Gwangju Selects 10 Women-Friendly Village Communities

Support of 75 Million KRW for Dreaming Small Library and Others
Assignment of Dedicated Activists, Customized Counseling, and Capacity-Building Training

Photo materials of the women-friendly village Durumoa Cultural Sharing Community (Total Craft). Provided by Gwangju City

Gwangju City announced on the 5th that it has selected 10 women-friendly village communities and will begin creating a women-friendly city.

The women-friendly village communities selected this time include: ▲Chungjang-ro 1, 2, 3-ga Merchants Association in Dong-gu ▲Saemaeul Women's Association of Gyerim 2-dong in Dong-gu ▲Dreaming Small Library in Seo-gu ▲Durumoa Cultural Sharing Community in Buk-gu ▲Kkum Namu Social Welfare Center in Buk-gu ▲Eoryong-dong Residents' Association in Gwangsan-gu, among a total of 10 places.

In January, the city publicly recruited village communities to participate in the women-friendly village community project. The selection committee comprehensively reviewed each group's submitted project plans and scale to make the final selection. Gwangju City plans to provide a total of 75 million KRW in support to the selected organizations. In cooperation with the Gwangju Women's Family Foundation, dedicated activists with experience in village activities will be assigned to actively provide customized counseling and capacity-building training.

With the aim of "creating a gender-equal city," Gwangju began establishing women-friendly villages in 2012, discovering 79 villages to date and supporting women to grow as leaders in the local community. Starting with Dong-gu and Buk-gu in 2021, followed by Seo-gu and Gwangsan-gu in 2022, and Nam-gu in 2023, all five autonomous districts have now been designated as women-friendly cities.

Choi Jina, Director of the Women and Family Division, said, "We will thoroughly implement this year's women-friendly village community project so that everyone can live in an equal and safe environment," adding, "We will continue to provide detailed support so that women-friendly villages become the focal point for a gender-equal Gwangju where everyone respects and cooperates with each other to live harmoniously."