The Chungnam provincial government is set to incorporate the voices of its residents into the social security policies it will pursue over the next four years.

On the 20th, the province hosted the "Public Hearing for the Establishment of the 6th (2027–2030) Regional Social Security Plan" at the provincial government conference room, with around 100 attendees including residents, welfare experts, and city/county officials.

This public hearing was organized to share the major implementation strategies and detailed projects of the 6th Regional Social Security Plan, and to gather diverse opinions from residents and experts to enhance the completeness and execution power of the plan.

Since April, the province has been pushing forward with the establishment of the 6th plan by analyzing the achievements and limitations of the 5th plan, reflecting regional social security survey results, and taking regional welfare demands into account.

The draft plan includes policy directions aimed at improving the quality of life for residents, such as establishing an artificial intelligence (AI)-based welfare safety net, strengthening life-cycle integrated care and health security, expanding self-reliance foundations including jobs and housing, broadening culture, leisure, and social participation, and preventing crises and isolation.

During the public hearing, Dr. Oh Jung-ah of the Chungnam Social Service Institute explained the progress of establishing the 6th Regional Social Security Plan and the implementation direction for seven major strategies, followed by presentations on key tasks including 35 projects in the social security field and 29 projects in the balanced development field.

Subsequently, chaired by Professor Lee Jae-wan of Kongju National University, a panel discussion was held with Professor Kim Yoon-young of Jeonbuk National University, Professor Kim Geun-tae of Korea University, Kim Min-jung, Director of the Dangjin City Family Support Center, and Park Gwi-won, President of the Chungnam Regional Social Security Council. They discussed the validity and effectiveness of the plan, as well as ways to implement social security policies reflecting regional characteristics.

Attendees shared various opinions for improving regional social security services and resolving welfare blind spots through a Q&A session, and also participated in an on-site preference survey regarding major strategic tasks and key promotion projects.

The province plans to comprehensively analyze policy suggestions and improvement opinions presented during the public hearing, review their feasibility and policy validity, and reflect them in the final draft of the 6th Regional Social Security Plan.

Koo Sang, Director-General of the AI Basic Society Health and Welfare Bureau, stated, "This public hearing was a meaningful occasion to materialize Chungnam's future social security policies together through the diverse voices of residents and field experts. We will closely review the opinions presented and faithfully reflect them in the plan to build a highly effective regional social security system that residents can genuinely experience."

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