Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun’s "Citizen Decision-Making" Vision Pays Off, Wins Top Prize at Manifesto Promise Awards

【Financial News Suwon=Jang Choong-sik】Gyeonggi Province Suwon-si Mayor Lee Jae-jun has completed "citizen decision-making," a system in which residents directly take part in the entire process from drafting pledges to carrying them out, and has won the top prize for the second consecutive time in a nationwide evaluation.
Centered on "citizen decision-making," Suwon-si's policy approach is being recognized as an outstanding model for the manifesto movement. It has overcome the limits of top-down pledges and representative democracy, while securing momentum for pledge implementation that citizens can directly feel.
According to the Korea Manifesto Center on the 24th, Mayor Lee was selected as the top prize winner in the election pamphlet category at the 18th 2026 Manifesto Promise Awards. It marks a second straight win following 2022.
The Korea Manifesto Center selects winners after comprehensively evaluating the specificity, feasibility and public participation of policy pledges presented during local election campaigns.
This year's evaluation was conducted through first- and second-round screenings of election pamphlets and pledge documents submitted by heads of metropolitan and basic local governments nationwide.
Mayor Lee was highly praised for presenting concrete visions for Suwon's transformation, including half-price living expenses, an advanced science research city and a K-global cultural tourism hub city.
In particular, "citizen decision-making," which decentralizes administrative authority to residents and strengthens local autonomy, received high marks.
Before taking office, Lee received 213 policy proposals from 28 civic groups and related organizations. He also reflected 157 citizen ideas in his pledges through "Promise Story of the 9th elected administration," a citizen-participation contest.
In addition, the city is operating the "Suwon Great Transformation Task Force," bringing together experts, citizens and public officials under the goal of "Completing Suwon's Great Transformation in the 9th elected administration." The group is turning citizens' ideas into workable policies.
The finalized pledges will be handed over to the "New Suwon Committee," which will continue to monitor their implementation.
Mayor Lee said in his acceptance remarks, "I will expand the Saebit policies that protect citizens' lives and continue communication-centered administration with citizens to complete Suwon's great transformation."


[email protected] Jang Choong-sik Reporter