Gwangju City Expands 'Gwangju-Style Resident Autonomy Associations'

Five Buildings Selected for 4th Pilot Phase... Total of 39 Buildings Operated as Resident Autonomy Associations

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 14th that it has selected and will support five neighborhoods as the 4th pilot neighborhoods for the ‘Gwangju-style Resident Autonomy Committee,’ which will implement resident participation, communication, trust, and equality-based local autonomy based on the Gwangju Spirit.

The selected 4th pilot neighborhoods are ▲Hakundong in Dong-gu ▲Bangnim 2-dong in Nam-gu ▲Munheung 2-dong and Junghung 1-dong in Buk-gu ▲Wolgok 1-dong in Gwangsan-gu, and they will receive project funding of 390 million KRW over two years.

This pilot neighborhood selection was made by evaluating the feasibility of implementing the Gwangju-type model, the formation of networks with local communities, and the willingness of the neighborhood resident autonomy committees, based on recommendations from autonomous districts through their own public contests.

Accordingly, the number of Gwangju-style Resident Autonomy Committee pilot neighborhoods has reached 26, and among the total 96 neighborhoods in Gwangju, 39 neighborhoods?including 13 neighborhoods under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety model?are operated in the form of resident autonomy committees instead of the existing resident autonomy centers.

The ‘Gwangju-style Resident Autonomy Committee’ is centered on the resident autonomy center and places the residents’ general assembly, a decision-making body, at the top of the organization. It will carry out projects such as establishing village development plans, reducing food waste, managing illegal advertisements, and publishing village newspapers.

Kim Il-yung, Director of the City’s Autonomous Administration Bureau, said, “The Gwangju-style Resident Autonomy Committee realizes grassroots resident autonomy where residents become the main agents in solving local issues through self-determination and village activities. We will strive to support the pilot neighborhoods to activate the Gwangju-style Resident Autonomy Committee.”

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