Uijeongbu city in Gyeonggi Province is partnering with residents to shape its vision for the next two decades.
The city held an inauguration ceremony for its "Citizen Planning Group" at the city hall's talent development education center on January 27 and began full-scale activities, officials announced on February 3. The initiative aims to incorporate public input from the early stages of the city's master plan project, which was launched in November last year.
The 38 citizen committee members, selected through open recruitment, represent diverse age groups and districts, ranging from high school students to homemakers and office workers. The Urban Design Institute of Korea is overseeing operations.
The citizen planning group is divided into four subcommittees: economy and industry; education, welfare and safety; culture, tourism and history; and urban planning, environment and landscape. Through four workshops, participants will analyze Uijeongbu's strengths and weaknesses and propose key strategies for the city's vision 20 years ahead.
"We will ensure diverse opinions are reflected by having citizens participate directly and indirectly in shaping our long-term future vision," a city official said.
The city aims to secure approval for the master plan by October 2027, following public hearings, city council consultations, expert advisory sessions, and urban planning committee deliberations.