The Cheongcheon 1-dong Residents’ Autonomy Committee, led by Chairperson Lee Myung-sook, was awarded the Grand Prize for Best Practices Competition at the 2025 Bupyeong-gu Residents’ Autonomy Committee Performance-Sharing Event. The committee, long recognized as a model organization within Bupyeong-gu, reaffirmed its competence and community leadership through this achievement. The award is widely regarded as the result of strong unity and sustained dedication among committee members.

Reporter: Jung Bok-hee

Culture Subcommittee Chief Lee So-jeong, who prepared and delivered the official presentation, was appointed as a board member of the committee in April last year and has been actively involved ever since. She expanded the book café into a multi-purpose cultural space and proudly highlighted the establishment of the “Creative Science Museum” as a key achievement that helped create a more vibrant atmosphere in the community, while also introducing the committee’s administrative office. Drawing on her previous planning experience, she conducted a SWOT analysis to identify local strengths and weaknesses and contributed significantly to documenting detailed project directions.

This year’s presentation centered on the theme of community-building, organized into four stages: drafting the blueprint, constructing the framework, holding the completion ceremony, and strengthening internal capacity.

Major initiatives included programs for relaxation and healing shared by both long-term and newly settled residents, building emotional connections through communication, expanding participation through generation-tailored festivals and assemblies, and fostering youth participation alongside collaboration between residents, government, and academia. A standout achievement was transforming the construction of the Cheongcheon 1-dong Administrative Welfare Center and the General Assembly into festival-like events, effectively raising awareness and encouraging natural participation. These efforts garnered strong interest and enthusiastic responses from community members.

“We have consistently shared village news through various channels, such as Kakao Channel, blogs, site studies and newsletters,” said Lee So-jeong, head of the Culture Subcommittee. “These days, residents propose ideas and actively participate in communication, which feels very rewarding.”

The committee expressed its gratitude, stating, “This Grand Prize comes on the merit of sincere participation and the successful formation of trust-based relationships.”

Cheongcheon 1-dong Residents’ Autonomy Committee is currently recruiting members for its third term by Friday December 12. Residents eager to contribute to local development and engage in community building are being encouraged to actively participate.