Muan County Councilor Bongseong Kim Enacts Ordinance to Improve Quality of Life for Island Residents

Opportunity to Establish a Sustainable Development Model for Island Villages
Expectations for Bridging Service Gaps in All Aspects of Daily Life

The "Ordinance on Supporting the Reduction of Quality of Life Disparities for Island Village Residents in Muan County," proposed by Councilor Bongseong Kim (Democratic Party of Korea, Constituency Na), passed the plenary session of the 301st Muan County Council extraordinary meeting held on May 19.

This ordinance was established to promote the happiness and sustainable development of island communities by addressing service disparities in all aspects of daily life, including healthcare, culture, and transportation, for residents of island villages in Muan County.

Councilor Bongseong Kim is delivering a 5-minute free speech. Photo by Muan County Council

In particular, unlike existing island-related ordinances that focus on island development, this ordinance aims to comprehensively improve the quality of life for island residents, making it the first ordinance of its kind in the country.

The main provisions of the ordinance include: ▲ the establishment and implementation of a "Basic Plan for Reducing Quality of Life Disparities for Island Village Residents"; ▲ expansion of support for healthcare, education, and transportation for island residents; ▲ improvement of living infrastructure; and ▲ the formulation of resident participation-based policies. It stipulates that local governments and related agencies must cooperate to devise practical support measures.

Once the ordinance is implemented, island village residents will not only be able to receive customized welfare services tailored to the characteristics of their regions, but will also have increased opportunities to actively participate in policy-making through the process of gathering public opinion.

Councilor Bongseong Kim stated, "We will continue to develop concrete support measures so that residents of island regions can live in better environments," adding, "The enactment of this ordinance will serve as an opportunity to establish a sustainable development model for island villages that goes beyond simple support."