Direct Participation and Evaluation of Major Policies... 'Gyeongnam Residents Policy Communication Group' Fully Launched

Gyeongnam Provincial Residents Policy Communication Group Appointment Ceremony and Workshop.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Ju-cheol In] Gyeongsangnam-do announced on the 28th that it will officially operate the 'Resident Policy Communication Group,' where residents directly participate in evaluating and proposing major provincial policies.

On the same day, Gyeongnam Province held an appointment ceremony and training session for the Resident Policy Communication Group at the Changwon Convention Center. To comply with COVID-19 social distancing and quarantine guidelines, the event was held twice, in the morning and afternoon.

The event included the appointment ceremony for the communication group, expert lectures, and subgroup meetings. The communication group consists of about 100 members, including publicly recruited and recommended residents and experts, across eight subcommittees such as Planning Innovation, Safety Construction, and Industrial Economy. The term lasts until the end of the year.

Going forward, 35 major projects that significantly impact residents' daily lives and require understanding and cooperation?such as welfare and safety, job expansion, and the creation of the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam (Bu-Ul-Gyeong) Mega City?will be addressed as resident communication tasks.

Starting next month, subgroup meetings will be held to share information through department explanations and Q&A sessions on resident communication tasks, as well as to propose and evaluate policies. Then, in November, a general meeting will be held to select the final outstanding projects and share the results of activities.

At the event, members of the Policy Communication Group attended an expert lecture on the theme of "Creating a Culture of Participation and Communication Cooperation" and held a discussion on the importance of resident participation in provincial policies and the meaning of deliberative democracy.

Acting Governor Ha Byung-pil said, "I thank the residents who showed interest and participated in the Policy Communication Group, which is being operated for the first time this time," adding, "We will work together to reflect diverse resident opinions and produce results that residents can feel and empathize with."