Yeosu Citizens' Association Announces Results of Citizen Vote for Top 10 News

1st Place: Demand for Disaster Relief Payments to All Citizens
2nd Place: Controversy Over Unregulated Development in Dolsan

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] The demand for the payment of the to all citizens topped the results of the ‘Citizen Vote for the Selection of Yeosu’s Top 10 News of the Year’ conducted by the nonprofit organization Yeosu Citizens’ Association (hereinafter Yeosu Citizens’ Association).

The Yeosu Citizens’ Association announced the results of an online and offline survey conducted from the 1st to the 17th of this month, targeting 385 citizens.

The demand for the payment of the to all citizens (184 votes, 47.8%) was raised by the Yeosu Citizens’ Association and other civic groups to stabilize citizens’ livelihoods and revitalize the local economy amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. Although the Yeosu City Council enacted an ordinance, Yeosu City has maintained the position that payment is difficult due to lack of available funds.

Mayor Kwon Oh-bong stated in an online emergency briefing on the 2nd, “At present, we judge that the necessity of providing disaster relief funds to all citizens is not significant,” adding, “If the COVID-19 infection continues to spread until the first half of next year when industrial complex investments end, and if there is no additional support from the national or metropolitan governments, the city will pursue its own disaster relief fund payment.”

The Yeosu Citizens’ Association explained that the high interest and demand from citizens for the reflect the ongoing local spread of COVID-19 and prolonged economic downturn.

The second place went to the ‘Dolsan Overdevelopment Controversy’ (179 votes, 46.5%).

The revelation of damage caused by a large resort developer to Somisan and rocky shores caused a significant social impact in the region.

Moreover, internet articles related to the Dolsan overdevelopment controversy recorded 2 million subscribers, and criticism over environmental damage continued unabated.

In response, Yeosu City belatedly decided to conduct a full on-site inspection of illegal development activities, and the Yeosu City Council plans to conduct an administrative investigation into overdevelopment in the Dolsan area starting January next year.

Next, ‘Repeated industrial complex explosion accidents, industrial complex safety accidents... Labor sector urges enactment of the Serious Accident Corporate Punishment Act’ (171 votes, 44.4%) ranked third.

There were industrial complex explosion accidents again this year, and worker deaths occurred due to industrial complex safety accidents.

The labor sector is demanding thorough investigations and measures to prevent recurrence, urging local politicians to take action such as enacting the Serious Accident Corporate Punishment Act.

Currently, the mother of martyr Kim Yong-gyun and allied groups are continuing a hunger strike in front of the National Assembly to urge the legislation of the bill.

Following that, ‘Assemblyman Joo Cheol-hyun’s nephew-in-law press conference and the News Tapa report on suspicions surrounding the Sangpo District’ (160 votes, 41.6%) and the ‘Joint Proposal of the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident Special Act in the National Assembly’ (151 votes, 39.2%) ranked fourth and fifth respectively, with the sixth place going to the ‘Controversy over the annex building expansion of the city hall’ (145 votes, 37.7%).

Additionally, ‘Emergency due to local spread of COVID-19 and implementation of social distancing’ (141 votes, 36.6%) and ‘Controversy over the sale price of Woongcheon Booyoung Apartments and the rapidly rising apartment prices in Yeosu’ (138 votes, 35.8%) were narrowly ranked seventh and eighth respectively.

Following these were ‘500 days of homeless protest by seafood specialty market merchants to guarantee their right to livelihood’ (120 votes, 31.2%) and ‘City hall public officials’ power abuse scandal, light disciplinary actions, and related response controversies’ (114 votes, 29.6%) ranking ninth and tenth.

The Yeosu Citizens’ Association explained, “Every December, we conduct a citizen vote to select the top 10 news stories to reflect on the major issues and interests of the year.”