[Interview] Lee Hyun-jae, Chair of Suncheon City Council Budget Committee, Pledges to Be a Hands-On Council Member Working Closely with Residents

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] We met Lee Hyun-jae, a member of the Suncheon City Council (Jeojeon, Jangcheon, Pungdeok), who, at a young age in his early 40s, has been reappointed as the chair of the Budget and Accounts Committee of the Suncheon City Council and is receiving evaluations as "rational" from the council and public officials, to hear his reflections on the first half of the council's two-year term and his determination for the second half.

Q. How do you feel about completing the first two years of the council as a first-term member?

A. Having been involved in civil society activities, I entered the institutional framework of the council and worked there. During the first half of the council, I focused on enacting various ordinances that had not borne fruit through civil society activities and, as the chair of the Budget and Accounts Committee, improving the efficiency of Suncheon City's budget usage.

Q. Could you tell us about the most rewarding activities or ordinance proposals during your two years of legislative work?

A. The basic role of a council member is legislative activity through ordinance proposals. I proposed the "Ordinance on Support for Tourists with Disabilities and Others and the Creation of a Tourism Environment in Suncheon City," which aims to improve the rights and interests of socially vulnerable groups, and recently, the "Partial Amendment to the Ordinance on the Revitalization of Social Economy in Suncheon City" as a representative proposer.

One rewarding event that comes to mind is last year when I, along with Mayor Heo Seok, met with Presidential Chief of Staff Noh Young-min to assist in attracting the "2019 Korea Balanced Development Expo," which was held for the first time by a local government.

Q. Among local issues, what was the most prioritized project you promoted?

A. The Pungdeok, Jeojeon, and Jangcheon areas in my constituency are preparing for a second leap forward through urban regeneration projects such as station areas, general neighborhoods, and central commercial districts. Through a recent city administration inquiry, the construction of a new city hall was confirmed, and I proposed building a library and a national sports center on top of the Pungdeok drainage pump station. These projects have been confirmed, enabling the creation of much-needed infrastructure in the old downtown area.

Q. How would you self-evaluate your campaign promises to the citizens?

A. Including the previously mentioned projects, promises such as creating an ecological playground in the Greenway section of Pungdeok-dong, expanding urban gas supply within the constituency, and constructing a health lifestyle support center are currently underway. I will work hard to achieve a 100% fulfillment rate of my campaign promises.

Q. What are your thoughts and priorities for the second half of the council?

A. There are many tasks to be done in the old downtown area. I want to focus on pushing forward and supplementing current issues and key projects, including campaign promises, and spend the remaining two years working closely with residents, brainstorming and actively engaging on the ground to complete these efforts.

Q. Lastly, do you have any message for the citizens?

A. I feel that I have been running tirelessly over the past two years. While working inside the council, I think I may not have visited residents as often as I should have.

In the remaining two years, I will frequently visit local residents, finalize ongoing local projects, and strive to transform Suncheon from a pass-through tourist spot into a destination where visitors want to stay, revitalizing the local commercial district. I will devote all my capabilities to making Suncheon such a city.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.