Suwon City to Promote Community Projects Based on Residents' Direct Proposals

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon City will implement various community projects in 2020 that residents directly proposed and selected at 'residents' assemblies' held from December 5 to 27 across eight districts.

On the 31st, the city held a 'residents' autonomous council pilot-district residents' assembly case presentation and discussion session' at the main conference room of city hall with approximately 50 attendees including Mayor Yeom Tae-young, district chiefs from eight pilot districts, and members of residents' autonomous councils, sharing this year's achievements.

Residents' autonomous council chairs from Gwanggyo 1-dong, Haenggung-dong, and Songjuk-dong, who presented outstanding cases, announced community projects to be launched next year, including the '2020 community autonomy plan' and 'Residents tax smile project' discussed at the residents' assembly.

Lee Gang-hyuk, chair of the Gwanggyo 1-dong residents' autonomous council, said in his case presentation, "The residents' assembly has strengthened community autonomy and served as a venue providing residents with an experience of democracy," adding, "We were able to gather diverse opinions, such as determining the priority of the '2020 residents tax smile project' through residents' voting."

He then shared the results of the '2020 Residents Tax Smile (Building Our Village Ourselves) project,' which was directly proposed by community residents and selected through voting.

The Gwanggyo 1-dong residents' autonomous council announced plans to implement the creation of a cultural space at the Gwanggyo 1-dong administrative welfare center, the creation of a photo zone and benches in the park area in front of Gwanggyo Middle School, and the creation of flower beds at the Kyonggi University back gate area in vacant land-triangle area as 2020 smile projects.

The Haenggung-dong residents' autonomous council announced the operation of the 'Haenggung unique village mobility,' opening and operation of a 'community cultural center,' and 'safety lighting facility project,' while Songjuk-dong presented the 'Songjuk happiness dreamy rest area environmental improvement,' 'CCTV installation for preventing illegal garbage dumping,' and 'logo projector installation to prevent illegal garbage dumping.' The projects announced will be implemented as 2020 smile projects.

Meanwhile, the city selected and has been operating eight districts including Yulcheon-dong, Songjuk-dong, Seodun-dong, Homaesil-dong, Haenggung-dong, Ingye-dong, Maetan 2-dong, and Gwanggyo 1-dong as 'Suwon-style residents' autonomous council pilot districts' through open recruitment. The city plans to expand residents' autonomous councils to all districts of Suwon City from 2021 onwards.

Mayor Yeom Tae-young stated, "The residents' autonomous council is a stepping stone to practicing grassroots democracy and moving toward a city of citizen democracy," and added, "I hope the diverse opinions and outstanding cases presented today will help realize citizen sovereignty."