Suwon Holds Second Deliberative Forum on Resource Recovery Facility

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] As Suwon City conducts citizen deliberation to determine rational operating methods for the resource recovery facility (Yeongdeung incinerator), the city held a second deliberative forum on the 24th to explore ways to operate the resource recovery facility rationally together with citizens.

The second deliberative forum held at Suwon Convention Center Convention Hall 2 was conducted through group discussions in which citizen deliberative panels and facilitators divided into teams to share results. The deliberative forum was livestreamed on Suwon City's official YouTube channel.

The discussion agenda included 'necessity of resource recovery facility and resident acceptance' and 'rational operating directions and measures.'

Following the discussion, a preference survey on the resource recovery facility was conducted among the citizen deliberative panel, and results were announced.

The preference survey items included: △What do you think about promoting the relocation of the resource recovery facility? △If promoting the relocation of the resource recovery facility, what do you think about improving the current incineration facility during the promotion period? △What do you think about expanding the support range around the resource recovery facility? △What relocation method do you prefer for the resource recovery facility? There were four items in total.

According to the voting results, 80.4% of the citizen deliberative panel (strongly agree 66.5%, agree 13.9%) agreed with promoting the relocation of the resource recovery facility. Regarding improvement of the current incineration facility during the relocation promotion period, 'strongly agree' was 20.2%, 'agree' was 28.9%, 'reserved opinion/acceptable' was 16.8%, and 'strongly disagree' was 28.3%.

For 'expanding the support range around the resource recovery facility,' 89.0% agreed (strongly agree 61.3%, agree 27.7%). Regarding 'resource recovery facility relocation method,' 'relocation to an appropriate location within Suwon (residential isolation area)' accounted for the largest share at 47.4%, while 'joint utilization with neighboring local governments through regionalization' was 38.7%.

Following the announcement of preference survey results, Suwon Special City Mayor Lee Jae-joon said, "I will transparently disclose information related to the resource recovery facility to citizens and set policy directions while respecting citizens' opinions," adding "I will trust the collective intelligence of citizens and operate city affairs in the form of direct democracy." He further added, "I am grateful to everyone who participated in the deliberation forum."

The city recruited citizens to participate in the deliberation from August 24 to September 2, received 908 applications, and organized 200 citizen deliberative panelists.

On August 30, the city held a 'resident listening session' at the audio-visual room of the resource recovery facility to hear voices from residents living around the resource recovery facility (Yeongdeung incinerator), and held the first online deliberative forum on September 17, officially beginning the deliberation process.

The first deliberative forum, which was livestreamed on Suwon City's official YouTube channel, was conducted through expert topic presentations, panel discussions, and Q&A; sessions. The Q&A; sessions were conducted in a way where the 'citizen deliberative panel' and citizens watched the forum and asked questions via comments, which were answered by Suwon City officials and experts.