First Nationwide Online Citizen Program Surpasses 288,000 Members in 17 Years
Driving 'Resident Population Expansion' as a Platform Connecting Tourism, Consumption, and Culture
Onnuri Gongju Citizen, Gongju City’s flagship online citizen participation program in South Chungcheong Province, has surpassed 288,000 members, more than double the city’s registered population.
First introduced in 2008 as the nation’s inaugural initiative of its kind, this program has steadily evolved over the past 17 years and has become a leading success story in revitalizing the local economy and expanding the resident population.
On November 6, the city announced that the number of people who have joined Onnuri Gongju Citizen, which is easily accessible to anyone via the internet, has exceeded 288,000.
This figure is more than twice Gongju’s population of 130,000 and is considered the most active outcome of online citizen participation among local governments nationwide.
The Onnuri Gongju Citizen program, first launched by Gongju City in 2008, allows anyone who loves Gongju’s culture to sign up online and enjoy the same benefits as Gongju citizens. This year alone, over 66,000 new members joined, marking the largest annual increase since its inception.
The city is expanding participation through a variety of channels, including promoting the program at major local festivals such as the Baekje Cultural Festival and the Gongju Chestnut Festival, as well as at local universities and businesses, and by running online events and campaigns.
Members receive benefits such as: ▲ 50% discounts on admission to major tourist attractions including Gongsanseong Fortress, the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong, and Seokjangni Museum ▲ 20-50% discounts on the four-season sledding slope and Goma Train ▲ 20% discounts on accommodation in boarding house villages, among others.
Additionally, members can enjoy ongoing discounts at more than 90 affiliated local businesses, including restaurants, cafes, and supermarkets, injecting vitality into the local commercial sector.
To further increase participation in the Onnuri Gongju Citizen program, the city is holding an Onnuri Gongju Citizen Quiz Event through November 13. Those who answer correctly will receive a small gift, and participation is available via the official Onnuri Gongju website.
Mayor Choi Woncheol stated, “Onnuri Gongju Citizen is an open citizen program that anyone can join from anywhere in the country. Through this initiative, we aim to attract more people to Gongju and create a virtuous cycle that revitalizes the local economy.”
Meanwhile, according to first-quarter living population statistics released by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety this year, Gongju City recorded an average of 556,728 people, ranking first among population decline areas in South Chungcheong Province. Last year, the city’s annual living population reached 7.79 million, ranking first in the province and third nationwide.
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