Promotion of the 'Jongno Annyeong Index Rounding# Project'

Three Fields and Nine Subprojects Conducted Based on Mutual Cooperation Among Residents, Experts, and District Officials... 'Policy Making Field' Setting Resident Happiness as the Standard for Policy Establishment

2018 Jongno Happiness Index Resident Briefing Session 'Asking the Road to Happiness'

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jongno-gu (District Mayor Kim Young-jong) has prioritized residents' happiness as the top value in district administration since 2015 and has been implementing various related policies.

This year, building on valuable experience and achievements as a long-time leader in happiness policies, the district plans to introduce the 'Jongno Well-being Index Rounding# Project.'

This project is based on mutual cooperation among residents, experts, and the district office, focusing on ▲securing the sustainability of happiness policies ▲practicing happiness and improving happiness awareness ▲spreading a consensus on happiness through detailed initiatives.

Residents will play the role of proactive participants, experts will provide policy advice and proposals, and the district will be responsible for actual project implementation and administrative support.

Additionally, the project consists of nine detailed initiatives across three areas: ‘Creating Policies Where Residents Are Happy,’ ‘Redrawing the Starting Line of Happiness Awareness,’ and ‘Spreading a Culture of Happiness, Jonghaeng Mujin (鐘幸無盡).’

First, under the area of creating policies where residents are happy, detailed initiatives include the ‘Development of a Happiness Impact Assessment System’ to set residents' happiness as the standard for policy formulation, ‘Resident Happiness Survey and Analysis’ using happiness indicators, and the ‘Formation and Operation of the Resident Happiness Committee’ to set policy directions.

Also included are the ‘Happiness Policy Contest’ to discover policies desired by residents and participation in the ‘Council of Local Governments for Happiness Realization,’ where, as the standing chair city, the district leads solidarity and cooperation among local governments aiming to realize residents' happiness.

Next, the second area, redrawing the starting line of happiness awareness, is based on the belief that happiness requires learning and practice. Jongno plans to operate a ‘Happiness School’ by planning its own ‘Happiness Textbook’ and ‘Happiness Classes.’

Reflecting last year’s pilot project results, the district will continue the ‘Happy Books’ club, seeking and sharing the diversity of happiness through books.

The third area, spreading a culture of happiness, Jonghaeng Mujin (鐘幸無盡), includes operating the ‘Happiness Mailbox’ to discover and promote happy stories throughout the region and encourage more neighbors to practice happiness, as well as conducting related campaigns to provide opportunities to reflect on happiness.

Meanwhile, Jongno-gu established the nation’s first dedicated happiness team in January 2015, enacted Seoul’s first ‘Resident Happiness Promotion Ordinance’ in 2017, and developed the Jongno Happiness Index in 2018.

The district has also actively pursued the Jongno Happiness Dream Project, which discusses and implements happiness in Jongno based on resident participation, seeking practical ways to enhance residents' happiness.

In June last year, Jongno-gu earned the highest happiness index and the honor of being ranked first nationwide in the ‘Korea Happiness Map’ released by the National Assembly Future Research Institute.

The Korea Happiness Map was created based on the National Happiness Index, which uses eight areas: health and safety, environment, economy, education, relationships and social participation, leisure, and subjective life satisfaction.

Jongno-gu’s top ranking demonstrates the district’s consistent efforts under the slogan ‘People-centered Premium City Jongno,’ with ‘resident happiness’ as its policy goal.

District Mayor Kim Young-jong stated, “As COVID-19 has struck the world, deepening social polarization and inequality, and life has become more challenging than before, happiness has become a pressing issue of our time. We will always contemplate and research ways to realize happiness through policies and create a community where everyone can be happy together.”

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