10-Hour Policy Debate 'Giheon Gyeonggi Workshop' Achieves Great Success... Leaves New Challenges

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon is taking a commemorative photo with department heads and senior executives who attended the Opportunity Gyeonggi Workshop. Photo by Gyeonggi Provincial Government

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] A workshop where key decision-makers at the level of department heads and above gathered in one place to discuss development plans was held for the first time in history in Gyeonggi-do.

On the 6th, Gyeonggi-do held the '2023 Opportunity Gyeonggi Workshop' at the multipurpose hall of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office, with 78 attendees including Governor Kim Dong-yeon of Gyeonggi-do, Administrative Vice Governors 1 and 2, Economic Vice Governor, Chief Policy Officer, Chief Political Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, Chief of Opportunity Gyeonggi, department heads, heads of public institutions, and provincial advisory committee members, the province announced on the 8th.

The person who energized the discussion that day was Governor Kim Dong-yeon. Before the discussion, Governor Kim urged breaking three taboos: breaking vested interests, breaking worldviews, and breaking inertia and lethargy, and spontaneously offered rewards by saying, "We will support overseas business trips so that benchmarking and policy development can be done based on the presentations of the selected excellent teams."

During the subgroup discussion time, he encouraged participants by visiting the 10 tables in turn. Governor Kim emphasized, "Let's see this as a start even if it is clumsy and disorderly. The biggest achievement of today's workshop is the socializing and skinship itself," and said, "Let's enjoy today."

The workshop, conducted in a 'three no's' format with no prior materials, no mobile phones, and no time constraints, combined with Governor Kim's encouragement, created a free and heated discussion atmosphere on site.

In the first session, titled 'Opportunity Policy Plus Blueprint,' focused discussions were held divided into ▲Opportunity Ladder ▲Opportunity Income ▲Opportunity Safety Net ▲Opportunity Power Plant ▲Opportunity Base ▲Free Topic, followed by presentations and comprehensive discussions.

In the Opportunity Safety Net subgroup discussion, the 'Care Exchange' policy was proposed as a solution to the low birthrate and super-aged society. The core of the Care Exchange is introducing 'Care Mileage,' where if one provides care to someone, they receive vouchers, and when they need care, they use those vouchers.

In the Opportunity Base subgroup discussion, proposals included mandatory employment of hearing-impaired drivers and designers with developmental disabilities in various public institutions, along with an idea to utilize the bunker, a military facility on the site of the former Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office located in Paldal-gu, Suwon City, as a storage for Gyeonggi-do-produced wine.

The second session, 'Signature Policy Discovery' free discussion, was conducted as a time to discover core policies that can solve societal problems and find future growth engines for South Korea and Gyeonggi-do to move in a better direction.

During the freely conducted subgroup discussions, ideas poured out such as ▲'Platform Worker Safety Opportunity Allowance,' which proposes paying safety opportunity allowances to delivery riders who have no legal violations for six months, have completed safety education, and are enrolled in industrial accident insurance to reduce social costs ▲a bold goal to convert all energy in Gyeonggi-do to renewable energy by 2035, and a net-zero (Net Zero, zero emissions) plan to distribute carbon tax revenues as opportunity income ▲'Opportunity Caregivers,' which educates existing caregivers in special skills such as massage and singing to simultaneously improve the life satisfaction of the elderly and the self-esteem and income of caregivers.

After the discussion, Governor Kim said, "Regardless of the quality or feasibility of the ideas that came out today, it was good that we could discuss together," and added, "I think today is the beginning. I believe that trusting collective intelligence and attempts to transcend the limits of imagination will change Gyeonggi-do and South Korea."

He continued, "I don't think just working hard alone will properly change Gyeonggi-do. The same goes for South Korea. Looking at the current situation of South Korea, although it may differ for each person, since I started public service 40 years ago, I don't think there has ever been a time when I was more worried about the future and prospects of South Korea," and said, "We must be prepared to sacrifice for the country and society that put us here. Anyone in public service, regardless of position or rank, will find it difficult to achieve results unless they pioneer on their own. In that sense, I think we made a good start today."

He emphasized, "Whether it is the Gyeonggi Opportunity City or the workshop, I want to try a new way in terms of working methods, procedures, and processes. Whether inside or outside the province, I hope we can become one team and work together for Gyeonggi-do, for the residents of Gyeonggi-do, and furthermore for South Korea."

Participants also evaluated the new style of workshop that broke the existing framework as refreshing and expressed expectations for the results that such efforts for change will bring.

One head of a public institution said, "In public institutions, we have only communicated with related departments, but it was good to meet all department heads like this and see how Gyeonggi-do operates as a whole. Also, it was refreshing to see heads of public institutions and department heads brainstorming and discussing frankly," and expressed, "Seeing the heated atmosphere of the discussion, I felt that many good policies would come out."

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