[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] A policy debate was held on the theme of devising measures to revitalize the Gwangju Metropolitan City Residents' Autonomy Association.

According to the Gwangju Metropolitan City Council on the 19th, the debate was chaired by Gwangju City Council member Song Hyung-il, with presenters and discussants including Min Hyun-jung, Director of the Regional Community Culture Research Center at the Gwangju-Jeonnam Research Institute, Kim Il-yung, Director of the Gwangju City Autonomous Administration Bureau, Park Gi-gwan, President of the Korean Local Autonomy Association, Kim Tae-wook, Chairman of the Gwangju Economic Justice Network's Autonomy and Decentralization Committee, and Jin Gwi-su, Secretary General of the Gwangju Residents' Autonomy Council.

Min Hyun-jung, a senior research fellow at the Gwangju-Jeonnam Research Institute who presented, proposed institutional measures for revitalizing the Gwangju Residents' Autonomy Association, including democratic representation and operation of the association's composition, establishment of autonomous district plans, and advancement of residents' general meetings.

Park Gi-gwan, President of the Korean Local Autonomy Association and a discussant, emphasized measures to enhance the status of the Residents' Autonomy Association regarding the enactment of a standalone law for the association, setting the scope of its jurisdiction, and membership qualifications and enrollment.

Following this, Kim Il-yung, Director of the Gwangju City Autonomous Administration Bureau, presented the current status of pilot neighborhood operations of the Gwangju Residents' Autonomy Association, as well as the 2021 strategies and tasks for promoting residents' autonomy revitalization.

Council member Song said, "The revitalization of residents' autonomy is essential to improving the quality of life for local residents," adding, "It is a 'prerequisite' to advancing toward a nation worthy of the name by further enhancing diversity, democracy, and efficiency."

He continued, "The Gwangju Metropolitan City Council will also devote all efforts to administrative and institutional support for the revitalization of the Residents' Autonomy Association."

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