Topics Include Improving Bicycle and Personal Mobility Infrastructure
Yoon Jungmin, a member of the Gwangju Seo District Council, has called for action-oriented administration on three major issues closely related to residents' daily lives: traffic safety, child care, and support for vulnerable workers.
On October 24, Yoon announced that during the 334th temporary session's plenary meeting held on the 23rd, she raised district policy questions on the topics of "improving bicycle and personal mobility (PM) infrastructure," "establishing public indoor playgrounds," and "expanding support for waste paper collectors."
Yoon pointed out safety concerns regarding everyday transportation such as electric scooters and bicycles. She remarked, "While Gwangju claims to be a 'public transport, bicycle, and pedestrian-friendly city,' the streets of Seo District remain hazardous. Electric scooter parking zones are empty, and there have been no enforcement results at all."
She continued, "This is not an issue of enforcement but fundamentally a lack of a management system." She suggested institutional improvements such as an app-linked return system for electric scooters and a mandatory return policy for designated zones, as well as the need to relocate PM parking based on parking density.
Furthermore, she emphasized, "Among the five autonomous districts in Gwangju, only Seo District does not have a public indoor playground. After failing twice in public contests and now simply waiting for the LH contest results, the current administrative approach has clear limitations. The district must take direct action."
In response, District Chief Kim Ikang stated, "We will comprehensively review the selection results and financial conditions and consider a district-led initiative."
Yoon also called for expanded support for waste paper collectors, saying, "These individuals are environmental workers responsible for the city's final recycling process." She proposed the introduction of a price support system and the linkage of public jobs, to which the district office replied, "We will carefully review the institutionalization of winter support programs and the introduction of a price support system."
In her follow-up questions, Yoon stated, "Policies must not remain mere declarations but must be realized on the ground. The administration should respond with changes that residents can truly feel."
She added, "To ensure more accurate review and completeness of plans, I will receive written answers to my follow-up questions and, depending on the sincerity of those responses, will consider subsequent measures such as administrative audits."
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