The National Assembly Futures Institute has been undertaking a research project that prioritizes the participation of the public in the identification of preferred futures and their accompanying policies. This approach is based on the belief that forecasting should be inclusive, involving the input of a diverse range of individuals and taking into account the daily realities of citizens, rather than being the exclusive domain of experts or government officials. This year, the study engaged 120 diverse participants, including residents of the DMZ border area in Gangwon-do, multicultural immigrant women in Daejeon and Sejong, performing artists in Daegu, young farmers in Cheonbuk, elderly people with disabilities and care workers in Kwangju and Ceonnam, and haenyeo (woman divers) in Jeju Island. The research aimed to elicit their hopes for the future and the policies necessary to realize them. Participants expressed a desire for more opportunities to participate in future forecasting.
Moreover, the study sought the perspectives of experts and social activists working on issues such as adoption, disability, poverty, livestock slaughter, and death, to gain insight into the kind of future society that should be pursued for the benefit of marginalized and vulnerable groups. Additionally, young people who were struggling to shape and pursue their own futures were also consulted. The study also heard from young North Korean defectors and learned about their aspirations while settling in South Korea. These efforts contributed to the preferred future presented by the National Assembly Futures Institute in 2021 and were critical in the pursuit of a “mature society that prioritizes the needs of marginalized and vulnerable groups.”
The study analyzed the current and future problems discussed by diverse participants, including marginalized and vulnerable groups, and young people, and examined whether they could be addressed through the application of science and technology. In this process, close collaboration was made with the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, and as a result, science and technology solutions were proposed to enhance the feasibility of the preferred future. The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute also co-hosted the “Future Photo Exhibition,” in which citizens submitted photographs that they felt represented signs of the future, which were displayed at the National Assembly Members' Hall.
The study referred to marginalized and vulnerable groups, who will become the majority in the future, as “emerging citizens.” The problems they currently face are likely to become more widespread in society, and their actions offer a glimpse into alternative futures. The study argues that policies that address their needs should be a priority for discussion. It is essential that the dialogue with citizens continues.
It is hoped that the results of this study will serve as useful foundational data for promoting alternative futures for society.
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