"Stop Hiding Behind Guidelines"… Haenam County Council Strongly Criticizes Executive's Incompetence

'Just Do Dream Center' Stalled for a Year as Blame Is Shifted to Higher Authorities

"Under Review"—Councilmembers Unanimously Criticize Repetitive Responses

The passive and inert administrative handling by the Haenam County executive body in Gwangju, South Jeolla Province, has come under scrutiny. During the welfare policy work briefing at the Haenam County Council on July 20, council members unanimously criticized the county's approach, accusing it of neglecting key welfare issues under the pretext of "waiting for directives from higher authorities."

The "Geunyanghae Dream Center," a key project pledged by the Democratic Party of Korea, has been stalled for over a year. Regarding difficulties faced in the childcare and care sectors, the executive team's response remained noncommittal, repeatedly answering only, "We will review it" or "We will consider it."

The 352nd Haenam County Council Special Session. Provided by Haenam County Council.

"Designs Are Possible Even Without Guidelines"... Assemblyman Min Chanhyeok Blasts Bureaucratic Inertia

The biggest point of contention during the briefing was the "Geunyanghae Dream Center," the number one pledge of the Democratic Party. This initiative, intended to support the replacement of fluorescent lights and repairs to convenience facilities for over 24,000 elderly residents aged 65 and above, has seen no action from the executive body for more than a year.

When Assemblyman Min Chanhyeok inquired about the project's progress, Kim Eunja, director of the Family Happiness Division, responded, "The manual for this project is not yet finalized," and added, "We will proceed once we receive the precise guidelines from the higher authorities."

Assemblyman Min countered, "It's not as though you have absolutely no idea how to proceed," suggesting the possibility of linking the project to the elderly customized care service (with an annual budget of 4.2 billion won) and the AI/IoT-based smart care program currently operated by Haenam County. However, the reply was limited to, "We will consider it."

Assemblyman Min also pointed out that while public childcare centers receive support for cooling costs and similar expenses, private childcare centers are excluded, stating, "Public centers receive support because there are guidelines; private centers don't because there are none."

He further condemned the executive body's lack of communication, noting its disregard for legal procedures (such as corrections to urban planning facilities) while proceeding with expansion work for memorial park auxiliary facilities without proper authorization.

"Excessive Regulation Ignoring On-Site Reality"... Assembly Members Lee Jeonghwak and Kim Misook Call for Better Working Conditions

Assemblyman Lee Jeonghwak criticized the regulation-centric mindset of the executive branch, calling it a step backward from the "universal care era." He specifically cited the challenges faced by care workers who are pressured to transport clients by vehicle.

When the executive team asserted, "It is inappropriate for care workers to provide rides, and the guidelines recommend against it," Assemblyman Lee replied, "Issuing only restrictive guidelines does not translate to improvements in the field. If this problem is neglected, the morale of workers will inevitably suffer. Therefore, a more proactive approach is required to resolve this issue."

Regarding the integration of childcare and early childhood education, Assemblyman Lee noted, "Our support is at an upper-middle level compared to other municipalities," and emphasized, "We must move toward bridging the gaps between kindergartens and childcare centers." Additionally, he suggested that efforts to regulate harmful environments for youth should go beyond merely cracking down on alcohol sales at bars, proposing fundamental improvements such as installing streetlights and CCTV in high-risk zones and dark alleys.

Assemblywoman Kim Misook also highlighted the "invisible workers" who sustain the care sector. Kim stated, "Chefs and drivers, responsible for the health and safety of the elderly, are indispensable staff members," and requested a submission of data detailing the employment status by job category and support measures for improving working conditions in long-term care and day care centers.

"Villages as the Core of Care"... Comprehensive Solutions for an Ultra-Aged Society

Council members not only voiced criticism but also proposed concrete policy alternatives. Assemblywoman Kim Mikyung referenced the Integrated Care Support Act, implemented in March of this year, emphasizing, "To address the growing demand for care, it is urgent to establish dedicated organizations and foster talent as part of building a stronger safety net."

She also suggested a practical idea to stimulate the local economy while supporting elderly health management—disbursing a portion of the senior employment project funds (around 290,000 won per person) in the form of local gift certificates.

Assemblyman No Junghee criticized the administration for not even assessing which of the 598 senior centers in the county lack separate rest areas for men and women. He urged, "It is necessary to investigate user numbers and facility conditions, prioritize renovations at the most inconvenient senior centers, and include provisions for gender separation in future facility improvement projects."

Assemblywoman Park Sangjeong presented a vision for a rural village-based care system. She asserted, "The wish of many seniors is to spend their final days in their villages," arguing that senior centers should be the core hubs for community care.

She called for an increase in the current new senior center construction support, which stands at about 180 million won, and suggested that meal support at senior centers—currently provided every other day—should be expanded to daily service to significantly enhance welfare and care quality for the elderly.

The central issue running through the council's questioning was the Haenam County executive body's pervasive "guideline dependency." Even matters that could be proactively addressed using existing budgets and infrastructure are repeatedly postponed on the grounds that manuals from higher authorities are lacking. The tendency to stifle on-site voices with regulatory measures and respond to council members' suggestions with evasive pledges to "consider it" is seen as undermining the essence of local autonomy.

Resolving welfare blind spots in the community and preparing for an ultra-aged society demands that local governments secure unprecedented levels of leadership and execution capabilities at this critical juncture.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.