Formation and Operation of Yongsan-gu Women-Friendly City Resident Participation Group

Recruiting Over 30 Residents' Participation Group Members from Jan 18 to Feb 3 to Collect Opinions for Creating a Women-Friendly City... Mid- to Long-Term Plan to Be Established by July

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Yongsan-gu (Mayor Seongjang Hyun) is focusing its administrative efforts on creating a ‘Women-Friendly City’ this year.

As the first step, the district plans to form and operate a citizen participation group of about 30 members starting this month.

Any resident or business owner in Yongsan-gu who is interested in the creation of a women-friendly city and can actively participate in the group’s activities is eligible to apply.

The application period is from January 18 to February 3.

The areas of activity include four categories: urban space and safety, work and care, environment and health, and communication and culture. Participants will inspect and monitor various aspects of the local community, identify gender imbalance factors and inconveniences in daily life, and propose improvements.

The district will hold meetings and discussions by division at least once per quarter to collect these opinions and actively reflect them in district administration.

Participants will receive activity allowances (reimbursements) within the budget. The term is two years, with the possibility of renewal.

Those who wish to participate can submit an application form and a consent form for personal information provision via email to the district office staff (nalja622@yongsan.go.kr). Related forms are posted in the announcements and notices section on the district website.

A women-friendly city refers to a region where policies ensure equal participation of both genders, empowerment of women, and implementation of care and safety. Local governments that achieve certain results can apply, and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family reviews and selects them.

Last year, under the mayor’s directive, the district established a basic plan for creating a women-friendly city and partially amended the ‘Seoul Metropolitan Yongsan-gu Gender Equality Basic Ordinance’ to newly include provisions related to the creation of a women-friendly city (Articles 35 to 38).

The main contents concern the creation of women-friendly urban spaces and facilities (Article 36), establishment of a women-friendly city council (Article 37), and formation and activities of the women-friendly city citizen participation group (Article 38).

Along with forming the citizen participation group, the district will discover and foster women-friendly city projects in each department (dong) and provide capacity-building education for related officials and the citizen participation group.

Additionally, from February to July, the district plans to commission an external specialized institution to establish a mid- to long-term plan for the women-friendly city.

Mayor Seongjang Hyun of Yongsan-gu said, “Over the years, the district has carried out various projects such as women’s safe return home services, women’s safe parcel lockers, and security services for single women households. Building on these achievements, we will accelerate the creation of a women-friendly city this year.”

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