Seongbuk District Launches Full-Scale "One Residents' Autonomy Committee, One School" Project

Public-Academic-Government Cooperation
Solving and Addressing Local Issues Together

On June 6, the Seongbuk District of Seoul announced that it will begin full-scale implementation of the "One Residents' Autonomy Committee, One School: Our Autonomous Neighborhood" (1 Committee 1 School) project this year, aiming to expand resident participation and solve social issues through public-private cooperation.

Seungro Lee, mayor of Seongbuk District, attending the Donam 1-dong Residents' Autonomy Committee's "Visiting Residents' Autonomy Class" at Gaeun Elementary School. Provided by Seongbuk District.

The "1 Committee 1 School" project is a large-scale initiative in which 21 out of 65 elementary, middle, high schools, and universities in Seongbuk District are participating. The project aims to identify local issues from the students' perspective and have the Residents' Autonomy Committees and schools work together to address them. Its goals are to provide local students with opportunities to participate in their communities and gain experience in self-governance, thereby strengthening their capabilities as democratic citizens, and to realize sustainable community self-governance that brings together multiple generations.

At the residents' assembly to be held this month, the Seongbuk District Office, Residents' Autonomy Committees, and schools plan to sign a "Public-Academic-Government Joint Implementation Agreement" with the next generation. In addition, the district will operate "visiting residents' autonomy classes" at schools, enabling students to propose issues they have identified as agenda items at the residents' assembly. These issues will be reflected in next year's residents' autonomy plans, and their implementation will be actively supported.

A representative of the local Residents' Autonomy Committee stated, "Through the process of students considering local issues and proposing solutions, they will develop a sense of responsibility for their community and be encouraged to participate voluntarily." A representative from Seokyeong University also commented, "We hope this project will create opportunities for universities and the local community to thrive together, and that students will grow as democratic citizens by directly experiencing the process of solving community problems."

Seungro Lee, mayor of Seongbuk District, stated, "Through cooperation among the public, academic, and government sectors, we will further expand students' experiences in residents' autonomy and opportunities for community participation, thereby raising their sense of autonomy and doing our utmost to promote sustainable residents' autonomy for the future."