Gunsan, South Korea — On February 19, Gunsan City held the “Gunsan Basic Society Citizen Advisory Group Launch Ceremony” and announced that it will begin actively identifying Basic Society policies centred on citizen participation.
The “Basic Society” is a national government innovation initiative aimed at ensuring that everyone can maintain a dignified life. It seeks to guarantee a minimum standard of living through support from the state and society so that people can enjoy stable lives and diverse opportunities.
To realise such a Basic Society, Gunsan City decided to reflect citizens’ life experiences and opinions in policy development and therefore launched the “Basic Society Citizen Advisory Group,” consisting of 20 members, including citizens and advisory experts.
The launch ceremony began with the presentation of appointment certificates, followed by a briefing on the Basic Society operational plan, a “Relay of Citizen Voices,” and the formation of thematic subcommittees.
In particular, during the “Relay of Citizen Voices” session, members shared their perspectives on the need for a Basic Society based on their everyday experiences and expressed their expectations for related policies in Gunsan, helping to build a sense of shared understanding.
To ensure the effective operation of the group—such as collecting citizen opinions, discovering policy ideas, and promoting awareness of the Basic Society—the City also organised several subcommittees.
Members then began discussions within each subcommittee, engaging in in-depth deliberations on specific agendas and operational plans for their activities over the coming year.
Mayor Im June Kang of Gunsan City stated, “A Gunsan-style Basic Society begins with everyday challenges faced by citizens, such as gaps in care, housing insecurity, and difficulties in mobility. Together with the Citizen Advisory Group, we will design a Basic Society model suited to the realities of Gunsan and create tangible changes that citizens can feel in their daily lives.”
Meanwhile, Gunsan City plans to continue identifying life-centred Basic Society policies through the Citizen Advisory Group and gradually establish a citizen-participatory policy implementation system. Starting in March, the City will also begin subcommittee activities and operate a Basic Society Citizen School programme.
Presentation of Appointment Certificates to the Gunsan Basic Society Citizen Advisory Group
Group Photo with Members of the Gunsan Basic Society Citizen Advisory Group
