"Suwon Citizens' Planning Group for Urban Policy" Resumes Activities After 17 Months

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] The 'Suwon Citizens' Planning Group for Urban Policy (hereinafter, Citizens' Planning Group),' a representative governance body of Suwon City that was launched in 2012 as the nation's first such organization, is reorganizing its operating committee and resuming activities after 17 months of suspension.

The Citizens' Planning Group suspended activities last January when COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the country, but is now resuming operations ahead of the implementation of the '2040 Suwon Basic Urban Plan.'

Accordingly, the Citizens' Planning Group held an appointment ceremony for operating committee members on the 24th at the central conference room of Suwon City Hall, establishing an operating committee composed of 33 members including citizens, experts, and city council members. Professor Yoo Soon-hye from Hanshin University was elected as co-chair, and appointment certificates were awarded to 31 private sector operating committee members.

The Citizens' Planning Group plans to hold an operating meeting next month to reorganize its members and discuss future directions in detail.

In particular, the group will play a role in presenting opinions during the formulation of the basic urban concepts for the '2040 Suwon Basic Urban Plan,' and based on the gathering and discussion of citizen opinions, will present the future vision of Suwon City that citizens desire.

The 'Suwon Basic Urban Plan' is the highest-level spatial plan that presents the city's long-term development direction, consisting of a comprehensive plan, a 'policy plan' that presents Suwon City's future vision, and a 'strategic plan' that presents efficient urban management strategies.

The Citizens' Planning Group is where citizens participate in urban planning to envision the city's future shape, and members are selected through public recruitment and recommendations from civic organizations. It is composed of approximately 500 members including citizens, city council members, civic organization members, students, and experts.

In 2012, it participated in the establishment of the '2030 Suwon Basic Urban Plan,' and when there were issues in urban planning, it held roundtable discussions to actively present opinions. The group presented citizen opinions on major urban planning issues such as ▲the construction of Suwon Convention Center ▲the development of Yeounghung Park ▲the redevelopment of the sex trade district near Suwon Station ▲the setting of urban planning directions to reduce fine dust.

Meanwhile, the Citizens' Planning Group has been recognized for its excellence both domestically and internationally, being featured in the elementary school 4th grade national curriculum textbook, receiving the UN-HABITAT Award, the Urban Award hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Local Government Policy Award, establishing itself as Suwon City's representative citizen-centered urban planning system.