What Drives the Success of Resident Autonomy in Songpa-gu?

Published 15 Apr.2020 07:14(KST)

Songpa-gu, the Only District in Seoul Selected for Ministry of the Interior and Safety's 'Resident Autonomy Consulting' Project... Five Consulting Sessions Scheduled Until November to Set Directions for Resident Autonomy Improvement

Songpa Residents' Autonomy Committee Inauguration Ceremony

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su) announced on the 15th that it was the only autonomous district in Seoul selected for the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s “2020 On-site Resident Autonomy Consulting for Local Governments” contest.

The resident autonomy consulting support project was established to enhance the resident autonomy capabilities of local governments and to activate related policies.

The consulting targets are selected through a comprehensive evaluation of local governments’ efforts to promote resident autonomy, future plans, and potential.

This year, 26 local governments nationwide were selected, including Yeonje-gu in Busan and Bupyeong-gu in Incheon, with Songpa-gu being the only one from Seoul.

Accordingly, the district will receive a total of five consulting sessions by November this year from professional consultants dispatched by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

The consulting will diagnose and analyze the current status of the district related to resident autonomy and proceed by suggesting improvement directions such as △Resident Autonomy Committee Ordinance △Formation and operation of Resident Autonomy Committees △Financial support △Organization, personnel, and education.

Over the past two years, the district has included resident autonomy projects in the 7th elected administration’s pledges with the goal of “realizing direct democracy with residents” and has been accelerating their promotion.

In June 2019, the “Songpa-gu Resident Autonomy Committee Establishment and Operation Ordinance” was enacted, and in July, resident autonomy committees were piloted in six neighborhoods, introducing them 10 months ahead of Seoul’s roadmap. Currently, a total of 284 members have been selected and are active in Macheon 2-dong, Bangi 2-dong, Garak 1-dong, Wirye-dong, Jamsilbon-dong, and Jamsil 4-dong.

The district plans to expand the resident autonomy committees to all 27 neighborhoods next year by reviewing this year’s activities. Prior to this, based on this consulting, it will establish overall detailed operational directions such as the formation of resident autonomy committee subcommittees and the establishment of autonomy plans.

Park Seong-su, Mayor of Songpa-gu, stated, “Our district has the largest population in Seoul and a mix of houses and apartments, so various approaches were needed to establish resident autonomy. Through this consulting, we will prepare a resident autonomy operation guide suitable for Songpa-gu and complete ‘Songpa leading Seoul’ with residents as the main actors.”