Gapyeong-gun was selected as an excellent local government at the 6th National Assembly Suicide Prevention Awards. Gapyeong-gun (Governor Seo Tae-won) was selected as an excellent local government at the 6th National Assembly Suicide Prevention Awards in 2024.
The National Assembly Suicide Prevention Award is an award given to excellent local governments that have made efforts to protect the lives of citizens in a reality where approximately 13,000 people end their lives by suicide every year. This award is hosted by the National Assembly Suicide Prevention Forum, a research group of members of the National Assembly, and co-hosted by the Citizens’ Coalition for Safe Living Practices and the Life Insurance Social Contribution Committee.
A survey by the National Assembly Suicide Prevention Forum, conducted annually since 2019, evaluated suicide prevention activities in 229 local governments across the country. This year, basic local governments across the country were divided into four groups and evaluation was conducted using 17 detailed indicators in five areas, including organization, budget, human resources, business, and suicide rate. Gapyeong-gun recorded a comprehensive score of 85.6 points, significantly exceeding the average score of the same group (58.7 points), and received excellent evaluations in overall organization, human resources, budget, business, and suicide rate.
County Governor Seo Tae-won said, “In a situation where mental difficulties and suicide damage are increasing due to the economic downturn after COVID-19, Gapyeong County will actively work to improve the mental health of local residents and prevent suicide through cooperation between the government and the private sector.”
Gapyeong-gun Mental Health Welfare Center (affiliated suicide prevention center) cooperates with local community-related institutions and organizations to: △Suicide prevention projects tailored to high-risk groups △Suicide prevention projects by life cycle △Operation of the Life Love Village to establish a safety net for suicide prevention △Blocking of suicide tools We are pursuing various projects such as the Life Love Practice Store and Practice Pharmacy projects for people.
Meanwhile, the wish of 63,000 Gapyeong-gun residents, ‘designation of the border area of Gapyeong-gun’, has become a reality. This is attracting attention because it is a great achievement achieved through the active participation of Gapyeong-gun (Governor Seo Tae-won) and residents in the ‘county-wide signature campaign calling for the designation of border areas.’
The Ministry of Public Administration and Security announced on the 12th that it will announce a partial amendment to the enforcement ordinance of the ‘Border Area Support Special Act’ starting on the 13th to additionally designate Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do and Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do as border areas.
In the meantime, Gapyeong-gun has similar geographical conditions to cities and counties in the border area, but it has been pointed out that it is a problem because it is not included in the border area and is therefore excluded from various support benefits. Accordingly, the legislative proposal includes the designation of Gapyeong-gun and Sokcho-si in addition to the existing 15 border areas.
If designated as a border area, Gapyeong-gun is expected to receive financial support of more than 25 billion won annually, including local allocation taxes, from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. In addition, even if a homeowner in a non-population-decreasing area such as Seoul acquires a house in Gapyeong-gun, which is a tax benefit of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance’s ‘second home special’, he or she is recognized as one home per household and can receive tax benefits such as transfer tax, comprehensive real estate tax, and property tax. This is expected to be of great help in improving the residential conditions experienced by residents, as well as revitalizing housing transactions and increasing the living population of Gapyeong-gun.
In order to quickly be designated as a border area, Gapyeong-gun conducted a county-wide signature campaign from April 22 to the end of June, leading to a high signature rate of 71.5% (45,370 people), which greatly exceeded the original target (50% of all county residents). paid it
In particular, County Governor Seo Tae-won and National Assembly member Kim Yong-tae met with the Minister of the Interior and Safety based on the results of the signature campaign containing the wishes of the county residents and requested active interest and support from the central government.
County residents also seem to greatly welcome the revision of the border area designation enforcement ordinance. Jang Dong-won, president of the Gapyeong-gun branch of the Korean Senior Citizens Association, said, “Gapyeong-gun should have been included and received support when the Border Area Support Act was enacted, but it is very unfortunate that it has not received the benefits for 24 years.” “I’m really happy that we have the driving force to do this,” he said.
County Governor Seo Tae-won said, “The designation of a border area, the wish of 63,000 Gapyeong-gun residents, is finally approaching reality. This is the result of the concerted efforts of our Gapyeong-gun residents, so first of all, I would like to thank the residents of the county and thank them for their hard work in designating the Gapyeong-gun border area. “I would like to express my gratitude to the government officials, including the Department,” he said.
The Ministry of Public Administration and Security completed preliminary consultations with related ministries such as the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs last October, and will collect various opinions from stakeholders, including the public and related organizations, during the 40-day legislative notice period until January 22 next year. It is planned to be reflected in the revised bill.
Economy Queen Choi Hana reporter photo Gapyeong-gun
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