Park Young-sook, Seo-gu Council Member, Says "'Dong Government Preparation Process' Should Not Be Unilaterally Pushed"

Published 12 Jul.2021 10:01(KST)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Shin Dong-ho] Park Young-sook, a member of the Gwangju Metropolitan City Seo-gu Council, spoke about the ‘Dong government promotion and preparation process’ and related matters.

On the 9th, during the 297th extraordinary session plenary meeting, Councilor Park delivered a 5-minute free speech, stating, “It is time to complete sufficient review, sharing, and preparation for the Seo-gu type autonomous model,” and added, “We must properly prepare for the Seo-gu type autonomous model to successfully establish the Dong government.”

She continued, “The Dong government focuses on administrative innovation to change residents’ lives and lifestyles by leaving minimal functions such as connection, planning, and support to the district (gu), and transferring authority to the neighborhood (dong),” emphasizing, “The district becomes smaller and smaller, while the neighborhood becomes bigger and bigger.”

She further explained, “Currently, Seo-gu is promoting the transfer of tasks to the Dong Happiness Centers and has conducted a full survey of the tasks to be transferred to the dong,” adding, “Fifty-seven tasks have been selected, including cleaning of side roads, management and operation of senior citizen centers, disaster management and safety inspections of buildings, operation of local children’s centers, crackdown on street vendors and roadside obstructions, and operation of cultural centers. When these are transferred to the dong, a budget allocation authority of approximately 330 million to 400 million KRW per dong will be granted.”

Councilor Park also proposed two points regarding the promotion of the Dong government.

She said, “According to the ‘Seo-gu Autonomy and Decentralization Promotion and Support Ordinance,’ the Autonomy and Decentralization Council is planned to be managed and operated by the Planning Office to strengthen resident-centered autonomy and decentralization capabilities,” but added, “However, I believe it is more appropriate for the Resident Autonomy Division to request the holding of the Autonomy and Decentralization Council.”

Additionally, she emphasized, “If we talk about the Seo-gu type autonomous model for the Dong government, it is urgent to enhance internal resident autonomy capabilities,” and warned, “Currently, Seo-gu is pushing forward unilaterally, and the composition of the Dong government seems to be a showy performance aimed at the next year’s local elections, which inevitably raises suspicions.”