Kim Youngsun: "Changed Lifestyles Must Be Reflected in Plans"
Kim Taewan: "Urgent Need to Adjust Standard Personnel Expenses"
Jo Youngim: "Restoring Community Through Spaces and Counseling"
The Gwangsan District Council in Gwangju has raised issues and called for improvements on matters closely related to residents' lives, ranging from urban planning and fiscal management to mental health care.
According to the Gwangsan District Council on the 27th, during the 5-minute free speech session at the 2nd plenary meeting of the 295th temporary session held the previous day, Councilor Kim Youngsun (Democratic Party, Suwan-dong, Hanam-dong, Imgok-dong) demanded a complete re-examination and public discussion of the district unit plans within Gwangsan District.
Councilor Kim pointed out, "Among the 10 residential development districts in Gwangsan, 9?excluding Seonun 2 District?have met the requirements for changes after more than five years since completion, but there have been only seven cases of amendments in the past five years." He stressed the urgent need to establish effective plans that reflect the changed commercial and residential environments. He also suggested that the reorganization of the transportation system, expansion of parking spaces, creation of resident convenience facilities and parks, and the arrangement of subway line 2 stations should all be considered together.
Councilor Kim Taewan, representing the same constituency, pointed out the unstable fiscal structure of Gwangsan District and emphasized the need to raise the standard personnel expenses and improve the ordinary grant tax system.
Kim stated, "It is difficult to provide standard administrative services with only local tax revenues, and autonomous districts are excluded from the ordinary grant tax, limiting their ability to secure finances." He particularly criticized the administration's complacency despite the increasing number of personnel exceeding the standard, urging proactive organizational management and personnel redistribution to control labor costs. He also proposed, "The government should be urged to raise the standard personnel expenses, and efforts should be made with local politicians to improve the ordinary grant tax system."
Councilor Jo Youngim (Democratic Party, Cheomdan 1-dong, Cheomdan 2-dong) proposed utilizing communal spaces in residential areas and establishing a community-based mental health care system to revitalize community culture.
Jo noted, "The common areas of apartment complexes are often left unused except for senior centers and daycare centers," and emphasized the need to allocate a separate budget for remodeling outdated communal spaces, so that apartment management buildings can be transformed into various welfare spaces in line with the '100 Welfare Centers' initiative. She further stated, "There should be a community-based counseling system so that any resident can easily receive emotional support," and suggested specific measures such as creating accessible counseling spaces using welfare facilities and libraries, as well as training peer counselors.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
