Dongdaemun-gu Jeonnong 2-dong Residents' Autonomy Association to Host 'Youth Film Festival' Next Year

Selection of 11 New Committee Members and New Projects for Next Year Including 'Munhwa Youth Film Festival' and 'Small Joy Garden'

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The Jeonnong 2-dong Residents' Autonomy Committee, which acts as the main agent in deciding village matters that affect residents' lives and solving local issues, is entering its third year since its launch in the upcoming new year.

Although various village communities have existed, there have been many difficulties in revitalizing residents' autonomy due to a lack of authority and budget that residents can directly execute, as well as structural limitations that prevent autonomous activities.

As part of a pilot project to overcome obstacles to the development of residents' autonomy and to establish a residents' autonomy system with practical authority (Seoul-type Residents' Autonomy Committee), Jeonnong 2-dong Residents' Autonomy Committee has been deciding and resolving village issues by the residents themselves since January last year.

Using part of the residents' tax and citizen participation budget as resources, they created flower beds and murals along school routes that are narrow and dark, posing a high risk of becoming crime-prone areas despite many students commuting, thereby making the school commute pleasant and safe. They also provide essential but practically hard-to-access programs such as 'Smoking Addiction Prevention Education' and 'Coexistence Education with Nature' for youth, shaping the village according to residents' wishes.

These projects of the Residents' Autonomy Committee are decided by voting through residents' general meetings benchmarked on Switzerland's 'Landsgemeinde.' Members of the Residents' Autonomy Committee include all residents living or active in the village (dong), who participate in the residents' general meeting and have the right to decide the committee's projects for the following year.

This year, the residents' general meeting was canceled due to the impact of COVID-19, but the project budget that could not be used this year was carried over to next year, and new projects such as the 'Cultural Youth Film Festival' and 'Small but Certain Happiness Garden' were decided by votes of the Residents' Autonomy Committee members.

Although all village residents are members of the Residents' Autonomy Committee, it is practically difficult for residents to participate in decision-making and activities every time. Therefore, 50 residents who meet the qualifications defined by ordinance are appointed as committee members, make decisions through regular meetings, and lead projects as the core group.

Recently, Jeonnong 2-dong selected new residents' autonomy committee members to lead the committee from 2021 to 2022. Among the applicants, 11 new members who completed 6 hours of Residents' Autonomy School (online education) and were selected through a public lottery were appointed.

Including continuing members, a total of 49 members of the 2nd Jeonnong 2-dong Residents' Autonomy Committee are passionately working for a hopeful next year.

Kim Cheolsu, head of Jeonnong 2-dong 2nd district, stated, "Mutual cooperation with administrative agencies is important for effective residents' autonomy," and added, "We will create a Jeonnong 2-dong that residents look forward to tomorrow through active cooperation with the Residents' Autonomy Committee."

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