Three Chairpersons from Mokpo Born in 29 Years of Provincial Assembly History

Jeon Gyeongseon, Park Moonok, and Lee Hyeokje Elected as Chairpersons for the 11th Assembly's Second Half Term

(From left) Jeon Gyeong-seon, Chair of the Council Steering Committee; Park Moon-ok, Chair of the Planning and Administration Committee; Lee Hyuk-je, Chair of the Special Budget and Accounts Committee

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] Three first-term lawmakers from Mokpo of the Democratic Party of Korea have simultaneously taken key positions in the second half of the Jeonnam Provincial Council.

The 11th Jeonnam Provincial Council, launched earlier this month, elected and appointed Jeon Gyeong-seon (55) as Chair of the Council Operations Committee, Park Moon-ok (44) as Chair of the Planning and Administration Committee, and Lee Hyuk-je (50) as Chair of the Special Budget and Accounts Committee. All are first-term lawmakers from Mokpo affiliated with the Democratic Party of Korea.

The Jeonnam Provincial Council, composed of 58 members from 22 cities and counties in the province, has one chairperson, two vice-chairpersons, and seven standing committee chairs as key positions. Additionally, the chairperson of the permanent special committee on budget and accounts is also considered a major role.

It is extremely rare for three lawmakers from a specific region to monopolize key positions. While there have been occasional cases where two lawmakers from the same city or county held major posts simultaneously, this often causes tension among lawmakers from other cities and counties.

However, in the second half of the 11th council, having as many as three lawmakers from Mokpo take key positions is an unprecedented cause for celebration in the region.

Of course, unlike the chairperson, vice-chairpersons, and seven standing committee chairs who are elected in the plenary session, the chairperson of the Special Budget and Accounts Committee is elected from among the committee members, but the position is regarded as equivalent in status to a standing committee chair.

Moreover, this achievement was made despite all being first-term lawmakers, competing against many formidable second- and third-term lawmakers. For reference, among the 58 members of the Jeonnam Provincial Council, there are 5 third-term lawmakers, 12 second-term lawmakers, and 41 first-term lawmakers.

Having three lawmakers from a specific region hold key positions is unprecedented in the 29-year history of the provincial council since the revival of local councils in 1991. In particular, Jeon Gyeong-seon’s role as chairperson of the Operations Committee in both the first and second halves is also a first.

Chairperson Jeon is evaluated as a lawmaker with strong combativeness and excellent approachability.

After serving as a second-term Mokpo city councilor, she ran as an independent candidate in the 10th Jeonnam Provincial Council election in 2014 and narrowly lost by just 7 votes against a strong ruling party candidate.

This strong performance by an independent candidate moved the hearts of local residents in the political dynamics, and two years ago, she ran again as a ruling party candidate in the 11th council and won decisively in a rematch against the previous candidate.

Chairperson Jeon recalled, “I never dreamed I would lose in the 10th election. I thought it was due to my shortcomings, so I tightened my shoelaces again, met residents more closely, listened carefully, and as a result, I was able to enter the provincial council after retaking the election.”

Another strength of Chairperson Jeon is communication and affinity. She has a sincere attitude of open communication, crossing between mainstream and non-mainstream groups.

During the first half, she served as Chair of the Health, Welfare, and Environment Committee and was recognized for her diligent legislative activities, receiving consecutive Local Assembly Awards in 2018 and 2019, the Best Award in Local Autonomy Evaluation, and the 2018 Manifesto Promise Award.

Upon being elected Chair of the Operations Committee in the second half, Chairperson Jeon emphasized maximizing the council’s decision-making power by regularizing member meetings, holding regular joint meetings of the chairperson group and standing committee chairs, strengthening the professionalism of the council secretariat staff, and fulfilling activities of the Council Operations Committee Chairpersons’ Association nationwide to promote decentralization.

Chairperson Park Moon-ok is known for her quietly strong character. Even during the second half’s committee chair elections, she entered the race late.

Despite announcing her candidacy only 2 to 3 days before the party primary election for the chairperson, her steady and gentle personality won the hearts of lawmakers, demonstrating her strength by winning the election.

During the first half, she served as vice-chairperson of the Planning and Administration Committee, a member of the Council Operations Committee, and a member of the Special Budget and Accounts Committee, effectively managing her responsibilities.

She has held key roles such as Jeonnam Province Regional Innovation Committee member, Jeonnam Province Youth Development Special Committee member, Urban Regeneration Research Committee member, Chairperson of the Democratic Party Social Economy Committee, and Chairperson of the Urban Environment Improvement Special Committee, consistently demonstrating diligent research and insightful judgment.

As vice-chairperson of the Planning and Administration Committee in the first half, Park, who understands the work better than anyone, pledged, “The Planning and Administration Committee plays a very important role in proposing policy directions for Jeonnam provincial government and overseeing the executive branch. I will make it a committee that communicates more and works harder.”

Chairperson Lee Hyuk-je of the Budget and Accounts Committee is not elected in the plenary session. Although the position is more important than any standing committee in terms of work, it is a permanent special committee formed annually, so the chairperson is elected from among the 20 members recommended to the special committee.

Therefore, although Lee Hyuk-je was not voted on in the plenary session, he was unanimously elected chairperson by the special committee without a vote. This reflects the exceptional affinity and character he is known for among his peers.

Having served on the Education Committee in the first half and as vice-chairperson of the Special Budget and Accounts Committee in the first year, Lee is a recognized ‘education expert’ within the council and holds a doctorate in literature.

Lee worked as an admissions officer at Mokpo National University and taught English linguistics as a visiting professor at a university. Currently, he serves as the representative lawmaker of the council’s research group ‘Visiting Jeonnam Education Policy Research Association’ and is actively involved in diverse education-related legislative activities.

Lee has led efforts to withdraw KBS regional broadcasting reduction plans, abolish and retract reduction policies on the reserve system for shipboard service veterans, urge amendments to laws to strengthen publicness and transparency of private schools, appeal for the role of universities in response to the Ministry of Education’s regressive college entrance policies, and request the withdrawal of the removal of the regional name from Mokpo Maritime University through proposals and resolutions, earning him the nickname ‘a living, breathing policy expert.’

Lee stated, “Budget and accounts review is one of the most important legislative activities to oversee provincial administration and monitor and check the executive branch. I will lead the committee in close communication with members to ensure that the budget is planned and executed for the lives, happiness, and educational development of residents without wasting taxpayers’ money.”

Lawmakers Jeon Gyeong-seon, Park Moon-ok, and Lee Hyuk-je explained, “There have been criticisms that it is difficult to cooperate during non-session periods because the metropolitan council is far away and it is hard to come to the council,” but added, “Since our constituencies are close to the council, we come to the council almost daily, allowing us to discuss and consult deeply on important matters, enabling the chairperson group and standing committee chairs to work in a coordinated manner and respond more actively to urgent issues that need to be addressed in the council.”

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