Osan Expands Pilot Implementation of Neighborhood Councils

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Osan City announced on the 31st that starting January next year, it will expand the pilot implementation areas of neighborhood councils—which play a central role in realizing grassroots resident autonomy—from the existing 1 district to 3 districts.

Neighborhood councils serve as resident representative bodies for local communities at the district level. They establish autonomous plans encompassing various local issues and possess substantive authority and roles in implementing these plans through democratic decision-making processes such as resident assemblies, thereby establishing public accountability.

In September, the city undertook a complete revision of the "Osan City Neighborhood Council Pilot Implementation and Installation and Operation Ordinance" and selected Jung-ang District and Chopyeong District as pilot implementation areas. From November through December, the city operated member recruitment and neighborhood council education programs for approximately one month.

A total of 51 people (25 from Jung-ang District and 26 from Chopyeong District) were appointed as members of the first Neighborhood Councils. They will serve two-year terms from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022.

Osan Mayor Kwak Sang-wook stated, "In line with the government's decentralization policy, we will expand the transition to neighborhood councils and serve as a dependable support for residents to actively deliberate on and resolve community issues," adding, "I hope that you will take a pioneering role in driving the development of resident autonomy in Osan City going forward."

Meanwhile, after the launch of neighborhood councils, each council plans to sequentially promote the election of officers and establishment of operating guidelines, formation of departments, and establishment of autonomous plans. The city will provide customized support for problem-solving oriented autonomous capacity-building education for each district.