Nosongjeong Village with 360 Years of History, Muan-gun's First 'Village Autonomy Association' Established

Residents Participate Themselves, Residents Lead Village Management

Bongmyeong-ri Nosongjeong Village in Mongtan-myeon, Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do, is drawing attention as the first in Muan-gun to establish a ‘Resident Autonomy Association’.

According to the autonomy association on the 19th, on the 30th of last month, residents themselves participated and organized to decide on village matters, lead projects, and established the village autonomy association by enacting and forming village regulations.

Seo Chan-ho, president of the Nosongjeong Village Autonomy Association, explained, “It was established to prevent privatization of village communal property, manage communal property transparently, and ensure that village project promotion is not dominated by a few loud voices but decided in a transparent and democratic manner to realize public interest goals, creating a livable and environmentally friendly village and generating communal profits.”

He added, “Nosongjeong Village has been an Icheon Seo clan village for over 360 years, and through village communal projects, it has generated profits by processing and selling traditional rice syrup and jocheong (rice syrup), distributing tens of thousands of won annually per household. We are continuously exploring more diversified methods to generate profits in the future.”

On the 30th of last month, residents of Nosongjeong Village gathered for a meeting to organize a community council.
[Photo by Seo Youngseo]

The village autonomy association can obtain a registration number for real estate registration from the county office, register village communal real estate under the association’s name at the court registry office, and receive a unique number from the tax office to open bank accounts at financial institutions, enabling transparent management of village communal property.

Relevant laws for village communities include the ‘Special Act on Improving the Quality of Life of Farmers and Fishermen and Promoting Development of Farming and Fishing Villages’ and ordinances enacted by Jeollanam-do and Muan-gun to support village community activities.

The criteria for regional community revitalization projects, which provide necessary support such as financial aid to village communities, require utilizing human and material resources of rural areas, contributing to job creation for farmers and fishermen, providing public services in rural areas, and being operated mainly by farmers and fishermen.

Article 10 (Projects) of the Muan-gun Community Support Ordinance states that the county governor may provide administrative support or project funds within the budget for projects recognized as necessary to secure residents’ income or pleasant living spaces, including △ resident-led village development planning △ improvement of residential environment and public facilities △ preservation of village culture, arts, and history △ cooperative activities using village resources such as fostering village enterprises, social enterprises, and cooperatives △ welfare promotion of village communities and support for related organizations and institutions.

Additionally, villages wishing to promote projects must form a promotion committee, reach resident consensus, establish a village development plan, and submit a project application to the county.

Baek Geum-pyo, secretary-general of the Muan-gun Village Community Support Center, said, “We hope that the approximately 460 villages in Muan-gun will form and operate village communities to improve the quality of life for farmers and fishermen and promote development in rural areas.”

Kim Kyung-hyun, chairman of the Muan-gun Council, stated, “Congratulations to Nosongjeong Village for establishing the first ‘Resident Autonomy Association’ in Muan-gun. We will provide maximum cooperation and support according to the ordinance on village autonomy associations.”

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