Suncheon-si, Formation of Resident Autonomy Committee Members... Signs of Overheating Observed

The Residents' Autonomy Committee Gains Increased Status and Role, Raising Citizen Interest

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Heated competition is emerging in a specific neighborhood in Suncheon City over the formation of the Eup, Myeon, and Dong Residents' Autonomy Committees, which will be fully operational starting January 1 next year.

In line with Mayor Heo Seok's pledge to realize direct democracy, the functions of the Suncheon Residents' Autonomy Committees have been significantly strengthened. Currently, Suncheon City operates residents' autonomy committees in eight Eup, Myeon, and Dong areas, with plans for full implementation from next year.

The enhanced functions of the Residents' Autonomy Committees include ▲consultation on administrative functions of Eup, Myeon, and Dong closely related to residents' daily lives ▲entrusted handling of administrative functions such as the operation of residents' autonomy centers that are not directly related to residents' rights and obligations ▲holding residents' general meetings, establishing village plans, organizing village festivals, publishing village newspapers/newsletters, and conducting various educational activities and events within the pure neighborhood autonomy domain.

Additionally, the Residents' Autonomy Committees hold the following authorities: ▲consultation authority: the right to consult on Dong functions closely related to residents' lives, such as small-scale resident demand projects, on an equal footing with Eup, Myeon, and Dong ▲entrusted authority: the right to handle entrusted tasks deemed appropriate for the Residents' Autonomy Committee, such as operating residents' autonomy centers within Eup, Myeon, and Dong administrative functions ▲residents' autonomy-related authority: the right to perform residents' autonomy tasks in the pure neighborhood autonomy domain, including holding residents' general meetings, establishing village plans, organizing village festivals, and publishing village newspapers/newsletters.

With the elevated status and functions of the Residents' Autonomy Committees, many citizens are showing interest in them.

To qualify as a committee member, a person must be at least 16 years old as of the date of recommendation or public recruitment and meet one of the following criteria: ▲registered resident in the relevant Eup, Myeon, or Dong ▲employed at a business located in the relevant Eup, Myeon, or Dong ▲an executive or staff member of a major institution or organization located in the relevant Eup, Myeon, or Dong.

The issue is that some individuals aiming for the chairperson position and certain organizations are showing preemptive moves to occupy many residents' autonomy committee seats.

There are concerns that these groups are systematically encouraging their members to attend pre-briefing sessions required for the residents' autonomy qualification education. Completion of a mandatory six-hour training is required to become a residents' autonomy committee member.

Currently, the operating residents' autonomy committees do not include members from neighborhood leaders (Lee/Tongjang) or functional organizations, but since there are no restrictions, members of these groups can become committee members. This raises concerns that members of specific organizations might dominate the committee or that it could become a battleground for power struggles between organizations.

A resident from Jogok-dong, Suncheon City, said, “Ordinary citizens have not been interested in the residents' autonomy committee until now, but this time, many members of specific organizations seem to have applied to attend the pre-briefing sessions,” expressing concern that “the residents' briefing sessions were not openly announced but were promoted only to certain organizations.”

A city official stated, “The situation differs by Eup, Myeon, and Dong. At the Myeon level, the residents' autonomy committee wants participation from neighborhood leaders, but the Dong level seems different,” adding, “We will actively check and respond to the concerns and personally visit and inspect the Dongs where issues are being raised.”

They also said, “We will thoroughly inspect the promotion and education of the residents' autonomy committee pre-briefing sessions to alleviate concerns.”

As the full launch of the Residents' Autonomy Committees approaches, there are voices of concern that those who view the chairperson position as a political stepping stone and the officials who blindly follow them may undermine the positive functions of the Residents' Autonomy Committees, whose authority and functions have been significantly enhanced.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.