Namyangju Launches '100-member Citizen Reporter Group' to Share Local Stories Firsthand

Cover policies, hidden attractions, and neighbors’ stories firsthand
Trial run through year-end... Formal activities begin next year

The “100-member Citizen Reporter Group,” which reports on policies and neighborhood news in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, has gotten off the ground.

Namyangju Mayor Choi Hyeondeok delivers welcoming remarks to members of the “100 Namyangju Citizen Reporters” at their launch ceremony on the 30th of last month. Provided by Namyangju City.

Namyangju City, led by Mayor Choi Hyeondeok, announced on Nov. 1 that it held a launch ceremony for the Citizen Reporter Group at the Gyeonggi Media Center for Viewers on Oct. 30 and that the group has begun its activities in earnest.

The group was formed to establish a “citizen-sovereignty-based public relations system” in which residents directly identify and share stories about municipal affairs and their communities. The city selected about 100 citizen reporters, taking into account factors such as the population of each eup, myeon and dong.

From the perspective of residents, the reporters will cover policies and local changes and bring Namyangju’s appeal to light by finding hidden attractions, neighbors, and stories from daily life, including culture and events.

Mayor Choi and about 80 citizen reporters attended the launch ceremony. The program included the presentation of appointment certificates to the group’s representatives, an introduction to the group’s activities, and training to strengthen their capabilities. To reduce paper use, the city created and provided the appointment certificates as digital images.

Mayor Choi Hyeondeok and 100 citizen reporters pose to commemorate the launch of the Namyangju Citizen Reporters. Photo provided by Namyangju City.

Lee Youngju, head of external cooperation at Global Civic Sharing, led the training. Drawing on her experience at the Korea International Cooperation Agency’s public relations office and in the media industry, Lee explained reporting methods and effective ways to communicate information. She also introduced examples and led practical exercises on producing articles and content.

Jung Eunju, head of the Citizen Reporter Group, said, “I believe that even the small stories from our neighborhood that we often overlook contain information and meaning that someone may truly need.” She added, “I want to visit every corner of the community and share useful news and the heartwarming stories of our neighbors with residents.”

Mayor Choi said, “The people who know our neighborhoods best are the residents who live there.” He added, “The small changes in the community and the stories of neighbors that citizen reporters discover will help people feel closer to Namyangju and experience it as a warmer place.”

He continued, “This is a meaningful activity that puts into practice the ‘great transformation of Namyangju in the era of citizen sovereignty’ by having residents directly find and share stories about the city.” He added, “We will listen closely to what citizen reporters convey from the field and carefully look into what residents need in their daily lives.”

Mayor Choi Hyundeok encourages the 100 citizen reporters in their work. Provided by Namyangju City.

The city plans to operate the Citizen Reporter Group on a trial basis through Dec. 31 this year, then formally launch the first cohort from January through December 2027.

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