▲ Residents of Inje-gun hold a protest rally in front of the National Assembly main building in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of October 28 to protest their exclusion from population-declining area designations and the classification of Inje into Group 2 of the Regional Favorability Index.
Gangwon State's Inje-gun has successfully led the government to make institutional improvements through its anti-government campaign, which aimed to prevent disadvantages resulting from its classification as a Group 2 region under the Regional Favorability Index.
According to Inje-gun, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety newly established a clause on additional support for areas of interest regarding population decline in the "Regulations on the Operation and Management of the Regional Favorability Index," which was officially announced on November 3.
The newly established clause specifies that the heads of central administrative agencies may provide additional support to areas of interest regarding population decline when necessary, depending on the characteristics of their respective policies and projects.
This clause was absent from the legislative notice for the enactment of the regulations announced on October 21, reflecting Inje-gun's continuous demands to the government for closing support gaps and establishing institutional safeguards in the final announcement.
While Inje-gun remains classified under Group 2 in the latest notice,
the establishment of this new support clause is evaluated as having laid the groundwork to mitigate potential support disparities ahead of the index reassignment scheduled for March of next year.
Following its submission of an official opinion on October 20 demanding improvements to the index calculation criteria and adjustment to Group 4, Inje-gun held a press conference at the Gangwon Provincial Office on October 22 to urge fair evaluations that reflect the characteristics of population decline and border regions.
On October 27 and 28, the county held a large-scale pan-county protest rally in front of the National Assembly, calling for a complete review of the Regional Favorability Index groups.
▲ Inje-gun Mayor Choi Sang-ki shaves his head during a protest rally held by Inje residents in front of the main gate of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, protesting their exclusion from population-declining area designations and the classification into Group 2 of the Regional Favorability Index.
Inje-gun Mayor Choi Sang-ki met with Minister of the Interior and Safety Yun Ho-jung on October 30 to petition for the readjustment of Inje to Group 4 of the Regional Favorability Index and the additional designation of population-declining areas.
During the meeting, Minister Yun stated, "We are actively reviewing the redesignation of the Regional Favorability Index groups and will ensure that there are no disadvantages in support and resident benefits arising from the group designations."
Recognizing that the newly established clause is not a fundamental solution replacing group readjustment, Inje-gun plans to concentrate its administrative capabilities to ensure the region is adjusted to Group 4 during the reassignment scheduled for March of next year.
The Emergency Countermeasure Committee against the Group 2 Designation of the Regional Favorability Index will also continue its activities while monitoring the government's progress on institutional improvements and group re-evaluations.
Mayor Choi Sang-ki said, "The establishment of this clause in the notice is highly significant as it is our first achievement accomplished by uniting with county residents, social organizations, the political circle, and the media," adding, "It is crucial to ensure that the newly established basis for additional support leads to tangible benefits that residents can truly experience."
(Photo courtesy of Inje-gun, Yonhap News)
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