Kim Dong-yeon Concludes 5-Month "DalDal Bus" Community Economy Field Tour Across All 31 Cities and Counties

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gab-dong] Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon concluded a 5-month community economy field tour called the "DalDal Bus" (meaning "changes wherever we go") that visited all 31 cities and counties in the province from August 20 last year to January 28 this year.

This tour, spanning from the record-breaking summer heat wave to the harsh winter cold, was an arduous journey beginning from the Gyeonggi Province Government office in Uidong, Youngtong-gu, Suwon City and visiting all 31 cities and counties. The total travel distance alone amounted to approximately 3,200 kilometers. During this period, the governor met with approximately 6,400 residents.

Through this tour, Governor Kim Dong-yeon fulfilled his promise to residents to "see and hear directly in the field, not through reports." Rather than simple visits or meetings, the province's governance operated continuously for the entire 5 months with a method of "listening → communication → resolution," wherein the governor heard complaints on site, immediately determined direction, and connected them to actual change.

■ Changes Wherever We Went... Approximately 300 Petitions Received, About 70% Completed or in Progress

During the community economy field tour, Governor Kim Dong-yeon listened to different issues in each region and presented different solutions. Changes began appearing "wherever the bus went," from the utilization of North Suwon areas that concerned Suwon City, difficulties faced by export companies in Pyeongtaek, concerns of young people met in Yangju, medical service gaps experienced by Namyangju residents, the peace spaces of Uijeongbu, to Siheung's biotech cluster. As of January 28, according to Gyeonggi Province's count, approximately 70% of the roughly 300 suggestions that emerged during the community economy field tour have been completed or are currently under way. Looking at several specific examples:

On August 20 last year, the first schedule, Governor Kim Dong-yeon rode the DalDal Bus to the Pyeongtaek Port Marine Center and met with automobile and parts company officials who were deeply concerned about tariff issues with the United States at that time. At this gathering, attendees requested "please lower the barriers for entry so small and medium enterprises can easily access various support programs," and just 8 days later, on August 28, Gyeonggi Province announced a tariff damage response policy tailored to field demands. The province expanded the scope of special management financing support for tariff-damaged companies from export small and medium enterprises to partner companies, and eliminated requirements on previous-year export volume when announcing various export support projects, enabling more companies to participate.

At a meeting with young entrepreneurs in Yangju on August 26 last year, representatives of young people from various fields, including online sales, manufacturing, and technology startups, made successive suggestions. At this gathering, the governor instructed his staff members to consider △technology-focused loan and guarantee methods △strengthening employment cost support △reviewing duplicate restrictions with central government support, emphasizing that "we must bring answers to everything discussed today."

As a result, Gyeonggi Province established a "Young Startup Cheer-Up Special Exception Guarantee" program that allows loans or guarantees based on technological capability or potential even without collateral or three months of sales performance, implementing it from the end of September. Additionally, the province has amended business processing guidelines on duplicate-restriction projects with the central government and is continuing to recommend to the government the provision of employment support funds when startups hire local workers.

During the Namyangju community economy field tour on August 27 last year, residents suggested changing the road designation of Provincial Highway 383 in the Wangsuk District. Since Provincial Highway 383 passes through a site under review for Kakao's data center construction project, building permits were impossible. The road designation change was an essential measure for timely ground-breaking by anchor companies like Kakao and smooth project implementation. Afterward, Gyeonggi Province consulted with relevant agencies including Namyangju City and LH, and in late December announced the decision to change the road designation of Provincial Highway 383, making ground-breaking possible this year.

At a residents' briefing session on December 4 last year for the expansion project of the Yanggeun Bridge on Provincial Road 98 in Yangpyeong, Governor Kim said, "We will prepare without delay and begin construction in February next year. The budget necessary to resolve this issue has already been agreed upon with the government and Yangpyeong County. We will work together for the development of Yangpyeong and proceed according to plan." The Yanggeun Bridge, which had experienced chronic congestion, is set for ground-breaking in late February, as the governor promised.

In addition, various residents' voices were realized as policy, including △enabling the use of local currency at all co-ops throughout the province (Anyang) △establishing weekend regular training for volunteer fire brigades (Siheung) △equal distribution of technical competition budgets between southern and northern regions (Yeoncheon).

■ Learning Kkae-kki Dance in Yangju and Moving Crabs at Hantan River... People Met Riding the DalDal Bus

Riding the DalDal Bus, Governor Kim Dong-yeon directly met with residents from all walks of life, including traditional market merchants, young entrepreneurs, youth, elderly citizens, volunteers, business leaders, artists, and people with disabilities.

On August 26 last year, Governor Kim Dong-yeon had the opportunity to learn the Kkae-kki dance, a representative dance move, directly from Park Jin-hyeon, an inheritor of Yangju Byeolsan Daenori. Sweating in the summer heat as the governor imitated the dance moves, when Park, the inheritor, said "this simple move is so difficult; imagine how difficult it must be to manage provincial affairs," the governor replied "that's much more difficult," and showed his support for young traditional artists carrying on the heritage.

The same day in Yangju marked the appearance of the DalDal Bus's first resident passengers. They were students and parents from Dodam School, whom the governor met at the Northern Disability Welfare Comprehensive Support Center (Northern Noorim Center). Dodam School is a special education institution for students with physical, intellectual, and autism spectrum disabilities. When mothers of the children with whom Governor Kim had an art experience asked if they could "ride the DalDal Bus," the governor readily accepted and boarded together. The governor, introducing Gyeonggi Province's opportunity income program for people with disabilities, pledged "I will definitely create a world where people with and without disabilities flourish together."

At Hantan River on October 14 last year, the governor lifted crabs with a young fisherman and confirmed the potential of inland water fisheries. Kim Eun-beom is a young fisherman who manufactures meal kits from fish he catches and sells them online, gaining popularity through YouTube videos. After returning from fishing, the governor helped load the crabs caught by the fishing boat "Wanggon No. 1" of Mr. Kim, who had just completed his day's work, into a vehicle, demonstrating his determination to firmly support fishermen's abundant catches.

In Donghcheon on October 16 last year, the governor met Ok Hyun-il, a student who became a topic of conversation for his good deed of giving emergency money to a street vendor grandmother. Ok Hyun-il gave an emergency fund of 30,000 won to the street vendor grandmother during extreme heat and received a bag of beans, a story that gained attention. A video containing the kind act Ok Hyun-il performed quietly recorded 2.06 million views in just three days. The governor presented Ok Hyun-il with a citation, saying "the grandmother Ok Hyun-il helped is our mother and grandmother. I believe there are many Ok Hyun-ils in Dongducheon. That is the world where people live." In particular, the governor on the spot encouraged students to board the DalDal Bus, and about 20 students actively participated, quickly making it a "packed bus." When the governor said "this bus is one anyone from the province can board. We meet residents here and provide counseling. If you want something, speak up," the students unanimously shouted "Change us to a coeducational school!" and continued in a cheerful conversation.

Beyond this, the governor shared ice cream and conversation with elderly citizens at a heat relief shelter in Poseung-eup, Pyeongtaek, communicated with merchants while shopping at Tongbok Market in Namyangju, performed food service volunteer work at a free meal facility in Hogyeong-dong, Namyangju, and conducted side dish sharing activities for vulnerable populations in Siheung during Chuseok. In Seongnam, the governor organized laundry with self-employed workers and distributed kimbap at a snack business unit while promising improvements in treatment and policy supplements, showing his commitment to breathing with residents at the field.

After concluding the final community economy field tour in Guri City on January 28, Governor Kim Dong-yeon said "while running through all 31 cities and counties, I resolved various pending issues on site, and for the remaining issues, I will do my best to resolve them in the near future," adding "in February, I am planning the DalDal Bus Season 2 in a different format. I will create it well and continue my efforts for the development of Gyeonggi Province and its residents."