Gwangju Seo District Completely Revamps "Residents' General Meeting" System Starting This Year

"Resident-Led Policy Decision Platform"

Seo District of Gwangju City (headed by District Mayor Kim Ikang) has completely revamped the residents' general meeting system starting this year and has officially embarked on realizing "true autonomy" centered on residents and villages.

Seo District of Gwangju City has completely revamped the residents' general meeting system starting this year and has officially embarked on realizing "true autonomy" centered on residents and villages. Photo by Seo District

Seo District is evolving the residents' general meeting from a simple event into a resident-led policy decision-making platform. Previously, the meetings were held as one-day events combined with village festivals, during which agenda items were decided. Now, the district has shifted to a deliberative assembly structure, where residents themselves identify and discuss local issues over several months.

In particular, the district formed "Village BI Members," composed of resident groups with a deep understanding of their neighborhoods, to take the lead in everything from planning to executing the meetings. By separating the village festival from the residents' general meeting, Seo District has created a forum focused solely on agenda deliberation.

Additionally, the district has introduced a "one person, one vote" principle based on identity verification to strengthen fairness and credibility. Permanent polling stations have been set up in each region to improve accessibility and make participation easier for everyone.

These changes were fully implemented during the Pungam-dong residents' general meeting held on June 21. Around 100 Village BI Members prepared for the meeting over approximately 100 days, and the agenda items that emerged were finalized through a nine-day voting process.

Notably, the entire process?including residents' voting participation, ballot counting, and result announcements?was broadcast live, drawing much attention. The voting site was filled with the seriousness and enthusiasm reminiscent of a presidential election.

Na Hyona, a member of the Pungam-dong Children's Song Choir who participated in the meeting, emphasized the significance of autonomy across generations, stating, "I cast my first-ever vote at the residents' general meeting, believing that children's opinions would also be valued."

Seo District Mayor Kim Ikang said, "What is taking root in Seo District is no longer a formality led by the administration, but a new structure where residents themselves plan and make decisions. Through genuine autonomy that includes all generations, I expect Seo District of Gwangju to become a new standard for resident autonomy in Korea."

Meanwhile, starting with Pungam-dong, Seo District plans to sequentially hold deliberative residents' general meetings in all 18 neighborhoods within the district this year. The agenda items decided at these meetings will be reflected in the following year's budget, leading to tangible changes in the villages.