Suncheon City Opens an Era of Citizen Sovereignty Where "Citizens' Voices Become Policy"

Jeonnam's First Directly Under Mayor Citizen Sovereignty Officer Established to Promote Expansion of Direct Democracy

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Suncheon City announced on the 18th that, following Mayor Heo Seok's commitment in the 7th local government to "make democracy a part of citizens' daily lives," it established the Citizen Sovereignty Officer directly under the mayor for the first time in Jeollanam-do on the 1st.

The Citizen Sovereignty Officer aims to cultivate a democracy garden blossoming with citizens' voices as its vision, promoting the institutional foundation for activating citizen sovereignty, expanding citizens' participation in city administration, and strengthening their capabilities. It will also carry out citizen-centered field administration to prevent and mediate various civil complaints and conflicts.

First, by receiving proposals on pressing issues directly related to citizens' daily lives, it will form a consensus among citizens and, centered on the Citizen Sovereignty Committee, operate online and offline public discussions to prepare concrete implementation plans. It will focus on discovering various citizen proposals and direct democracy projects to ensure citizen participation throughout city administration.

Additionally, to expand citizen participation and listen to diverse voices in the COVID-19 era, an On-tact citizen communication platform will be established. Through citizen proposals, public forums, monitoring system construction, and participation mileage evaluation, these will be reflected in city administration. Offline communication forums such as plaza debates, informal talks, and night talks will be continuously promoted with added online communication.

Furthermore, democracy programs such as the Democracy School and Youth Democracy Camp, which have been operated since last year, will be expanded and improved to share awareness of citizen sovereignty values. Programs where citizens decide and participate in local issues themselves will be conducted with case studies to cultivate citizens' capabilities to become owners and realize direct democracy.

In particular, in October, participants and citizens who have engaged in various democracy programs will jointly promote the Suncheon-style Democracy Policy Festival, turning it into a citizen policy festival venue where citizens can plan events related to direct democracy and experience policy public forums.

Moreover, the Suncheon City website's "Wishes to the Mayor" will be comprehensively operated to resolve grievances and conflicts by directly visiting sites to listen to citizens' voices. By organically collaborating between the public and private sectors with stakeholders and private experts, complaints will be resolved and conflicts alleviated, serving as a communication window that citizens can understand and empathize with.

The Suncheon City Citizen Sovereignty Officer emphasized, "We will do our best to expand direct democracy by establishing a system where citizens find and solve what they want and what helps them within the community, creating opportunities for participation in city administration, and strengthening citizens' capabilities to have the rights and responsibilities as owners."