Lowering Voting Age to 18 for Resident Referendum System
Exemption from Bond Purchase Obligation for Non-Commercial Vehicles Under 1600cc
Hometown Love Donation System Fully Implemented from the 1st
[Asia Economy Reporter Seong Giho] With the arrival of the new year 2023, the Hometown Love Donation System will be implemented, and when receiving a new resident registration card, issuance and receipt will be possible at all town, township, and neighborhood community service centers nationwide. The voting age for the resident referendum system will also be lowered from 19 to 18 years old. In addition, the obligation to purchase bonds when buying non-commercial passenger cars under 1600cc will be exempted, and the right to request interest rate reductions will be further activated in contracts such as those with Saemaeul Geumgo (New Village Credit Cooperatives) and loans to alleviate the burden on citizens. Automobile blocking facilities will be established on 90 flood-prone vulnerable roads nationwide, and infrastructure development projects will be promoted to prevent small islands with fewer than 10 residents from becoming "Gongdo (空島)" (uninhabited islands).
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety introduced on the 1st the new systems changing in the new year that will make citizens' lives more convenient and safe, selecting them by categories of alleviating citizens' burdens, safety, local areas, and administrative systems.
Alleviating Citizens' Burden
In March, the system will be improved to exempt the obligation to purchase bonds when buying non-commercial passenger cars under 1600cc, which was previously imposed when purchasing vehicles. It is expected to benefit primary buyers of small cars such as young adults starting their careers, newlyweds, and small business owners.
Also, when local governments enter into construction or goods and services contracts under 20 million KRW, the mandatory purchase of local development bonds will be exempted. This system will be implemented nationwide from March after revising ordinances by city and province by the end of February.
In March, the confirmation of the announcement results of the standards for approval by assumption will be facilitated. Previously, for dispositions subject to approval by assumption, related approval standards were individually announced on the websites of each administrative agency, causing inconvenience for citizens who had to check each one separately. Going forward, the main approval administrative agency will collect related disposition standards from relevant administrative agencies and integrate and announce the standards related to approval by assumption in one place.
In May, the right to request interest rate reductions will be activated for those who have contracts such as loans with Saemaeul Geumgo. Considering that the right to request interest rate reductions had not been properly utilized, the credit union or central association will be required to inform people who intend to enter into contracts such as loans that they have the right to request an interest rate reduction. Also, those who have entered into contracts will be able to request an interest rate reduction if their credit status is recognized to have improved, such as through increased assets or improved credit ratings.
Safety
In the first half of the year, to prevent casualties on flood-prone vulnerable roads, a project to build automobile blocking facilities will be promoted. When river water levels reach control standards, road access will be automatically restricted and warning broadcasts will be conducted. A total of 270 sites have been selected, with facilities to be installed at 90 sites each year starting next year. In particular, installation is planned to be completed in the first half of the year before the full rainy season begins.
In July, to make public restrooms safer to use, the installation of safety equipment (emergency bells, CCTV, safety screens, etc.) and partitions in public restrooms will be mandatory. Twice a year, facility inspections will be conducted to prevent illegal filming by checking the installation of cameras and other mechanical equipment.
Local Areas
On January 1st, the first day of the new year, the Hometown Love Donation System will be implemented. Individuals can donate not only to their birthplace but also to a "second hometown" with which they have formed relationships through study, work, or travel. Local governments will use the donations for residents' welfare improvement, and donors will receive tax credits and gifts in return. Individuals wishing to donate can do so through the integrated (one-stop) information system "Hometown Love e-um" or by visiting any of the more than 5,900 NongHyup branches nationwide.
In March, a new project will be launched to prevent "Gongdo (空島)" (uninhabited islands) on small islands with fewer than 10 residents (59 islands as of 2021). Infrastructure such as water supply and power facilities, docking facilities, and roads will be developed to improve minimum living conditions.
In April, to activate the resident referendum system and strengthen the democracy and accountability of local self-government administration, the voting age for resident referendums will be lowered from 19 to 18 years old. Electronic signatures will be allowed for signing resident referendum petitions, and the vote-counting requirement based on turnout will be abolished to increase participation rates.
In June, the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province will be established, guaranteeing a high degree of autonomy by leveraging Gangwon Province's regional, historical, and cultural characteristics. The government will ensure that Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province receives special exceptions suited to regional characteristics, guaranteeing substantial local decentralization and enhancing regional competitiveness.
Administrative Systems
From January, previously, when issuing a new resident registration card, applications and receipt were only possible at the town, township, or neighborhood community service center with jurisdiction over the resident's registered address. Going forward, issuance applications and receipt will be possible at all town, township, and neighborhood community service centers nationwide.
In April, measures to protect both citizens and civil servants handling civil complaints from verbal abuse and assault by complainants will be implemented. Equipment such as video information processing devices will be installed in civil service offices, safety personnel will be assigned, and portable video and audio recording devices for collecting evidence of illegal acts will be operated. Also, the daily operating hours of civil service offices will be set from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and if operated differently, local governments will set the hours through ordinances after collecting residents' opinions.
Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sangmin stated, "I hope that the new systems changing in the new year will allow citizens to use administrative services more conveniently," and added, "As we enter the second year of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, we will actively discover and improve reform tasks that citizens can feel."
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