Suwon City Operates Task Force to Establish 'Integrated Policy Development Model'

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Suwon City is operating a 'Policy Innovation Task Force (TF)' to establish a 'comprehensive policy development model that plans and implements.'

The Policy Innovation TF is composed of Park SSeung, Director of Planning and Coordination at Suwon City (chairperson), 6 researchers from the Suwon Ilbo Policy Research Institute, and civil servants. It plans to benchmark the model of the Institute of Urban Planning (IPPUC) in Curitiba, Brazil, which directly plans and implements innovative policies, and realize a 'Suwon-type IPPUC model.'

Curitiba, Suwon City's international sister city, is the city that first introduced Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and is well known as a model for Seoul's public transportation reform.

Brazil's Curitiba IPPUC, established in 1965, performs duties including △coordinating planning and implementation plans for Curitiba △regulating urban growth through appropriate distribution of urban activities △preparing comprehensive alternatives for improvement of social and economic conditions △restructuring urban structures through policies and guidelines △researching funding methods for realizing urban planning.

Generally, policy development is handled by research institutes, and the city reviews and implements the research results—a dual-structure approach.

The Policy Innovation TF plans to establish an integrated policy development model in which researchers and administrators collaborate to research, plan, and implement innovative policies. It will also lead urban innovation, rapidly formulate policies, and establish a collaboration system.

First, it will lead urban innovation by selecting key tasks from three perspectives: citizen-felt welfare, innovative growth, and alternative policies.

The citizen-felt welfare sector studies △presenting economic policy directions that citizens can feel △introducing circular BRT in public transportation-neglected areas △housing repair support systems.

The innovative growth sector discusses △campus town linked with universities △practicing carbon neutrality △bio clusters. The alternative policy sector includes △development model of urban policy citizen planning groups △solutions for traffic congestion areas △evaluation of major fiscal projects.

The Policy Innovation TF will establish a 'policy fast-track' that plans and implements, promoting pre-research, planning establishment, and budget compilation in an integrated manner. It will also create a system for immediate response when issues arise.

An integrated system of administration and research will also be established. The synergy effect is expected to be created by combining field administration of civil servants with theory from the research institute.

Suwon City Mayor Lee Jae-jun stated, "Through the operation of the Policy Innovation TF, I hope Suwon City and the Suwon Ilbo Policy Research Institute will cooperate to present a leading innovative policy development model," and added, "Please actively engage in innovative policy development with open thinking and a transformation of perspectives."