Gyeongsangnam-do, which has been reflecting residents' opinions in provincial administration through the Residents' Assembly, is now officially considering introducing a 'Residents' General Assembly' that would allow residents to directly participate in the formulation of provincial policies.
On July 1, Governor Park Wansu proposed at an expanded executive meeting, "Provincial administration should be led not by public officials, but by the residents themselves," and added, "Let us operate a Residents' General Assembly where all residents can directly discuss and propose major policies in areas such as welfare, culture and arts, and education."
Governor Park emphasized, "It is necessary to create a structure in which all stakeholders in relevant fields gather in one place to discuss not only the direction of provincial administration but also budget allocation together."
He further stated, "We can institutionalize this in the form of, for example, a Culture and Arts Residents' General Assembly or a Welfare Residents' General Assembly, holding it one or two times a year," and instructed the Provincial Planning and Coordination Office to prepare concrete operational plans.
He also pointed out, "Collecting opinions through the assembly, heads of organizations, or public hearings can be limited," and added, "If we want to truly incorporate the voices of residents into policy, a new approach is needed."
Previously, since January 30, 2024, Gyeongsangnam-do has been holding a 'Residents' Assembly' on the last Monday of every month to directly receive policy proposals and improvement requests from residents and reflect them in provincial administration.
At these meetings, any policy or suggestion proposed is directly reviewed by the governor and relevant department officials, reflected in policy, and the action plan is communicated to the proposer.
On this day, Governor Park also mentioned the urgent need for practical measures to prevent heat-related illnesses and harm to vulnerable groups due to the scorching heat this summer.
He said, "In Europe, temperatures have already risen to between 40 and 47 degrees Celsius, and this is now seriously affecting the Republic of Korea as well," and instructed, "Go beyond basic manuals and establish practical protection measures for the elderly, those with mobility difficulties, and residents of deteriorated housing."
In addition, following a press conference held the day before the meeting, he reiterated his position that the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries should be relocated to Busan New Port, which spans Gangseo-gu in Busan and Jinhae-gu in Changwon.
Governor Park stated, "Not only the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, but also related public institutions and the headquarters of major corporations should be concentrated around Busan New Port," and added, "The tri-port connecting the new port, Gadeok New Airport, and the hinterland industrial complex should become the core forward base for maritime logistics."
He also emphasized the importance of expanding tourism infrastructure centered on the southern coast, attracting resort investments, and securing infrastructure for the artificial intelligence (AI) industry.
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