An online survey open through Sept. 30 asks residents to choose among five candidate projects — covering education, culture, residential support and more — and propose new ideas for how the fund should be spent.
Seongdong-gu in Seoul is conducting an online survey of district residents through Sept. 30 to identify Hometown Love Fund projects that residents will find meaningful.
The survey was designed to gather public input on projects proposed by district office departments before they are reviewed and selected for funding. The initiative aims to combine frontline administrative experience with actual resident demand to identify the most needed projects.
Respondents are asked which project they would most like to see funded through Seongdong-gu's Hometown Love Fund. The five candidate projects are: the creation of an "Education Support Center" to build Seongdong into a hub of quality education; the establishment of a "Creative Factory" as a mixed-use cultural base where creativity and culture converge; a "Crime Prevention Safety Kit" program for solo and women small-business owners to make Seongdong a safer place to work; a "Seongdong-type Hazardous Housing Improvement Project" providing tailored home repairs based on hazardous-dwelling criteria; and an expansion of "Smart Smoking Booths" to promote healthy coexistence between smokers and non-smokers.
Residents may select one project they consider the highest priority. They may also freely propose additional projects they would like to see funded, along with their reasons, allowing the district to gather a wide range of community input beyond the listed options.
The survey is available through the Seongdong-gu district office website's survey board through Sept. 30. Responses will be used for statistical purposes only, and no personally identifiable information will be collected.
Meanwhile, the Hometown Love Donation system allows individuals to donate to any local government outside their registered place of residence and receive a tax deduction along with a gift worth 30 percent of the donated amount. Funds raised are used for projects that promote resident welfare, including support for socially vulnerable groups, youth development and protection, and the advancement of culture, arts and public health, as well as the revitalization of local communities and economies.
"Since these are precious donations sent out of support for Seongdong, it is important that they reach places that make a real difference in residents' lives," Seongdong-gu District Mayor Yu Bo-hwa said. "We will carefully examine the needs on the ground and the opinions of residents to ensure the donations are put to the most meaningful use."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
