United Nations Public Service Awards Case Studies

- Aimed to Make a Women-friendly City Environment Where They can Feel Happy -
The “Women Friendly City Project” reflects the integration of wide ranging efforts that incorporate the perspectives of women and their experiences into a broad range of city planning policies. The aim here is to minimize the inconvenience and insecurity women face within their daily lives and to enhance social participation of women. It is a project to make the city a place where women are happy by providing them with a women friendly city environment.

- Some Improvements in the Legal Framework, but still a Long Way to go before “Substantial” Equality for Women -
Women-centered policy-making in Korea had been led by the relevant Ministry of the central government usually with its focus on protecting women, preventing gender discrimination, and enhancing women’s status. Thanks to such efforts to develop the country’s female resources and enhance the welfare and rights of women, there has been considerable improvement in their formal equality, including legal and institutional frameworks. However, when it comes to the “substantial” equality of women, there still remains much room for improvement, particularly in the labor, family and welfare areas. Since those eligible for the benefits, under the previous policies, were limited to some underprivileged, most women did not directly benefit from the policies. On top of that, the basic framework of the policies failed to reflect the various needs of each provincial government and the unique aspects of women living in metropolitan areas and thus had to have a significant impact on women’s daily lives.

- 77 Percent of the Inconveniences Women Experience are Found in their Daily Lives : Public Restrooms, Public Transportation, Parking, Childcare Facilities, Walking on Pedestrian Walkways, etc. -

An Internet survey conducted among Seoul citizens in 2007 showed that 77.4 percent of women experienced inconveniences in their daily lives. The spaces women felt inconvenient more than men included public restrooms, public transportation, parking lots, childcare facilities, and pedestrian walkways. According to the survey, about 67.3 percent of women felt insecure or frustrated in city life demonstrating that many women still experience inconveniences and insecurities in their daily lives despite some improvement in the legal and institutional framework.

What is the initiative about? (the solution)
- Every Department of the Seoul Metropolitan Government Endeavors to Incorporate Women’s Perspectives into the Policies they are Dealing with - Seoul City launched the “Women Friendly City Project” in 2007 with the intention to promote the “substantial” happiness of women. This includes 90 sub-projects providing women with consideration, work, prosperity, convenience and safety. With the areas covered by the women’s policy expanded to include roads, transportation, culture, housing, etc., we encouraged every department of city government to reflect the perspectives of women in their policy making. We also focused our efforts on the 9 initiatives, selected out of the 90 sub-projects, which drew the most positive responses from the citizens based on the 2007 Internet survey results. Thus, considerable improvements in city facilities and services were achieved. We increased the number of restrooms to 87 in 2007, 378 in 2008 and 1,049 in 2009 through the Women-Friendly restroom” project. We also installed “Woman-friendly Parking Lots” near entrances and elevators of buildings and increased their number to 68 in 2007, 4,622 in 2008 and 23,324 in 2009. In order to improve the conditions for the safety of women, we installed 594 emergency bells, and 1,264 CCTVs, and installed an additional 2,524 lights to enhance the brightness of parking lots. For women’s safe returns home at night, a “brand call taxi” system was put into operation and a “safe-return-home service” that sends passenger information to the individuals’ parents or guardian from the start of their ride home. 6,580 taxi drivers in 2008 and 22,099 in 2009 were registered with the brand call taxi system and about 106,679 people used the service from 2008 to 2009. Coupled with these efforts, we also provided assistance and support to help women, who had to quit their jobs due to pregnancy or childcare, find new jobs or start their own businesses. In 2007, 8,076 jobs were provided, 10,220 in 2008 and 32,715 in 2009. In 2009, we began providing high quality child care facilities through the establishment of the Seoul Child Care Center (including 1,999 certified child care centers). In addition, women-friendly walkways (69.2 km), parks (50 places), apartments (2 model complexes) were created to enhance the convenience and safety of women. Standard manuals (guidelines) for restrooms, parking lots, walkways, parks, etc., are available for use in designing and constructing similar facilities in the private sector, and certification or a “women-friendly facility mark” is awarded to excellent facilities (258) following an on-site inspection. Though these projects were initially launched in the public sector, they are gradually now expanding into the private sector in this manner. - Customer Satisfaction substantially Increased to 83.2% in 2008 from 68.2% in 2007, as shown by the survey - Thanks to such comprehensive efforts, citizens’ satisfaction in women-related areas considerably increased to 83.2 percent in 2008 from 68.2 percent in 2007, as shown by the Citizens’ Evaluation of Administrative Services. In particular, a remarkable increase in satisfaction was witnessed in perceived safety : 70.3 percent in 2008 from 46 percent in 2007.

Who proposed the solution, who implemented it and who were the stakeholders?
- Oh Se-Hoon, Seoul City Mayor, Proposed the Initiative - The “Women Friendly City Project” began as an initiative proposed by Mayor Se-Hoon Oh. Mayor Oh proposed a new paradigm for women’s policies that aimed to make the city a pleasant and comfortable place for women by eliminating the inconveniences experienced in their daily lives. The measures he envisioned were to go far beyond the existing women’s policies in effect following his inauguration in Jan 2007. - Unique Governance : Every Department takes part in the Project under the Comprehensive Management of the Women & Family Policy Affairs Office - Women’s policy making had been dealt with by the Women & Family Policy Affairs Office thus far. With the launch of the “Women Friendly City Project”, however, policy making has been carried out under comprehensive governance in order to incorporate the perspectives of women and their opinions into every city policy by every department of the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Whilst the Women & Family Policy Affairs Office is responsible for the comprehensive management of women’s policies, each Office and Bureau of the city government is developing and implementing specific programs and civic groups are also involved in the process of planning, implementing and assessing the programs in order to incorporate the perspectives and experiences of women. - Citizens’ Participation in the Project - Creativity Facilitators (“CF”) were designated (a total of 1,177 people) among the staff of each department whose role is championing the cause of the project. For cooperative decision making with citizens, we organized the “Partners Group” composed of experts in women’s policy making, in Oct, 2007. Currently, a total of 244 experts are providing ideas and policy advice (a total of 109 times) in the process of designing, implementing and assessing programs in 5 divisions. In addition, the “Prosumer Group” and “Women Initiative for a Safer Environment (WISE)” (a total of 300 people) are visiting and investigating the field to identify and minimize the inconveniences faced by citizens together with the city government. The “Forum Group,” which consists of regional experts and housewives (a total of 3,623people) are also extending efforts to identify the inconveniences facing women by providing useful region-specific advice to the project, and developing or monitoring project items. In addition, the “Supporters Group” of college students (a total of 300 college students) takes part in the project by providing creative ideas, collecting useful data and participating in volunteer activities.

Describe how and when the initiative was implemented by answering these questions
a. What were the strategies used to implement the initiative? In no more than 500 words, provide a summary of the main objectives and strategies of the initiative, how they were established and by whom.
The “Women Friendly City Project” employs a wide range of strategies within the great vision of creating a women-friendly city environment. It specifically aims to minimize the inconveniences and insecurities women face in their daily lives by incorporating a woman’s perspective and experience into a broad range of policy making. - Create a Women Friendly City Environment - First, the project differentiates itself by focusing on “substantial” benefits for women. Instead of dealing with a symbolic policy, the project focuses on developing policies that will bring real benefits to women and make their living environment more convenient. As the first and the most important step, we focused our efforts on identifying the inconveniences women have to forbear in the city environment and modifying them into more women friendly alternatives. We thoroughly assessed the needs of women based on expert advice (8 times), public surveys, etc., and made all-out efforts to improve facilities including roads, transportation and restrooms based on these assessments. In June, 2007, the application areas of the policy were expanded to include 5 areas closely related to the daily lives of women: care, work, prosperity, convenience, safety. The methods of selecting participating businesses and carrying out projects were unique primarily because the “Women Friendly City Project” needed to cover the entirety of the city. We had 135 departments of the city government, 13 organizations that invested and contributed to the project and 25 autonomous districts all involved in the project. In July, 2007, the 4 year plan of the “Women Friendly City Project 2010,” which covered 90 core programs, was established. - Citizen Governance for Effective Incorporation of Women’s Perspectives and Experience - In order to effectively incorporate women’s perspectives and experiences, we built an institutional framework that involved a range of expert and civic groups (Partners Group, Prosumer Group, WISE, Forum Group, Supporters Group, etc., 4,467 people in total). This enabled citizens, particularly women, to proactively participate in the process of planning and executing policies, and we diversified the methods of participation to encourage citizens’ participation - regular meetings (held 4 times a year), small expert group meetings, online advice/feedback system, on-site participation/monitoring, etc. - Developing Guidelines for Facilities to Build and Strengthen Social Consensus - With the aim to build and strengthen social consensus regarding the “Women Friendly City Project”, we developed guidelines for project facilities (restrooms, parking lots, roads, parks) that could be used when designing or constructing similar facilities in the private sector. The project was then promoted in the private sector by granting certification to qualified facilities.

b. What were the key development and implementation steps and the chronology? No more than 500 words
- Launch of the Project (Year 2007) - The “Women Friendly City Project,” in Jan 2007, began as an initiative to minimize the inconveniences women faced in their daily lives and to make the city a place where women could be happy and comfortable. Since then, a task force team was established, experts had a series of meetings (8 times) thereon, a public survey was conducted, and reports on these tasks and policy forums were held before approval as an official city project in July, 2007. In Oct, 2007, the Partners Group, composed of the relevant experts, was formed and the foundation of citizen governance was established through a series of internal meetings and advisory councils. - Full-fledged Project (year 2008) - In 2008, we formed the Prosumer Group made up of ordinary citizens and the Forum Group composed of experts in order to strengthen citizen governance. Through such activities, we encouraged women to visit the field, identify needs and give advice and feedback in implementing the project. We also were provided with three opportunities to attend international conferences where participants shared their views and held discussions on women friendly city project cases with the representatives of other cities around the world. - Visible Results of Women Friendly City Project (year 2009) - In 2009, we streamlined the existing 90 programs. As a result, we identified 30 programs that needed to be added to the project, removed 30 programs, which were already complete or did not require further management from the project, and selected 9 core programs that were highly requested by citizens, on which to concentrate our efforts. We also developed guidelines for women-friendly restrooms, parking lots, walking environments, parks, apartment complexes and granted certification to qualified facilities (258 facilities). We developed the Matrix tool to identify the needs of a wide range of women living in Seoul. Using this tool, we selected 15 groups that might not be covered by the existing policy and identified their needs. Through these efforts we have continued to expand the project to enhance the quality of life of women.

c. What were the main obstacles encountered? How were they overcome? No more than 500 words
- Lack of Understanding about the Project - As mentioned earlier, the “Women Friendly City Project” involves every department and organization of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, although the Women and Family Policy Affairs Office is responsible for its comprehensive management. However, we faced difficulties occasionally due to a department’s lack of understanding and interest in the project. Some of the departments or organizations felt the project was a burden; therefore it was difficult to incorporate women’s perspectives and experiences into entire policies of the city government. - Solution 1 – Designation of CF Managers - In order to overcome these difficulties, we designated a CF for each department and a CF manager for each bureau (281 for Seoul City, 896 for autonomous districts) as part of the effort to raise awareness of the project. Additionally, we held workshops for citizens (4 times in 2009) to develop new programs and complement the existing ones. - Solution 2 – Closer Cooperation between Departments - In Feb 2009, the women friendly city project task force team was formed and operated for 9 months. The task force team was attended by the heads of bureaus carrying out core programs of the project with the Vice Mayor Ⅰ for Administrative Affairs appointed as team leader. Its primary function was reviewing the status of the core programs on a regular basis, reinforcing cooperation among departments and ensuring effective budget support. - Solution 3 – Facilitate Participation of Every Department by Providing Model Cases - 9 contests were held for the “Women Friendly City Project” and participated in by every department from 2007 through 2009. Each department presented its idea for a program, and 40 model cases were selected for awards to promote model cases throughout all departments. - Solution 4 – Raise Awareness about the Project and Build a Social Consensus through Intensive Promotion - With the aim to attract citizens’ attention and build a consensus on the “Women Friendly City Project,” we presented catchphrases like “If women are happy, everyone is happy” and “Move women to tears.”

d. What resources were used for the initiative and what were its key benefits? In no more than 500 words, specify what were the financial, technical and human resources’ costs associated with this initiative. Describe how resources were mobilized
The plan of the “Women Friendly City Project” was confirmed in July 2007. The “Women Friendly City Project” began, in January 2007, as an initiative to minimize the inconveniences women faced in their daily lives and to create a city where women were happy and comfortable. Since then, the task force team was established, experts had a series of meetings (8 times) thereon, a public survey was conducted, and reports on the tasks and policy forums were presented before it was approved as an official city project, with a 4 year plan, in July 2007. - Human Resources : a Wide Range of Citizens, including Expert Groups and NGOs - For full-fledged operation of the project, the Women-friendly City Team (composed of 6 members), in charge of the comprehensive management of the project, was formed within the Women & Family Policy Affairs Office in Aug 2008. Since the project was carried out by each department of the city government, an additional work force was not required, but 4,405 citizens were involved to ensure women’s perspectives and experiences were reflected in the policies. - Financial Resources – Make the Best of each Department’s Budget - We made the best of each department’s budget and assigned an additional budget in 2009 to ensure the core programs, including plans to improve restrooms, parks and pedestrian walkways, were effectively delivered. - Programs Reflecting the Characteristics of each District – Incentives for Excellent Outcomes - Seoul city is operating 90 programs in 5 areas, while 25 autonomous districts are carrying out 1,450 programs, which reflect the characteristics of each district. We assess these district-specific programs every year and provide budgetary incentives to districts selected based on their program outcome.

Is the initiative sustainable and transferable?
- Little Financial Burden, but Strong Need to Build Social Consensus on the Caring for Women - There was relatively minute financial burden in connection with the “Women Friendly City Project” because it was carried out using each department’s budget. However, it was not so easy to shift the paradigm of public officials to care for women when they developed new policies or implemented existing policies. The most important task we had to bear was spreading the concept of considering women throughout our culture and society. - Close Cooperation with the Private Sector - Close cooperation with the private sector was essential to offer women a convenient and safe city environment. Therefore, it was necessary that we establish guidelines for women friendly facilities based on mutual trust and cooperation with the private sector, and to build a system that helped businesses in the private sector when designing and constructing similar facilities. - Provide the Legal Framework to Facilitate Participation of the Private Sector - A legal and institutional framework is required when carrying out the project. For instance, the revision of the relevant regulations would be required before installing women friendly parking lots and facilitating participation of the private sector. - A “Women Friendly City Project” Conceived by a Local Government for the First Time - The Seoul Metropolitan Government in conceiving the “Women Friendly City Project” has become the first local government to ensure that their policies would result in women experiencing their absolute benefits in their daily lives. The project has now been benchmarked as “Best Practices” by many organizations at home and abroad. Among the local governments in Korea, Busan Inchoen, Jonlanamdo province, Gyeonsangbukdo province, and Iksan city governments have adopted the project as a model, and the Ministry of Gender Equality of the central government drafted and implemented a plan to expand the “Women Friendly City” based on Seoul City’s “Women Friendly City Project” in September 2009. Meanwhile, the project was highly commended by the UN Commission on the Status of Women from 2008 to 2009. In addition to that, in the second Metropolis Women International Network Forum, held in Oct 2009, participants from 40 cities of 35 countries from around the world, including 4 international organizations, adopted a “Seoul declaration,” which stated that Seoul City’s “Women Friendly City Project” was one of the best policy cases.

What are the impact of your initiative and the lessons learned?
The key to the project’s success has been the continuous effort and will of the Seoul City Mayor. The “Women-friendly City Project,” goes beyond gender equality and mere institutional improvement and is drawing a very positive response from citizens. The key to success in the project is the strong and persistent efforts of the Seoul City Mayor who is the top policy decision maker of the city government. He thoroughly reviews the status of the projects regularly and actively collects the opinions/ideas of citizens, as well as each department of the city government, by holding presentation and assessment sessions. The deputy mayor, for his part, served as the lead for the women friendly city project task force team, checked problems in the process of carrying out the project and provided solutions to resolve them. - New Approach and Attitude within the City Government - One of the most significant changes made by the “Women Friendly City Project,” within the city government, is that public servants of the city government began to understand the need to consider women in policy making. Through a wide range of education, training and workshops, they recognized the importance of incorporating the perspectives of women into the fulfillment of their duties. - Intilling Pride into Women by Encouraging their Participation - The governance system involving citizens enabled women, the very beneficiaries of the initiative, to participate in the entire process of devising, implementing and assessing policies. As such, women served as a driving force behind the project, making meaningful contributions to its success.


Institution Name:		Women Policy Division, Seoul Metropolitan Government
Institution Type:		Government Department
Contact Person:		Bangil Lee
Title:		Assistant Director
Telephone/ Fax:		82-2-3707-9241
Institution's / Project's Website:		82-2-3707-9249
E-mail:		chmss@seoul.go.kr
Address:		Korea Chamber of Commerce, 45, Namdaemunno 4-ga
Postal Code:		100-743
City:		Jung-gu
State/Province:		Seoul Metropolitan City
Country:

The Problem

Solution and Key Benefits

Actors and Stakeholders

(a) Strategies

(b) Implementation

(c) Overcoming Obstacles

(d) Use of Resources

Sustainability and Transferability

Lessons Learned

Contact Information