71.3% of Suwon Citizens Support Local Administration System Restructuring

Among 1,044 Suwon residents surveyed, 71.3% responded that local administration system restructuring is 'necessary.'

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 25th the results of a survey conducted by 21st Century Research, a polling agency, on the 17th via telephone ARS with 1,044 residents of the Suwon area regarding local administration system restructuring.

According to the survey results, 71.3% ('very necessary' 25.5%, 'somewhat necessary' 45.8%) responded that administration system restructuring is necessary.

Additionally, regarding 'using an adjacent city name or a third city name instead of the city name Suwon,' 76.8% of respondents opposed it ('absolutely opposed' 52.6%, 'somewhat opposed' 24.2%), according to the survey.

This response result is interpreted to mean that should a consolidation between Suwon and nearby local governments take place, the name of the consolidated metropolitan city should be 'Suwon.'

Respondents who answered they 'know about' local administration system restructuring comprised 54.5% ('know well' 12.3%, 'know somewhat' 42.2%).

When asked about the most important consideration in the local administration system restructuring process, 'economic effects (53.2%)' was cited, followed by regional historical significance (17.8%), residents' feelings (8.3%), and the spirit of local autonomy (5.4%).

Regarding this, 21st Century Research stated, “The interpretation is that respondents acknowledging the necessity of restructuring, exceeding half, reflects a vague awareness that restructuring will be necessary to overcome the current economic crisis.”

When asked about the method of local administration system restructuring, the government plan to maintain basic local governments while reducing metropolitan governments accounted for 28.7%, while the Democratic Party plan to divide the nation into 60-70 basic local governments and eliminate metropolitan cities and provinces accounted for 14.7%.

Additionally, a compromise plan to reduce both basic and metropolitan governments accounted for 35.6%, and other plans accounted for 11.2%.

Regarding these survey results, a Suwon City official stated, “Suwon area citizens essentially support local administration system restructuring,” and added, “Even if a poll is conducted in neighboring areas, a majority would likely support restructuring.”

This survey was conducted with 1,044 Suwon residents through telephone ARS methodology, with a confidence level of 95% and margin of error of ±3.0%.