Presidential Office: The Best Public Proposal is 'Flexible Operation of Urban Speed Limits'

Selected 8 out of 60 Policy Tasks

On the 28th, the Presidential Office revealed eight "Livelihood and Empathy Proposals" selected by the public through the "2024 National Proposal All-Star Game," including the "Flexible Operation of Urban Speed Limits."

Since the launch of the National Proposal on June 23, 2022, the Presidential Office conducted an online public vote from December 30 last year to January 19 this year, as well as surveys targeting public officials and reporters covering the Presidential Office, to select the best livelihood and empathy proposals among 60 policy tasks adopted over one and a half years.

The Presidential Office explained that a total of 4,003 people participated in this survey, including 3,901 citizens, 73 public officials, and 29 reporters.

Combining the online voting and survey results, the task that received the most votes was the "Flexible Operation of Urban Speed Limits" in the area of daily life inconveniences (administration).

This proposal aims to raise the speed limit in sections with low pedestrian traffic and low accident risk from the current 50 km/h to 60 km/h, and to implement "time-based speed limits" during late-night hours in necessary school zones on arterial roads with two or more lanes in one direction, considering road conditions and residents' opinions. It is currently being implemented at 13 locations.

Other outstanding livelihood and empathy proposals that received the most votes by category include ▲ Institutionalizing safety measures for electric kickboards (Safety) ▲ Simplifying school transfer documents in special circumstances such as separation (Daily Life Inconveniences (Family)) ▲ Preventing management fee increases to avoid restrictions on commercial rent hikes (Small Business Owners) ▲ Managing to prevent duplicate support of funds for small and medium-sized enterprise development (Fairness and Right to Know) ▲ Reviewing measures to allow limited family activity support for severely disabled persons with developmental disorders (Vulnerable Groups) ▲ Expanding the scope of reduced working hours during childcare periods (Childbirth and Childcare) ▲ Strengthening housing support for youth through the establishment of dedicated mortgages and special supply (Youth and Employment), among others.

A Presidential Office official stated, "Through this survey, we were able to confirm voices calling for the creation of diverse public forums, enhanced promotion of national proposals, thorough implementation of policy tasks, and strengthened communication and livelihood policies regarding low birth rates, vulnerable groups, and prices." The official added, "The Presidential Office plans to continuously reflect the diverse opinions raised through national proposals in state governance."

On the 16th, one day before President Yoon Suk-yeol's 100th day in office, the Presidential Office building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul is shown. President Yoon, emphasizing the elimination of authoritarianism, moved the stage of state affairs from the former Blue House to Yongsan. With the president's office relocated to Yongsan, the Blue House has been fully opened to the public. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@