviewees in order to help our members build strategic plans to combat the crisis in an efficient manner.
Deputy Mayor Cho In-dong and Director-General Na Baeg-ju shared the best practices of the Seoul Metropolitan Government through replying to inquiries from fellow members. Deputy Mayor Cho talked about the epidemiological survey system using big data technology, monitoring self-quarantined patients by smartphone applications, support measures for the vulnerable groups such as senior and children. He also addressed issues such as financial support for the small/local business owners and tourism & art businesses and introduced an English website, CAC (Cities Against COVID-19) for sharing information about COVID-19.
Director-General Na Baeg-ju gave an introductory briefing of Seoul’s current status as well as shared exemplary implementations done by SMG regarding the social campaign and governance. Director-General Na Baeg-ju covered the questions under social distancing campaign and communication with the citizen.
