Why Did Seongbuk-gu's 'Online Resident Autonomy School' Show a 90% Completion Rate?

Gu to Operate 'Online Resident Autonomy School' for 24 Days from 2nd This Month...Solid Education to Lay Foundation for Next Year's Expansion of Resident Autonomy Committees to All Neighborhoods

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) has completed the 24-day course of the ‘Online Resident Autonomy School’ operated to expand the Seoul-type Resident Autonomy Committee to all 20 neighborhoods.

In 2020, the Resident Autonomy School was conducted online due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, but to accommodate residents with limited internet access, small group in-person lectures were held a total of 120 times, organized by the expanded neighborhood community centers.

Supported throughout the entire process by the Seongbuk-gu Office Resident Autonomy Project Team, the Resident Autonomy School had a high completion rate of 90%, with 622 out of 692 residents who applied for committee membership completing the course.

The first lecture, ‘Understanding Grassroots Democracy and Resident Autonomy,’ covered the concept and system of resident autonomy, helping participants understand the organizational structure and goals of the Resident Autonomy Committee.

The second lecture, ‘Understanding the Seoul-type Resident Autonomy Committee Pilot Project,’ explained the characteristics, main procedures, and schedule of the Seoul-type pilot project through easy-to-understand case studies.

The third lecture, ‘Resident Autonomy Committees and People,’ addressed the committee system, the roles of members, and the attitudes and perspectives required for democratic operation of the Resident Autonomy Committee.

A resident who participated in the ‘Online Resident Autonomy School’ said, “The education was composed of content that helped me truly understand the activities of the Resident Autonomy Committee, which made it easier to focus. It is essential education for future committee activities.”

Seongbuk-gu, which concluded the Resident Autonomy School on the 25th, will complete the lottery for selecting committee members by December 10 and expand the operation of the Resident Autonomy Committees to all 20 neighborhoods starting January 1 next year.

An official from the district stated, “Despite the COVID-19 situation, the ‘Online Resident Autonomy School’ was successfully conducted with the participation of nearly 700 residents, laying a stable foundation for expanding the Resident Autonomy Committees to all neighborhoods. We will continue to listen closely to the voices from the field of resident autonomy and provide active support.”

Lee Seung-ro, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, said, “This Resident Autonomy School was an opportunity to confirm residents’ aspirations for grassroots democracy. I deeply thank all the residents who participated and hope that both the public and government will work together wholeheartedly to vitalize grassroots autonomy and vigorously open a true era of autonomous decentralization.”

The neighborhoods establishing Resident Autonomy Committees in 2021 are ▲Donam 1-dong ▲Donam 2-dong ▲Anam-dong ▲Jeongneung 1-dong ▲Jeongneung 3-dong ▲Jeongneung 4-dong ▲Gireum 2-dong ▲Wolgok 1-dong ▲Jangwi 2-dong ▲Jangwi 3-dong.

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