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

Kim Jae-won, a member of the Michuhol District Council (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, Council Member Kim encouraged the achievement of a 21% increase in the amount raised through 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.

Council Member Kim pointed out, "Currently, over 90% of the gifts in Incheon are cash-based, such as local currency, which is somewhat distant from the original purpose of revitalizing the local economy." He emphasized the need to actively discover products linked to small businesses that reflect the unique character of Michuhol District, citing examples like 'Seongsim Bread' from Daejeon and 'Local Bookstore Book Exchange Voucher' from Jin-gu, Busan.

In particular, Council Member Kim focused on the 'usage' of donation funds. He stated, "Donors need to know how their money is used to feel a sense of reward and responsibility," mentioning projects like 'Disaster Recovery Support' in Nam-gu, Gwangju and 'Securing Pediatric Specialists' in Yeongam, Jeonnam. He analyzed that it is necessary to establish a 'designated donation project' that sets objectives from the donation stage to draw empathy from donors.

In the subsequent report on lifelong learning, Council Member Kim congratulated the 'Out-of-School Youth Support Center' for winning the Presidential Award, expressing, "I hope the positive influence becomes more widely known through the media." He also requested special attention to recruitment and promotion regarding the upcoming special lecture with invited speakers scheduled for March, saying, "As the community has high expectations, please pay particular attention to the arrangements and publicity."

A district official stated, "We will collect residents' suggestions on how to utilize donation funds and will launch a full-scale fund project this year, presenting differentiated products through a committee for selecting local specialized gifts."