South Korean cities hold resident assemblies for local project voting

Municipalities in South Korea are launching resident assemblies to allow citizens to directly decide on local community projects and budget priorities.

In Siheung, assemblies will be held across 20 neighborhoods from August 29 to September 19. Residents will vote on the 2027 autonomy plan, which includes identifying local issues and prioritizing necessary projects. To encourage participation, the city is offering various voting methods, including on-site voting and online voting via the ‘Resident e-Direct’ website.

Similarly, Uijeongbu will host assemblies in 15 neighborhoods between September 3 and September 15. These sessions aim to share autonomy plans and collect resident opinions on village projects and the 2027 participatory budget. Following surveys and workshops conducted earlier this year, selected agendas will be reflected in next year's budget. Uijeongbu is expanding its public discussion forums and providing multiple voting options, such as mobile voting and permanent polling stations, to ensure accessibility for all residents.