Gwangju Seogu to Foster Village Communities as a "Living Platform"

Public Contest in 4 Categories and 11 Sectors
Selection of 98 Groups with Support of up to 8 Million Won Each

Seogu District of Gwangju Metropolitan City is moving forward in earnest with the “2026 Resident-Led Village Community Public Contest Project,” with a total budget of 360 million won, to create a warm village ecosystem based on solidarity and support.

This public contest project will be carried out in 4 categories and 11 sub-sectors: ▲ Village Communities (Learning, Filling, Achieving) ▲ Apartment Communities (Learning, Filling, Achieving) ▲ Planning (Solving Social Problems, Urban Park Linkage, Cooperation Projects, Communication Rooms) ▲ Specialization (Women- and Family-Friendly Villages).

Seogu plans to select approximately 98 resident groups and organizations, and provide up to 8 million won in support for each group.

In particular, this year the district newly introduced the “Urban Park Linkage” sector. Seogu plans to transform parks into living platforms that combine self-governance, care, culture, and education, thereby expanding community activities closely connected to residents' lives.

In addition, the district will organize a dedicated Support Team for Village and Apartment Communities to systematically assist community projects from planning through execution. It will also operate on-site customized consulting services and an accounting support team (Botaem-e) in parallel, in order to enhance both the effectiveness and transparency of the projects.

Eligible applicants are resident groups and organizations consisting of five or more people who live in Seogu or whose daily lives are based in the district. Groups wishing to apply should prepare the required documents listed in the public notice section on the Seogu District Office website and submit them in person to the Resident Autonomy Division of the Seogu District Office or by email.

On February 24, Seogu will hold a resident briefing session to outline detailed implementation plans by contest category and to provide information on the village community consulting schedule. Any resident interested in the public contest project may attend.

From March 4, the district will also operate a Village Community Consulting School and on-site consulting for three days.

Kim Ikang, Mayor of Seogu District Office, said, “Despite difficult fiscal conditions, we have secured a budget for the village community public contest project,” adding, “We will realize Seogu as a kind city where people are warmly connected to one another, through a process in which residents themselves identify and resolve issues in their villages.”