Naju City Announces Call for Ideas for Hometown Love Fund Project Until the 19th of Next Month

Naju City in Jeollanam-do is launching a project to discover fund projects that donors desire following the introduction of the hometown love donation system’s ‘designated donation.’

Naju City (Mayor Yoon Byung-tae) announced on the 19th that it will hold a nationwide public contest for ideas on hometown love donation fund projects for one month until the 19th of next month.

Hometown Love Donation Fund Project Idea Contest Poster.
Photo by Naju City

Designated donation is distinguished from general donations, where donors do not specify the use, by allowing donors to pre-select the projects they want or wish to support.

Until now, donors could only choose the local government to which they wanted to donate their hometown love donation funds. It is expected that the designated donation will enhance donors’ sense of efficacy.

The city views attractive projects that donors can actively empathize with as the key to revitalizing the hometown love donation system and plans to focus on discovering fund projects considering donor preferences and project effectiveness.

Along with the fund project contest, the city plans to additionally select general fund projects through demand surveys by each department of the city hall.

It is anticipated that some pressing projects, which were difficult to promote due to budget conditions despite their importance, can be partially advanced through designated donations.

The contest fields for fund projects include ‘support for socially vulnerable groups and youth development and protection,’ ‘promotion of culture, arts, and health for local residents,’ ‘support for revitalization of local communities such as citizen participation and volunteer work,’ and ‘projects necessary for improving residents’ welfare.’

Anyone nationwide who has affection and interest in the Naju hometown love donation system can participate in the contest by submitting through the city hall website, email, mail, or visit (Hometown Love Team, Policy Promotion Office, City Hall) by the 19th of next month.

Detailed information can be found on the city hall website.

After the contest evaluation, winners will be awarded Naju Love Gift Certificates: 500,000 KRW for the grand prize (1 person), 300,000 KRW for excellence (2 persons), and 100,000 KRW for encouragement (4 persons).

Meanwhile, in 2023, the first year of implementing the hometown love donation system, the city ranked first in donation fundraising among city-level local governments nationwide. Among 228 cities, counties, and districts nationwide, including metropolitan governments, it ranked fourth.

This year, the city is promoting fund projects such as ‘Dream Tree Nest Creation,’ a resting space for students commuting between schools and academies; ‘100-Won Laundry Room Village Co-Operation,’ which provides washing machines and dryers in village halls with poor laundry conditions; and ‘Pet-Friendly City Cultural Festival,’ linked to the creation of a pet theme park in response to the era of ten million pet owners.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae said, “With the introduction of designated donations in the hometown love donation system, we will discover highly effective fund projects that donors can feel proud of and repay the national interest and love. We thank everyone who has participated in the donation system for sharing, coexistence, and hometown development.”

Naju = Kim Yuk-bong, Honam Reporting Headquarters, Asia Economy baekok@asiae.co.kr