Seongnam-si Receives Minister of Government Legislation Commendation for Ordinance Promoting Children's Right to Play

Child-Friendly Playground Established in Botdeul Village Complex 7, Seongnam City

[Asia Economy (Seongnam) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Seongnam City in Gyeonggi Province has been selected as an outstanding local government for autonomous legislative activities this year for enacting and implementing the "Ordinance for the Promotion of Children's Right to Play," and will receive a commendation from the Commissioner of the Ministry of Government Legislation on the 21st.

Previously, the Ministry of Government Legislation evaluated 66 enacted and revised ordinances from 42 basic local governments nationwide based on usability, necessity, originality, and completeness, selecting excellent ordinances worthy of dissemination to other regions.

The Seongnam City ordinance, enacted on May 16, mainly establishes an institutional foundation for age-appropriate play and leisure activities so that children can enjoy a happy life.

Based on this, the city is carrying out a project to remodel standardized playgrounds in apartment complexes into child-friendly playgrounds that stimulate the five senses and imagination.

This year, the city conducted a child-friendly playground creation project targeting Botdeul Village in Sampyeong-dong and Sanun Village in Unjung-dong. Next year, playgrounds will be created in two additional locations.

The city also promotes a "visiting pop-up playground" that utilizes neighborhood parks or vacant lots as one-day playgrounds. The pop-up playground offers various creative play programs that the whole family, including children, can enjoy, such as recycled play and traditional games.

To develop age-specific play programs reflecting children's opinions, the city operates a Children's Right to Play Promotion Advisory Group consisting of five members and a Children's Participation Group (a child policy proposal organization) composed of 42 children aged 9 to under 18.

Necessary expenses are supported for nonprofit corporations and organizations carrying out projects to promote the right to play.

This is evaluated as a model ordinance that institutionally supports the creation and spread of a healthy play culture for children.

A city official stated, "The selected ordinance will be marked as an excellent ordinance by the Ministry of Government Legislation's National Law Information Center for one year and shared with other local governments," adding, "It will also be included in the 'Autonomous Ordinance Legislative Consulting Casebook' published by the Ministry of Government Legislation at the end of this month."

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