Kim In-ho, Chairman of Seoul Metropolitan Council, "As a co-responsible party for city administration, we will focus solely on stabilizing people's livelihoods"

Seoul Metropolitan Council Holds 298th Regular Session... Administrative Audit and Budget Review Scheduled for 51 Days from November 2 to December 22

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The Seoul Metropolitan Council (Chairman Kim In-ho) will hold the 298th regular session from November 2 to December 22 for 51 days, during which it plans to conduct administrative audits on the 2020 Seoul city administration and education administration, and handle the 2021 budget proposal along with various current issues.

Chairman Kim In-ho (Democratic Party) stated in his opening remarks that through this administrative audit, the Seoul Metropolitan Council will review the past year and, through deliberation and resolution of the budget proposal, consider the direction Seoul should take moving forward.

He also mentioned that as the second half of the council begins, it will be a time to reflect on whether they have done their best as a ‘field-oriented council’ and a ‘policy and legislative council’ as promised.

He emphasized that while the focus has been on prioritizing support for those who lost their livelihoods or faced financial hardships due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, it is now necessary to look after those who, although they have not lost their livelihoods, are exposed to significant risks and to prepare countermeasures accordingly.

First, Chairman Kim stressed the need to examine the excessive workload of essential workers who provide face-to-face services while staying on the front lines, such as public transportation drivers, courier and delivery workers, and sanitation workers. He argued that the government should also establish guidelines and play a role in monitoring and checking to ensure the safety of essential workers who risk their lives to maintain citizens’ daily lives. With the recent proposal of the ‘Seoul Metropolitan Essential Workers Support Ordinance,’ the Seoul Metropolitan Council will also strive to prepare measures through in-depth discussions.

Second, he emphasized the need to fill the gaps in care. He expressed concern about the gaps in social care services caused by prolonged social distancing and mentioned that the most worrying group is children. He pointed out that school restrictions and non-face-to-face online education have created gaps in child care and stated that safety nets must be strengthened to prevent tragic cases like the Incheon elementary school siblings from happening again.

In particular, considering the significant increase in demand for elementary school care, he urged Superintendent of Education Cho Hee-yeon to prepare various care measures.

Additionally, he pointed out that gaps in elderly care have created another social problem of accelerating social isolation among the elderly. He mentioned that just as local governments led the success of K-quarantine with creative policy ideas such as drive-through clinics, they should create a happy society for the elderly by developing creative non-face-to-face services from the local level. He emphasized that the Seoul Metropolitan Council will also work with the Seoul Metropolitan Government to build smart elderly care services.

He also stressed that care for the disabled must be considered. He acknowledged that there are still overlooked areas in disabled care and said that securing the budget is most urgent. Due to the unlimited increase in budget demands caused by COVID-19, the budget for the disabled is at risk of being reduced, and he urged that while expanding the related budget may not be possible, reducing it must be avoided.

Finally, he emphasized that efforts to reduce blind spots in care should be accompanied by considerations for improving the treatment and employment stability of care workers. He pointed out that if the efforts of care workers are not properly recognized, the meaning of ‘care’ is being misused.

Meanwhile, he expressed gratitude to Acting Mayor Seo Jeong-hyeop and public officials for their best efforts to maintain uninterrupted city administration during the unprecedented acting mayor system and urged them to remain vigilant and careful until the Seoul mayoral by-election next year to prevent any unfortunate incidents.

Chairman Kim said that through the second half regular session, they will embrace the pain of citizens and create opportunities for improvement, emphasizing that they will show a focus solely on stabilizing people’s livelihoods.

He especially promised to become a leader of this era who writes the ‘history of overcoming’ together as a co-responsible party of city administration.

This regular session will begin with an opening ceremony on November 2, followed by a city administration speech related to the submission of the 2021 budget proposal on the same day. From November 3 to November 16, a 14-day administrative audit will be conducted; from November 17 to November 19, negotiation group representative speeches and city administration and education administration questions will be held; and from November 20 to December 15, the standing committees and the Budget and Accounts Special Committee will review the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education budget proposals and other agenda items.

Subsequently, on December 16, the plenary session will vote on the 2021 budget proposals for the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, and on the last day, December 22, various agenda items that have been thoroughly discussed in each standing committee will be processed.

Opening Remarks

Respected and beloved ten million citizens,

Officials of the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education,

And fellow and senior council members!

Thank you for attending the 298th regular session of the 10th Seoul Metropolitan Council.

From today, the Seoul Metropolitan Council will undertake the most important tasks of the year over the next 51 days.

Through the 2020 administrative audit,

we will look back on the challenging past year,

and through deliberation and resolution of the 2021 budget proposal,

we will consider the direction Seoul should take in the future.

Also, as promised at the start of the second half of the council,

we will take time to reflect on whether we have done our best as a ‘field-oriented council’ that listens closely to the vivid voices from local communities,

and as a ‘policy and legislative council’ that changes daily life through policy.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council is a co-responsible party of city administration.

Having experienced the unprecedented situation of the mayoral vacancy amid an unexpected pandemic,

the council’s responsibility and role toward citizens

are more significant than ever.

Just as senior and fellow council members have worked hard to protect citizens’ health and safety,

we ask that you continue to tackle Seoul’s pressing challenges with passionate legislative activities.

This year will be recorded as a historic moment in human history,

when the infectious disease COVID-19 swept the world

and accelerated a civilization transition.

Despite countries worldwide exerting all efforts to contain the spread,

the number of new COVID-19 cases continues to fluctuate,

making stable quarantine uncertain.

Over more than ten months of crisis,

we have overcome initial shock and confusion

and entered a stage of preparing for the future.

Policy directions of the national and local governments

are becoming more diverse and profound.

Beyond the obvious difficulties,

there is growing consensus that sacrifices and dedication are happening in many unseen places,

and support for these is necessary.

So far, national and local governments have focused on prioritizing support for those who lost their livelihoods or faced financial hardships, such as small business owners and self-employed exposed to economic conditions, freelancers like after-school instructors educating children, and cultural artists who lost performance or exhibition opportunities.

However, now we must look beyond that.

We must look after those who have not lost their livelihoods but are exposed to great risks

and gradually prepare countermeasures.

First, we must examine the excessive workload of essential workers.

There are people who cannot stop working

to maintain citizens’ daily lives even in any crisis.

Despite social distancing and emphasis on non-face-to-face interactions,

there are essential workers who must provide face-to-face services while staying on the front lines.

Public transportation drivers, courier and delivery workers, sanitation workers, security guards,

and all healthcare workers

have not lost their jobs but are working under greater risks than anyone else.

They fill the physical distance so that citizens can continue social distancing and live safely at home.

Thanks to those who tirelessly handle the explosively increased volume of parcels and deliveries,

and the resulting surge in recyclables and waste day and night,

our daily lives are maintained.

Recently, deaths from overwork among courier workers due to the surge in delivery volume have occurred consecutively.

The burden they bear on their shoulders,

which society has knowingly overlooked,

weighs heavily on our hearts with sadness and remorse.

While it is important for related companies to seek self-help measures,

we must not neglect our role in providing guidelines for essential workers and monitoring and checking them.

With the “Seoul Metropolitan Essential Workers Support Ordinance” proposed by several dedicated council members and a public hearing underway for its enactment,

the Seoul Metropolitan Council will continue in-depth discussions.

Second, we must fill the gaps in care.

Prolonged social distancing has helped slow the spread of the disease and aided quarantine,

but those receiving social care services have had to partially give up those benefits.

The most worrying group is children.

Daycare centers, kindergartens, and schools are educational sites,

but for vulnerable children, they may mean more as care sites providing care before education.

Social care services are mechanisms that ensure children receive at least minimum fair care

within a reliable and safe social safety net,

not leaving child growth solely to parents’ vulnerable economic and psychological conditions.

It is an opportunity to eat without hunger,

play and learn with peers,

and spend time safely.

However, the expansion of online education has partially restricted vulnerable children’s right to safe care.

You may know the story of the Incheon elementary school siblings who were home alone during non-face-to-face classes amid the COVID-19 resurgence and suffered a fire.

To prevent our children from losing precious lives or getting hurt again,

the state and government must thoroughly strengthen safety nets.

This year, Seoul has promoted the full expansion of seamless elementary care services,

planned to expand neighborhood care centers and train child caregivers,

but results were lower than expected.

Care is a core welfare service issue of our time that must be expanded, not reduced.

Please pay special attention to overall project improvements.

Especially considering the significant increase in elementary care demand,

Superintendent of Education Cho Hee-yeon is urged to prepare various measures for seamless care.

The elderly face similar problems.

Korea’s elderly poverty rate ranks overwhelmingly first among OECD countries.

The elderly poverty problem will become a bigger social issue as rapid aging progresses.

Before COVID-19, social care reached the elderly.

They could spend days at senior centers,

have meals at free meal centers,

earn pocket money through self-support work,

and welfare workers visited homes to check health.

However, everything changed after COVID-19.

Senior facilities run by local communities and volunteer groups suddenly closed,

and elderly job opportunities disappeared.

Home visits by welfare workers serve not only physical health management but also psychological health care to prevent depression among solitary elderly.

Key functions of local senior centers and welfare centers include helping seniors relieve psychological loneliness and anxiety through healthy leisure and social interaction.

Therefore, the gap in elderly care caused by COVID-19 has created another social problem of accelerating social isolation among the elderly.

In fact, depressive symptoms called ‘COVID Blue’ are higher among people in their 60s and 70s than other age groups.

Psychological depression can lead to dementia or other diseases and, in extreme cases, social crimes,

so the gap in elderly care must never be neglected.

Fortunately, Seoul is promoting various non-face-to-face services such as providing AI care speakers.

The ‘IoT-based Senior Safety Care Service’ conducted in several autonomous districts helps monitor the movements of solitary elderly,

which is useful for preventing solitary deaths and managing safety.

It also serves as a companion for dementia patients.

Additionally, the ‘Care SOS Center’ for the elderly provides emergency care services to seniors who miss meals or cannot move alone to cope with sudden crises in daily life.

Just as local governments led the success of K-quarantine with brilliant policy ideas like drive-through clinics,

we hope they will create a happy society for the elderly by developing creative non-face-to-face services from the local level.

True smart cities begin with smart care.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council will continue to work with the Seoul Metropolitan Government to build smart elderly care services.

Care for the disabled must also be considered.

For example, we have heard several times about the difficulties faced by parents raising children with developmental disabilities during COVID-19.

There were even cases where three developmentally disabled people who lost places to go due to welfare center closures died from falls,

leading to calls for classifying them as a suicide risk group.

However, there are still overlooked areas in disabled care gaps.

Only children and the elderly are included in vulnerable groups for infection, excluding the disabled, which has been repeatedly criticized.

We must ask ourselves whether we are regressing by shifting care responsibilities to families.

Above all, securing the budget is urgent.

As COVID-19 has infinitely increased budget demands,

the budget for the disabled is at risk of being reduced.

Next year’s government budget is far below overall demand,

and there are concerns that Seoul’s budget may also be cut.

We must all pay attention to ensure that related budgets are not reduced, let alone expanded.

Currently, activity support services for severely disabled people turning 65 are fully funded by the city,

but legal grounds should be established to secure national subsidies and actively expand without reduction.

Also, this year’s counseling performance at the Seoul Psychological Support Center is insufficient,

so we hope the program continues by diversifying targets, including activating counseling for families of the disabled.

Finally,

along with efforts to reduce blind spots in care,

there is something we must remember together.

That is improving the treatment of care workers.

Care workers are essential workers mentioned earlier.

We must no longer delay considering their employment stability guarantees.

If the city of care Seoul does not properly recognize the efforts of care workers,

the meaning of ‘care’ is being misused.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council will also make special efforts.

We will carefully review and approve to ensure that the aforementioned issues are fully reflected in next year’s budget.

“Misfortunes overcome become assets that someday save us.”

If we overcome the current crisis with proud K-quarantine and fill welfare gaps with smart welfare services,

we will have assets for a healthy future.

And those assets will be the foundation for a sustainable future.

Respected senior and fellow council members,

November 29 was the 8th Local Autonomy Day in Korea,

and next year marks the 30th anniversary of the revival of local autonomy.

Expectations and demands for decentralization have matured greatly.

Having passed this year with COVID-19,

I have thought more than ever about the role and responsibility of local councils.

Behind the glorious term K-quarantine,

local governments actively supporting quarantine administration,

and their strength in preparing support measures and creative policies ahead of the nation,

I have reflected on this as the reason for the existence of local governments.

As we have shown the public this year,

to continue proactive and creative legislative activities,

we must no longer delay revising the Local Autonomy Act.

For prompt revision of the Local Autonomy Act and the second phase of fiscal decentralization,

the Seoul Metropolitan Council will unite with local councils nationwide,

conveying a consistent message to the National Assembly.

We ask everyone here to lend their support so that a precious step toward decentralization can be taken before the year ends.

Respected public officials,

It has been 100 days since the start of the acting mayor system.

We take this opportunity to thank Acting Mayor Seo Jeong-hyeop and all officials for their best efforts to maintain uninterrupted city administration amid unprecedented circumstances.

Thank you all for your hard work.

We have one request.

Please do not relax vigilance until the mayoral by-election next year,

and work with one heart and mind for policy consistency and continuity.

Remember that gaining citizens’ trust is difficult, but losing it happens in an instant,

so everyone must show caution.

The foremost mindset for public officials

is to restrain themselves from personal temptations

and proceed on a fair and righteous path.

Please be especially careful until the election to prevent any unfortunate incidents.

We ask you to do your best to stabilize the disrupted daily lives and recover the economy.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council will also work together.

Through the second half regular session,

we will embrace citizens’ pain and create opportunities for improvement.

In this process, we will show a spirit of compromise, adjustment, and harmony through continuous dialogue and communication,

putting aside personal matters and focusing solely on stabilizing people’s livelihoods.

As co-responsible parties of city administration,

we will become leaders of this era who write the ‘history of overcoming’ together.

Thank you.

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