Yeonggwang-gun Wins 'Welfare and Health Award' at Korea Local Autonomy Management Awards

Published 05 Jul.2023 13:43(KST)

Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Kang Jong-man) announced on the 5th that it received the 'Welfare and Health Award' at the '28th Korea Local Autonomy Management Awards' ceremony held at the Seoul Air Force Hotel.

Now in its 28th year, the Korea Local Autonomy Management Awards have been presented annually since 1996 by the Korea Public Autonomy Research Institute to local governments that have achieved outstanding results in regional development following the full implementation of the local autonomy system. It is known as the most prestigious award among evaluations organized by the private sector.

Yeonggwang County Office building. [Photo by Yeonggwang County]

This year's evaluation selected awardees through a rigorous four-stage process including two rounds of document review, resident satisfaction surveys, and interview assessments across six fields: administrative innovation, cultural tourism, welfare and health, regional development, industrial economy, and climate environment.

The county received high marks in the welfare and health sector for its resident-satisfaction-oriented policies such as establishing a smart care system using artificial intelligence (AI), providing incentives for paternity leave, supporting emergency patient transport expenses, and operating a dementia relief center.

In particular, it earned this honor by effectively implementing customized welfare policies tailored to each life cycle stage?youth, employment, housing, marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, and care?to overcome low birth rates and respond to the crisis of local extinction, achieving the highest total fertility rate nationwide for four consecutive years.

This is the third time the county has won the Local Autonomy Management Award, following 2018 and 2021, enhancing its status by showcasing its autonomous administrative capabilities and excellent achievements both domestically and internationally.

Governor Kang Jong-man stated, “Our county has a comparative advantage over other local governments with a comprehensive welfare system throughout the entire life cycle and the best environment in the nation for having and raising children,” adding, “We will continue to work with our residents to create a prosperous Yeonggwang-gun where everyone lives well.”