The 11th Jeonnam Provincial Council First Half, Realizing a Resident-Centered and Open Communication Council

All-Out Efforts for Local Economy, Welfare for Ordinary People, and Job Creation

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] The 11th Jeonnam Provincial Council in the first half of its term has been evaluated as having faithfully carried out the improvement of residents' quality of life, resolution of regional issues, and oversight and checks on the executive branch over the past two years, thereby enhancing Jeonnam's development and the happiness index of its residents.

In particular, to realize a dynamic Jeollanam-do Council that provides dreams and happiness, the council set key core tasks as revitalizing the local economy and creating jobs, enacting ordinances, and actively conducting forums and field activities.

◆ Legislative activities focused on people's livelihood... 75.7% of ordinances proposed by council members

Since Chairman Lee Yong-jae took office in July 2018, a total of 20 sessions lasting 261 days (5 regular sessions for 132 days, 15 extraordinary sessions for 129 days) have been held, during which 816 agenda items closely related to residents' lives, including ordinances focused on local economic revitalization and socially vulnerable groups, were processed.

Among the major ordinances processed were the Ordinance on the Stabilization of Living for Low-Income Residents, Ordinance on the Promotion of Student Health Education, Ordinance on Support for Public Late-Night Pharmacies, and Ordinance on Support for Farmers' Allowances, all directly linked to improving residents' quality of life. Of the total 442 ordinances, 346 (75.7%) were proposed by council members.

Additionally, 120 proposals and resolutions were adopted, including the Resolution Urging Improvement of Overcrowded Schools and Universities, Resolution Urging Prompt Amendment of Digital Sex Crime Laws, Resolution Urging Establishment of Medical Schools in Jeonnam, and Resolution Urging Amendment of the Local Autonomy Act, conveying the valuable voices of residents to the government.

The council faithfully fulfilled its role as a representative of the residents through core activities such as administrative audits, 5-minute speeches, and questions on provincial and educational administration.

In the past two years, a total of 58 council members participated in provincial questions, raising 159 questions to the provincial government and 74 to the education office, totaling 263 questions.

Among these, focused inquiries were made on measures related to unpaid farmers' allowances, promotion of the Mahan cultural zone development project, urging the sound operation of crop disaster insurance, youth crime countermeasures within the province, and Jeonnam's response plans for cities and counties facing population extinction risks. The council meticulously pointed out problems to the executive branch while also proposing policy alternatives.

During the Jeonnam provincial administrative audit over two years, a total of 819 issues were identified, including 38 corrections, 15 cautions, 242 improvements, 460 recommendations, and 64 proposals. The Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education identified 213 issues, including 11 corrections, 49 improvements, 141 recommendations, and 12 proposals, thoroughly overseeing provincial and educational administration to prevent any leakage as a representative body of the residents.

In particular, to strengthen budget reviews for Jeollanam-do and the provincial education office, the budget review period was extended from the previous 3 days to 5 days, and instead of reviewing budgets all at once, they were reviewed by departments and bureaus, enabling a more detailed and structured budget review process.

Regarding transparent and fair public official appointments, personnel hearings were held for the Jeonnam Development Corporation president in September 2018, the Jeonnam Welfare Foundation CEO in September 2019, the Jeonnam Credit Guarantee Foundation chairman in October 2019, and the Gwangju-Jeonnam Development Institute director (jointly with Gwangju City Council) in February 2020, thoroughly verifying job competence, morality, and values.

◆ Field-oriented... Active standing and special committee activities

To address the numerous pressing issues within the province through field legislative activities, four special committees have been formed and are operating, including the Yeosu-Suncheon 10.19 Incident Special Committee, Gwangyang Bay Marine Ecosystem Conservation Special Committee, Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant Special Committee, and Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Support Special Committee, alongside activities of standing committees.

Each special committee listens attentively to vivid voices from the field to establish policy support grounds and discovers and promotes projects with high synergy effects.

The Yeosu-Suncheon 10.19 Incident Special Committee has made significant efforts to enact special legislation by visiting the National Assembly and other institutions. The Gwangyang Bay Marine Ecosystem Conservation Special Committee actively urged countermeasures regarding the disposal of waste gypsum from the Yeosu National Industrial Complex and manipulation of air pollutant emissions, earning positive evaluations for effectively fulfilling its representative role.

The Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant Special Committee focused on strong responses, including on-site investigations of the Yeonggwang Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant and urging safety measures. The Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Support Special Committee actively held forums by inviting experts to promote inter-Korean exchanges.

Moreover, through various forums and research group activities, problems in provincial administration were identified and alternatives proposed. From October 2018 to September 2019, 19 forums related to agriculture, rural areas, education, welfare, and environment, 15 workshops, 44 field activities, and 29 meetings and seminars were held, totaling 107 communication sessions with residents.

Ten research groups closely related to residents, including the Rural Development Research Association, have been formed and actively conducting research activities, holding a total of 30 meetings and field activities.

Especially, to satisfy residents' right to know and ensure transparent council operations, live internet broadcasts of plenary sessions and budget and accounts committee meetings have been expanded since November 2019 to include seven standing committees, vividly broadcasting legislative activities live.

◆ COVID-19, proactive response

Facing the national emergency caused by COVID-19, the Jeonnam Provincial Council made every effort to protect residents' health through comprehensive proactive responses.

In particular, on March 16, to support residents of Daegu and Gyeongbuk struggling due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the council delivered Jeonnam specialty products worth approximately 15 million KRW known for boosting immunity. On April 3, it raised 6.45 million KRW in donations to help those in crisis.

The Gyeongbuk Provincial Council is a special region that has maintained a win-win exchange cooperation with the Jeonnam Provincial Council since 2016 and holds annual Yeongnam-Honam harmony events.

Additionally, to support emergency living expenses for low-income groups and stabilize the livelihoods of vulnerable groups such as small business owners and farmers and fishermen, a one-point extraordinary session was held, approving the 2020 first supplementary budget of 213.9 billion KRW for Jeonnam Province and 18.3 billion KRW for the provincial education office.

In the 2020 second supplementary budget, 10.7 billion KRW was approved for 14 special support projects, including regional employment responses to COVID-19.

Operating the COVID-19 emergency response headquarters, the Jeonnam Provincial Council visited traditional markets in Mokpo and Yeosu to conduct consumption promotion campaigns, held meetings to listen to merchants' difficulties, and discussed measures such as management stabilization funds to support small business owners and self-employed individuals.

◆ Comprehensive integrity rating rises by two levels

In the 2019 Integrity Evaluation by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, the Jeonnam Provincial Council rose two levels to receive a grade 2, regaining a top national rating.

The commission surveyed perceptions and experiences of corruption in local councils from July 2018 to the end of June 2019, the first half of the 11th council's term, and the council received the highest scores from local residents, who had previously rated it low, resulting in a two-level rise in overall integrity.

This was due to the council's enactment of a code of conduct for local council members to prevent corruption and its focus on practicing integrity obligations, as well as efforts to improve integrity through job training for members and staff.

◆ Cooperation and coexistence with the executive branch, resolving major issues

The council made great efforts to cooperate and coexist with the executive branch, including Jeonnam Province and the provincial education office.

Notably, it succeeded in attracting the Korea Electric Power Corporation University and securing a development fund budget of 100 billion KRW, transformed Muan Airport into an international airport by extending the runway, and secured budget allocation for the electrification of the Gwangju Songjeong-Suncheon Gyeongjeon Line through meetings with ruling and opposition floor leaders in the National Assembly.

This reflects the council's efforts to maintain stable provincial and educational administration through cooperation and coexistence, carefully balancing oversight and checks with the executive branch.

Furthermore, to guarantee the public value of agriculture and fisheries, the council was the first nationwide to propose the ordinance on farmers' and fishermen's public interest allowances, actively supporting the executive branch in stabilizing agricultural product supply and demand, supporting small business startups, and responding swiftly to COVID-19, earning positive responses from the local community.

Accordingly, Governor Kim Young-rok has consistently ranked first among the 17 metropolitan and provincial governments nationwide in job performance evaluations since taking office, and Superintendent Jang Seok-ung has maintained a 60.9% job performance approval rating, ranking first for 12 consecutive months since May last year.

◆ Youth Council Classroom, enhanced substance

The Youth Council Classroom, operated since 2009 to provide local youth?the future leaders?with democratic experience, has received great responses from students, teachers, and parents, with 12,310 participants from 580 schools, including 945 students from 37 schools as of the end of June 2019.

Although it could not be held this year due to COVID-19, 980 students from 18 elementary schools, 14 middle schools, 3 high schools, and 2 special schools had applied.

In particular, the Jeonnam Provincial Council Youth Council Classroom was selected as a '2019 Education Donation Career Experience Certified Institution' in May 2019, enabling it to provide more substantial and high-quality career experiences.

Due to such vigorous legislative activities, since the opening of the 11th council's first half, 38 members have received legislative awards, 5 members have received Manifesto Promise Awards, and a total of 81 awards have been received, including best council member awards and social contribution awards from civic groups and media organizations.

Moreover, on June 22, 10 council members were honored with the 8th Excellent Legislative Awards hosted by the National Association of Chairpersons of Local Councils for their contributions to the development of local councils.

In addition, at the 2019 National Local Council Best Practice Competition hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Jeonnam Provincial Council achieved a great success by winning the grand prize for the case of the 'Joint Public-Private Campaign to Expand Consumption of Domestic Kimchi.'

Chairman Lee Yong-jae stated, “Our council has consistently worked with a united heart for Jeonnam's development and residents' welfare, such as attracting KEPCO University and electrifying the Gyeongjeon Line,” emphasizing, “The interest and participation of residents have been most important in all legislative matters.”

He added, “We will continue to communicate more with residents and, as the representative body of 2 million residents, ask for your deep interest, support, and heartfelt advice so that we can accomplish more work and roles.”

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