The Presidential Commission on Architecture Policy will hold a forum on the theme of "30 years of local autonomy, spatial democracy" on the 14th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, jointly with Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers Han Jun-ho, Kim Seong-hoe, and Jo Gye-won.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the forum was organized to seek new directions for realizing democracy in the spatial realm amid the flow of change that has followed "K-democracy" and economic democratization, marking 30 years since the implementation of local autonomy.
At the forum, experts from various fields will define spatial democracy as a core value applicable across society and discuss ways to reflect changing times and diverse perspectives.
First, the main presentations set out the need to realize democracy in everyday spaces where the dignity of the people and constitutional values are embodied, improvements to urban-space decision-making systems that strengthen citizen participation, and a transition in spatial policy that considers accessibility, openness, and publicness.
In the general discussion, participants will view the city as a venue for citizens' lives and democracy and discuss ways to realize spatial democracy through the restoration of citizenship and community, and the fair distribution and opening of public spaces.
Kim Jin-ae, Chairperson of the Presidential Commission on Architecture Policy, is expected to note that "we need to reflect on the symbolism of returning the presidential office to Cheong Wa Dae, whose space the square belongs to, and the problem of uniform design in regional space development."
Kim added, "The core values of spatial democracy are a sense of ownership over space, accessibility that allows anyone to reach it easily, inclusiveness that does not exclude, equity that directs investment and attention to alienated spaces, and the authenticity of space (symbolism and cultural character)," and said, "I hope this forum will be the starting point for a policy shift toward spatial democracy that allows people to feel a state of popular sovereignty in everyday life."