Busan Metropolitan City has officially launched its citizen reporter initiative to promote the city's attractions from children's perspectives.
According to the city government on the 16th, the inauguration ceremony for the "2nd Children's Reporter Corps, Little Busan Reporters" was held at Busan City Hall's main auditorium on the 14th. Approximately 700 people attended, including Mayor Park Hyung-joon, the children reporters, and their parents.
The ceremony was organized to boost the pride of the young citizen reporters who will discover and spread Busan's diverse charms from children's viewpoints, while sharing future activity directions. The event included screening of activity videos, press credential presentations, a "Doran Doran News Special," and orientation. Notably, an "Activity Champion Reporter" who excelled last year presented articles they had personally covered, giving new reporters time to understand their upcoming activities.
The second cohort was assembled through open recruitment last year, comprising 314 members including children from multicultural families. The city increased this year's selection by approximately 100 from last year to expand participation opportunities for children. Over the next year, they will participate in various programs including monthly themed coverage, cultural and arts experiences, and key municipal site missions, reporting on locations throughout Busan and writing articles.
In particular, beyond simply promoting city affairs, they will serve as a bridge to document Busan from children's perspectives and communicate with citizens.
The city is also expanding distribution of its children's newspaper "Big Eye Doran Doran," published to enhance children's understanding of local communities. Launched in June last year, the newspaper has been published quarterly and distributed to elementary schools and the children's cultural complex "Deullak Nallak." Starting this year, distribution has been expanded to all elementary school grades.
The newspaper will feature various content including articles and interviews written by the children's reporter corps, newspaper-in-education content, and parent columns.
Mayor Park said, "I hope that the experience of children directly exploring Busan and writing articles will serve as valuable groundwork for developing their creative capabilities."
