[Governor and Vice Governor in the field ①] On-site visit once a week

Discussions held in Daechudongi Culture Village, Suwon City, on January 20 for realization of successful ‘Ttabok Communities’

◇ Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil and Vice Governor for Social Integration Lee Gi-woo serve pork cutlets to residents at Ma-Don-Na Tonkatsu(meaning ‘Village-helping Tonkatsu Outing Place’), a social cooperative. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Yu Je-hun

 Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil and Vice Governor for Social Integration Lee Gi-woo made their first visit of the year to gather public opinion.

On the afternoon of January 21, Governor Nam Kyung-pil visited Daechudongi Culture Village of Jowon-dong in Suwon City together with Vice Governor for Social Integration Lee Gi-woo, Gyeonggi Province Social Enterprises Council Co-representative Gwon Un-hyeok, Social Economic Solidarity Council Operations Director Choi Min-kyung, and other related officials, and held discussions to determine means by which to build successful Ttabok Communities.

First, Governor Nam visited the Ma-Don-Na Tonkatsu restaurant (meaning ‘Village-helping Tonkatsu Outing Place’), a social cooperative, and experienced making pork cutlets together with Vice Governor Lee Gi-woo. Governor Nam covered the cutlets with bread crumbs while Vice Governor Lee fried them. 

Opened in 2013 with support from the Village Renaissance Project of Suwon City, Ma-Don-Na Tonkatsu is a for-profit business and social cooperative that returns all its profit to the community. The restaurant is popular for its date pork cutlet sauce, a specialty of Jowon-dong. 

Governor Nam then held discussions on the subject of ‘Building Successful Ttabok Communities’ at the Daechudongi Small Library. “Vice Governor Lee and I made and served pork cutlets to residents. In the provincial government administration, I will also serve the residents in the spirit of cooperation and coalition,” he said.  

Vice Governor Lee Gi-woo said, “A coalition government for residents is based on a spirit of communication, trust and cooperation. From this year I will make greater efforts to make Gyeonggi Province feel warm and inviting by undertaking an on-site visit once every week with Governor Nam.” 

An official of the province said, “As part of the action plan for the coalition government in Gyeonggi Province, Governor Nam Kyung-pil and Vice Governor Lee Gi-woo launched a program of conducting an on-site visit once every week, titled ‘Governor and Vice Governor in the field.’ The program is geared to approach common concerns of the ruling and opposition parties from the perspective of the coalition government so as to foster collaboration in developing solutions.”

◇ Governor Nam said, “I will make efforts to help the Ttabok Community project succeed by conducting more on-site visits.” ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Yu Je-hun

At the meeting, Daechudongi village residents requested: support for and comprehensive information about village community and social economy; establishment of parking lots within Jowon Marketplace; and support for the opening of a store in the KT baseball stadium.

Daechudongi Culture Village Council Vice Chairman Jeong Sun-ok said, “We’ve had a hard time because the education program for village communities was uniformly implemented. Please provide tailored support. We experience difficulties in continuity and consistency the officer in charge is changed in the middle of a project. Please help us to set up a long-term plan with continuity.” 

In response, Governor Nam said, “Gyeonggi Province established a new principle in personnel management under which those who obtain good results while serving in the same position for a long time are eligible for incentives. We’re going to make efforts to provide tailored support and to help ensure the village community project has continuity.”

Jowon Marketplace Merchant Council Chairman Jeong Yeong-ho requested support for establishing parking lots, saying, “Because of the residential parking permit program near and around the marketplace, customers are frustrated by difficulties in parking. An influx of spectators is expected from this March due to the KT baseball stadium, but it will be impossible to lead them to the marketplace without adequate parking facilities.”

He also requested financial support from the province for booth installation, saying, “If a booth is set up to sell pork cutlets in the KT baseball stadium, it will contribute to job creation and neighborhood income.”

Governor Nam said, “All expenditures undertaken by Gyeonggi Province are funded by tax revenue, so it will not be easy to provide financial support for the opening of a store or a booth. I will try to find a means by which to have a joint sales corner for social enterprises in the KT baseball stadium.”

Governor Nam also said, “I’ve visited a number of outstanding Ttabok Community villages and had talks with local residents. It’s clear that all of them are cooperating and on track for creating success models that befit each village even though they have experienced many trials, errors and may conflicts. I will conduct more on-site visits to improve the Ttabok Community project.”

Gyeonggi Province will continue to receive applications from counties, cities and residents, and will select candidates for the ‘Governor and Vice Governor in the field’ program.

◇ Participants of the meeting that day pose for a commemorative photo ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Yu Je-hun