Kim Rahn is the managing editor of The Korea Times. Since joining the company in 2003, she has covered various beats including the presidential office, Seoul city government, the Bank of Korea and the tourism industry. In 2014, she won the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) award for her coverage of the ordeals of migrant women in Korea.
Kumamoto revives city with residents’ support
By Kim Rahn
Kumamoto, a major Japanese city on Kyushu’s west coast, drew attention from participants with its exemplary case in an international competition to make their community a more livable place.
At the International Awards for Liveable Communities (LivCom Awards) in Songpa, southeastern Seoul, Kumamoto presented its successful restoration of a castle with its residents’ active involvement in the project.
The city encouraged residents to make donations providing them in return, with discounts for the use of its facilities, under the name of “lordship” of the castle. With the successful restoration project, the city made the historic castle one of the country’s top tourist attractions.
The castle was built in 1607 but destroyed by fire in 1878. Following restoration in 2007, it became a famous tourist destination, attracting 2 million tourists the next year.
“Among the total budget of 9 billion yen for the restoration, the city spent 3 billion yen. Residents donated as much as 1.6 billion yen,” said Jun Sakamoto, the city’s director-general of tourism, culture and exchange.
To boost residents’ participation in fundraising, the city recorded big donors’ names on the castle’s main building. “While we secured the budget, residents developed a sense of ownership and responsibility,” he said.
The donors were also given a point card named “Kumamoto lordship,” with which they can receive 10 percent discounts at facilities around the city including restaurants.
The LivCom Awards ended its five-day run Monday.
Ankara
Another notable city in the competition was Ankara, Turkey, which is led by four-term mayor Melih Gokcek.
Gokcek has solved housing and transportation problems and turned the Turkish capital into a more eco-friendly city.
He had a shantytown in the northern Ankara restructured into an eco-friendly residential area in 100 days.
The city also operates its Blue Desk support line Call 153, through which citizens can submit their suggestions on city affairs and receive feedback about their complaints, like Seoul’s 120 Dasan Call Center.