After being selected as a trial city for a Women-friendly City in 2010, Cheongju has pushed ahead with its policies, which are aiming to achieve fifty themes in five major areas: Work and Family Coexistence, Capability and Health, Gender Equality, Participation of Policy, and Daily Living. A Women-friendly City is not only for women, but rather a safe and convenient city for all ages and social groups because it means that the women' angle is reflected more on the city. Kim Dong-ok, an official in the Department of Women Affinity, said, “Cheongju, aiming to form a women-friendly city by 2014, divided the plan into three stages and has sequentially implemented it. Until last year, it was the second stage, the stage of development.  As some main trials, Cheongju appointed 60 experts as a Women-friendly City Bureau, introduced women-friendly taxis called ‘pink taxis’, established a women-friendly public park(Bae Ti Park) located in Gaesin-dong and installed mirrors in the bus stations.”
  This year, Cheongju is in its final stages of becoming a women-friendly city and must complete this project by 2014. They laid down the central policy as follows. Firstly, Cheongju will carry out the policy about the application of Standards for Women-friendly Building Design. They also plan to enforce a policy of Creating Crime-Safe Environments, especially for safety in blind spots such as parks and dark alleys at night. Lastly, Cheongju will soon introduce the Certificate and Agreement for Women Friendly Corporation which will establish staggered commuting system and a culture of gender equality.
  Lee Kyung-Seon(27, Bokdae-dong) said, “A few months ago, whenever I took a taxi, I felt very anxious due to crimes related with taxis. However, a pink taxi makes me more relieved because it is officially managed by Cheongju city.” Choi Hye-ri(22, Pyeongtaek-si) said, “I had never seen that mirrored bus stop anywhere except in Cheongju. I think it is very useful. While I am waiting for the bus at night, I can be wary of suspicious people because I can know who is standing behind me through the mirror.” She also mentioned a wish, “I totally agree with the good intention, but there are few benefits for university students. I hope they will create policies on the standpoint of students.” Cheongju announced that they would implement more practical policies as it moves into in the last stage of becoming a Women-friendly City.

By Lee Su-ji
sj34@cbnu.ac.kr