Seoul Metropolitan Council Reduces Temporary Session Schedule... Leading Efforts to Prevent COVID-19 Resurgence in the Capital Area

Adjustment of Meeting Days Within 3 Days for Each of the 9 Standing Committees, Focusing on Urgent Issues... Deliberation on Urgent Agenda Items from Seoul City and Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and the 4th Supplementary Budget... Minimizing Agency Reports and Executive Attendees per Standing Committee

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The Seoul Metropolitan Council (Chairman Kim In-ho) has decided to revise and operate the schedule of the 297th extraordinary session, which was originally scheduled to be held for 19 days from August 28 to September 15.

This urgent measure was taken based on the judgment that the current situation, where triple-digit confirmed COVID-19 cases have continued for more than ten days mainly in the metropolitan area, is the calm before the storm of nationwide spread.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council has withdrawn the announcement of the convening of the 297th extraordinary session, postponed the opening ceremony on August 28, and delayed the city administration questions scheduled for two days from August 31 to September 1.

Standing committees will proceed as originally scheduled from September 2 to September 9, but the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts will shorten its schedule from the original September 10 to 14 to September 10 to 11.

The agenda and operation of the standing committees will be changed as follows.

First, the number of meeting days for each standing committee will be reduced from 4 to 5 days to within 3 days, and to strictly follow COVID-19 prevention guidelines, the schedules will be adjusted so that two or more standing committees are not held simultaneously on the same floor.

Second, the work reports of agencies under the jurisdiction of each standing committee will be minimized, and field visits will be canceled.

Third, since the number of meeting days has been significantly reduced, the review will focus on the 4th supplementary budget proposal and urgent agenda items.

Also, as COVID-19 is resurging mainly in the metropolitan area, all personnel attending the meetings will be minimized to essential personnel related to the agenda, and prevention guidelines such as temperature checks, mask-wearing, use of hand sanitizers, and social distancing among attendees will be strictly observed.

Chairman Kim In-ho said, “This week is a critical turning point to decide whether to raise social distancing to level 3, and we have decided to reduce the agenda to protect the community and citizens’ safety from the spread of COVID-19.” He also promised, “The City Council will actively cooperate with the government’s quarantine guidelines and do its best for the safety of citizens.”

During the recess of the 296th extraordinary session, urgent agenda items reviewed will be handled in the plenary session after setting the time and duration of the 297th extraordinary session.

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