Kim Jae-won, Michuhol District Councillor, "Hometown Love Donation System Should Move Beyond Cash Gifts and Introduce 'Designated Donations'"

Kim Jae-won, a councillor from Michuhol District (People Power Party, Dohwa 1·2·3, Juan 5·6), strongly urged the introduction of a 'designated donation system' that clarifies the use of donation funds and develops gifts that reflect local characteristics, going beyond simple item provision for the successful establishment of the Hometown Love Donation System.

During the report of the Planning and Administration Committee at the 293rd Michuhol District Council temporary session held on the 29th, Councillor Kim encouraged the achievement of a 21% increase in the fundraising amount for the Hometown Love Donation in Michuhol District compared to the previous year, ranking third in Incheon, while calling for fundamental changes for qualitative advancement of the system.

Councillor Kim pointed out that "over 90% of the gifts in Incheon are cash-based, such as local currency, which is somewhat distant from the original purpose of revitalising the local economy." He cited examples such as 'Seongsim Bread' in Daejeon and 'Local Bookstore Book Exchange Voucher' in Busan Jin-gu, emphasising that "we must actively discover products linked to small businesses that reflect the unique character of Michuhol District, like the water pond in Yonghyeon-dong or the seasoned anchovy salad in Gwanggyo-dong."

In particular, Councillor Kim focused on the 'usage' of donations. He stated, "Donors need to know how their money is being used to feel a sense of reward and responsibility," mentioning projects such as 'Disaster Recovery Support' in Gwangju Nam-gu and 'Securing Paediatric Specialists' in Yeongam, Jeollanam-do. He analysed that it is necessary to establish a 'designated donation project' that sets a purpose from the donation stage to draw empathy from donors.

In the subsequent report on lifelong learning, Councillor Kim congratulated the 'Out-of-School Youth Support Centre' on receiving the Presidential Award, expressing, "I hope the positive influence is more widely known through the media." He also requested special attention to the recruitment and promotion related to the special lecture scheduled for March, saying, "As the community's expectations are high, please pay particular attention to the arrangements and publicity."

A district official stated, "We will collect residents' suggestions on how to utilise donation funds and will actively promote the fund project from this year, presenting differentiated products through a committee for selecting localised gifts."