Kim Seong-hee, Chairperson of Gwangyang City Council, on Gender Equality and a Happy 'Gwangyang-si' Where Children Nurture Their Dreams

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] "A city council member who performs duties like a 'strict' mother who is endlessly kind but wields a sharp disciplinary stick when necessary." This is what people around say about Councilor Kim Seong-hee, who has served as the chairperson of the 8th Gwangyang City Council during its first half. To create a happy city Gwangyang where women can have equal responsibilities and rights and children can freely nurture their dreams, we met with 'Chairperson Kim Seong-hee of Gwangyang City Council' to look back on the council over the past two years and hear her thoughts on the upcoming second half of the council.

Q. Could you please share your experience of the two years as the chairperson of the 8th first half council?

A. Looking back on the two years of the first half of the council, I feel I was so busy with many legislative activities that even having two bodies would not have been enough. There were joys and rewards, but also regrets and disappointments about activities that could not be implemented. However, it was a time when I ran with all my capabilities, and these were the happiest days of my life spent with the citizens of Gwangyang.

Also, I would like to express my gratitude to my fellow council members who worked together for a better life and happiness of our Gwangyang citizens after the opening of the 8th Gwangyang City Council, to the citizens who sent encouragement and support to our warm council, and to the hardworking public officials of Gwangyang City.

Q. Among the legislative proposals and ordinances during the first half of the 8th council, which achievement was the most rewarding?

A. I believe the 8th Gwangyang City Council has done more work than ever before. To create a better life and a happy Gwangyang for its citizens, we reviewed and approved 170 ordinances and enacted or amended 48 ordinances covering a wide range of fields such as welfare, education, safety, and culture and arts.

Among these, especially memorable and rewarding were the ordinances addressing social issues such as the ▲Gwangyang City Ordinance on Prevention and Support for Solitary Deaths of Socially Isolated Single-Person Households, the ▲Gwangyang City Ordinance on School Uniform Support to realize universal educational welfare, the ▲Gwangyang City Ordinance on Promotion of the Korean Language for the proper use and development of the Korean language by Gwangyang citizens, and the ▲Gwangyang City Ordinance on Support for the Successful Retirement Life of the New Middle-Aged Generation, supporting middle-aged citizens entering their second act of life.

Q. Among the current issues in Gwangyang City, what was the most prioritized project you promoted?

A. Since there was no tax office built in Gwangyang, many citizens and businesspeople in the region have experienced inconvenience. Therefore, I prioritized the long-standing wish of Gwangyang City to establish a tax office and successfully secured the 'Suncheon Tax Office Gwangyang Branch.'

Additionally, I opposed the evaluation criteria for selecting the candidate site for the integrated government building in the eastern region of Jeollanam-do, which were applied favorably to specific local governments, and urged for effective measures against companies that exploited loopholes in the air pollutant measurement system threatening citizens' health. I have strived to fulfill my role as a representative of the citizens.

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

A. Among the promises I made to our local residents, there are three main focuses.

First, to create an environment where women are respected and child-rearing is easy, I promised to establish a Women's Reemployment Support Center and operate an all-day childcare center within apartment complexes.

To this end, we enacted ordinances related to creating a women-friendly city and installing and supporting breastfeeding facilities, and currently operate an all-day care center within the Seongho 2-1st apartment complex, pursuing many policies with the vision of a women-friendly city.

Second, I promised to create the Jungma Youth Cultural Zone, a space where our youth can freely express their creative ideas and dreams. The Maker Space located in the Jungma Library area nurtures creative talents in preparation for the 4th industrial revolution and supports related clubs. The Youth Center and Youth Creative Space, scheduled to open in August this year, will provide various activities combining entrepreneurship, community, and culture and arts for local youth. In addition, many other policies for youth are underway.

Third, regarding the tourism industry, a new growth engine for our city, I promised the development of the Yi Sun-sin Bridge Beach Tourism Theme Street. Utilizing the waterfront areas around the Yi Sun-sin Bridge, including Gilho Bridge and Geumho Bridge (9.4 km), we are promoting various projects such as the creation of connecting paths, Sunshine Beach Park, and landscape lighting to make our city a representative cultural, leisure, and tourism destination.

Besides these, while some promises have been fulfilled, there are many areas lacking. I will do my best during the remaining term to ensure that the promises made to citizens are kept.

Q. What would you like to focus on most in the second half of the council?

A. Based on the valuable experience gained from 10 years of legislative activities and two years as chairperson, I will engage in more mature and productive legislative work. Although I have created ordinances for women and children and accomplished much, I believe there is still a long way to go. I will further develop the successful parts and supplement the insufficient ones, always prioritizing the goal of making a happy city where women have equal responsibilities and rights and children can freely nurture their dreams.

Q. What role would you like to take on as a city council member in local politics?

A. 'Household management' and 'politics' have many similarities. With the unique gentleness and delicacy of women, I want to be a 'kind mother' who embraces and comforts the hardships and difficulties of citizens, and also play the role of a 'strict mother' in pointing out and correcting the parts that the executive branch needs to fix.

Q. Do you have any favorite songs, alcoholic beverages, and what is your drinking capacity?

A. During difficult times, I enjoy listening to 'Sangnoksoo' by Yang Hee-eun, a song that moved me deeply and gave me strength to move forward.

My drinking capacity is about 2 to 3 drinks, and I drink Maesil Makgeolli made from plums, a local specialty of our region.

Q. Could you introduce a person you respect or consider a mentor?

A. Since entering politics, my spiritual mentor has been the late Mrs. Lee Hee-ho. She was President Kim Dae-jung's partner in democratization politics and a first-generation women's rights activist in South Korea, achieving many accomplishments in the country's development and women's rights enhancement.

I want to inherit the lifelong spirit and noble will cultivated by Mrs. Lee Hee-ho and work for the local residents.

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

A. While serving as chairperson, the motto my council and I upheld was 'field-centered communication legislative activities.' We aimed to see local issues from the citizens' perspective in their daily lives rather than through armchair discussions, even for small matters. This was possible because of the support and trust from the citizens.

The existence and goal of the Gwangyang City Council is citizen happiness. I have never forgotten that the role of a council member is to serve and represent the citizens' will. After successfully concluding the first half of the council, I will return to being a regular member and continue to show relentless efforts as your representative during the remaining term.

Due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, our region, which has many export companies, is going through a more difficult time than ever, along with the rest of the world including South Korea. Although the current hardships are tough and painful, as always, we will overcome and prevail over this crisis. I ask everyone to tighten vigilance again and thoroughly maintain personal hygiene to keep our region a COVID-free area.

I ask for your continued interest and love for the legislative activities of the Gwangyang City Council, and thank you for your trust and encouragement so far. I wish luck to every household of our citizens.

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