Gyeonggi-do Opens 'Public Interest Activity Support Center' as Control Tower for 2,279 Nonprofit Private Organizations

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] The Gyeonggi-do Public Interest Activity Support Center opened its doors on the 27th.

Gyeonggi-do had planned to open the Public Interest Activity Support Center in Ingye-dong, Paldal-gu, Suwon City last March, but postponed the opening ceremony due to COVID-19.

The opening ceremony was attended by Lee Jae-gang, Deputy Governor for Peace of Gyeonggi-do, Kim Won-ki, Vice Chairman of the Gyeonggi Provincial Council, Assembly members Won Mi-jung, Kwon Jeong-seon, Jeon Seung-hee, Jeong Yoon-kyung, Lee Ae-hyung, Song Seong-young, Chairman of the Gyeonggi-do Public Interest Activity Promotion Committee, Vice Chairman Ji Eun-ju, and Son Hyuk-jae, Chairman of the entrusted organization, the Gyeonggi Citizens Research Institute.

Deputy Governor Lee Jae-gang said, "While the role of civil society organizations as new agents for solving social problems is growing, they are facing difficulties due to financial pressures and poor working conditions. For the sustainable development of Gyeonggi-do, it is necessary to strengthen the capabilities of civil society organizations and systematically support public interest activities. Therefore, we expect the Public Interest Activity Support Center to play an important role."

The Gyeonggi-do Public Interest Activity Support Center is located on the 9th floor of the Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation building in Ingye-dong, Paldal-gu, and according to the 'Gyeonggi-do Ordinance on the Promotion and Support of Public Interest Activities' enacted last year, the incorporated association 'Gyeonggi Citizens Research Institute Ullim' will be entrusted with its operation.

The center consists of one director and two teams (Planning & General Affairs and Growth Support) with eight staff members. The center's space covers a total area of 265㎡ (80 pyeong) and includes collaboration spaces for public interest activists and civic groups, meeting rooms, and a citizen caf? as a resting area.

The center operates seven projects in four fields with a total budget of 761 million KRW.

The main projects include ▲ Activation of public interest activity promotion channels ▲ Startup support ▲ Research on the development of public interest activities ▲ Operation of public-private joint policy forums ▲ Promotion and encouragement of public interest activities by city and county ▲ Regional tour meetings ▲ Support for emergency public interest activity contest projects to overcome the COVID-19 disaster.

In particular, the center plans to accept applications from civic organizations within the province for the first support project, the emergency public interest activity contest to overcome the COVID-19 disaster, until the 5th of next month.

Meanwhile, there are a total of 2,279 non-profit private organizations in the province.