Shinan County has officially launched a participatory policy advisory committee, allowing citizens and experts to discuss local issues and propose policies.
On September 3, Shinan County held the first meeting of the 'Citizen Participation Sustainable Policy Advisory Committee' at the county hall auditorium, marking the beginning of its activities with the appointment of committee members.
The advisory committee consists of 53 members, including citizens and experts, divided into seven subcommittees focusing on rural renaissance, land and maritime transportation innovation, welfare and healthcare, stay-type tourism, renewable energy, communication, and women.
The committee's role is to incorporate expert opinions and local voices into county governance, identifying regional and sector-specific issues to develop into concrete policies.
The first meeting was attended by about 70 participants, including 50 advisory members and Shinan County department heads. Following the presentation of appointment letters and the election of a chair, the committee addressed 'high-quality stay-type tourism activation' as its first policy agenda.
The stay-type tourism subcommittee proposed strategies to increase tourist stay durations by linking Shinan's islands, marine, ecological, and cultural resources, ensuring that tourism spending benefits the local economy.
During open discussions, key issues included establishing tourism routes connecting islands, expanding accommodation and transportation infrastructure, and developing tourism products that reflect local characteristics.
There was also a suggestion to shift the focus of existing tourism policies from merely increasing visitor numbers to emphasizing how long visitors stay and how much they spend in the region as a key policy indicator.
Park Seong-tae was elected as the chair of the committee.
Park Seong-tae stated, “I will actively gather expertise from various fields and the voices of the 14 towns and villages to identify the policies needed for Shinan.”
Kim Tae-sung, the mayor of Shinan County, remarked, “Policies begin with the lives of citizens. By combining the wisdom of citizens and experts, we will connect Shinan's resources to stay and local economies, creating effective policies that reflect local voices for a sustainable future.”
Looking ahead, Shinan County plans to hold meetings for each of the seven subcommittees to identify local issues. Suggestions made in these subcommittees will undergo review and refinement before being incorporated into county policies.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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