County Governor Woo Seung-hee Takes Role as Policy Producer, Responds with Customized County Information Report
Yeongam-gun, Jeollanam-do, took the lead as policy producers and owners of county administration by presenting various directions for Yeongam's development during the '2024 Innovative Empathy Dialogue with Residents' held in the towns and townships from the 3rd to the 7th of last month.
According to the county on the 13th, this dialogue, which started in Yeongam-eup and concluded in Haksan-myeon, was held under the theme "Ordinary residents' thoughts become special policies," with County Governor Woo Seung-hee and Yeongam-gun public officials participating together.
While inheriting the strengths of the existing 'Dialogue with Residents,' Yeongam-gun's event aimed to fill the county administration with innovation and empathy through residents' proposals, to which the residents of Yeongam responded with 213 suggestions and proposals.
(The second from the right) County Governor Woo Seung-hee is listening to the residents' questions during a conversation with the residents of Sinbuk-myeon. [Photo by Yeongam County]
Breaking down the number of suggestions and proposals submitted by each town and township: Yeongam-eup had 18, Samho-eup 29, Deokjin-myeon 14, Geumjeong-myeon 11, Sinbuk-myeon 13, Sijong-myeon 19, Dupo-myeon 15, Gunseo-myeon 24, Seoho-myeon 19, Haksan-myeon 25, and Miam-myeon 26.
In addition to fostering crop conversion farmers and creating green barley fields along the Yeongsan River, notable resident proposals included △forming a youth local startup consulting group △establishing a Daebonggam promotional exhibition hall △building an eco-friendly agricultural products distribution center △creating a resident-led solar power complex △vacation programs with village elders △changing the radius for the 100-won taxi service, among others.
County Governor Woo Seung-hee, from a macro perspective to listen to residents' opinions on the overall development direction of Yeongam-gun, delegated the authority to handle village complaints, which had been the main focus in previous dialogues?such as paving village roads, farm roads, and drainage maintenance?to the heads of towns and townships prior to this dialogue.
Furthermore, through tailored county administration reports for each town and township, residents were informed about what would happen in their villages this year, gaining great empathy.
The construction of the Mahan Historical and Cultural Village and the Gurim Intersection Tourism Village project are representative cases. Although Sijong-myeon has a wide distribution of Mahan-era tombs and relics, there had been no way to utilize them.
In response, Yeongam-gun, which attracted the National Mahan Historical and Cultural Center last year, plans to build a Mahan Village in Sijong-myeon equipped with residential facilities, experience centers, and educational halls to solidify Yeongam's position as "the heart of Mahan."
Gunseo-myeon's Gurim Intersection is also preparing for a makeover. Walkways and signboards will be refurbished, and vacant stores remodeled to create youth startup spaces with an annual rent of 10,000 won.
A village hotel equipped with lodging and service facilities is planned to be established to lead Gurim Intersection, bustling with youth and tourists.
In addition, projects reflecting the characteristics of each town and township were announced, including △construction of dormitories for rural nursing welfare personnel △establishment of the Aureum Platform △creation of a foreigner-specialized street △construction of a dementia-specialized nursing home △development of a healing pilgrimage tourism route △and creation of a retiree village.
Governor Woo Seung-hee stated, "It was a new dialogue time blending innovation and empathy. We will accelerate innovative Yeongam by reflecting residents' opinions," adding, "Innovation means making uncomfortable things comfortable, renewing the old, brightening dark places, balancing the biased, and turning conventions into freshness. We will create a sustainable innovative Yeongam where people, nature, and the future coexist together with the residents."
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