Gurye-gun Announces This Year's Social Survey Results

Increased Satisfaction with the Quality of Life Among Gurye County Residents

[Gurye=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yuk Mi-seok] Jeollanam-do Gurye-gun (Governor Kim Soon-ho) announced the 2023 Gurye-gun Social Survey Report on the 30th, which identified social interests and policy demands related to the lives of the residents.

The social survey report, jointly conducted with Jeollanam-do, was based on direct interviews by surveyors from August 27 to September 8 with a sample of 828 households in the area. It covered 45 items across 17 sectors including households and families, income and consumption, labor and economy, consisting of basic, provincial-common, and Gurye-gun specific items.

Key results of the social survey show that among residents, ▲life satisfaction scored 6.7 out of 10 ▲frequency of worries scored 4.1, with satisfaction slightly higher and worries slightly lower compared to the 2019 survey.

The average monthly household income of 2 million KRW or more was 48.5%, an increase of 5.9% compared to 2019.

Average income satisfaction was 41.7% dissatisfied, 33.3% neutral, and 17.6% satisfied, with dissatisfaction higher among men at 45.8% than women at 37.8%.

A brief overview of Gurye-gun specific items by sector is as follows.

▲Regarding drinking water (tap water) usage, 33.7% reported boiling tap water before drinking, the highest proportion, and among reasons for not drinking tap water directly, ‘vague anxiety’ was the most cited at 77.3%.

The use of boiled tap water as drinking water was higher in rural areas at 37.3% compared to 28.3% in urban areas.

▲Regarding disease types, the most common illnesses residents suffered from in the past year were hypertension at 16.4%, arthritis at 15.3%, and diabetes at 7.5%. Compared to the previous survey, hypertension increased by 1.4%, while arthritis decreased by 0.6%.

Hypertension was more prevalent among men, while arthritis was more common among women.

▲As representative foods recommended to outsiders, Gurye-gun’s signature dishes were Dasulgi Sujebi (freshwater snail hand-pulled dough soup) at 27.4%, Sanchae Jeongsik (wild vegetable set meal) at 20.7%, and mushroom hot pot at 13.7%.

▲Policies needed for returnees to farming included support for integration with local residents at 20.9%, provision of farming information, programs, and counseling activities at 18.8%, and job information provision at 15.2%.

Support for integration with local residents was higher among women at 22.5% than men at 19.2%, and increased with age.

▲Among specialty products frequently used by residents, cucumbers were used most at 29.2%, followed by persimmons at 18.5%, and cornelian cherries at 17.3%.

▲Policies needed to revitalize the local economy were attracting companies and investment (government, private) institutions at 26.1%, expanding support for creating distinctive shopping districts at 20.2%, and modernizing and revitalizing traditional markets at 18.0%.

▲Improvements needed in civil service processing were speedy and accurate handling at 31.8%, simplification of procedures at 28.8%, and kindness of public officials at 21.0%.

The proportion responding kindness of public officials decreased by 9.7% from 30.7% in 2019.

The desire for simplified procedures increased with age, while the desire for speedy and accurate handling was higher among younger respondents.

▲Desired autonomous programs among residents were health at 32.4%, employment at 14.7%, and senior leisure at 13.7%.

Health interest increased with age, while employment interest was higher among younger age groups.

▲Policies needed to increase population were job creation through attracting companies at 30.8%, preservation of a clean natural environment at 20.3%, and provision of diverse cultural and welfare benefits at 15.4%.

Across all age groups, job creation through attracting companies was the highest priority.

An official from the county stated, “The results of this social survey will be usefully utilized as basic data for establishing major county policies in the future.”

Detailed information can be found on the Gurye-gun website under Gurye Introduction → Gurye Promotion → Social Survey.

Gurye=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yuk Mi-seok kun5783@asiae.co.kr

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