Official Launch of the 10th Seoul Metropolitan Council Personnel Innovation TF... Team Leader Assemblyman Jo Sang-ho

Newly Formed to Prepare Proactive and Innovative Follow-up Measures for the Independence of Local Council Personnel Authority under the Complete Revision of the Local Autonomy Act... Seoul City Council's Plan for Independent Personnel and Organizational Management and Promotion of Related Legal Amendments

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] On the 28th at 1 PM, Jo Sang-ho, head of the Personnel Innovation Task Force (TF) of the Seoul Metropolitan Council (Democratic Party Representative Member, Seodaemun 4), officially commenced activities with the first regular meeting of the 10th Seoul Metropolitan Council Personnel Innovation TF and the appointment of committee members.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council Personnel Innovation TF was launched to prepare for the full enforcement of the Local Autonomy Act revision scheduled for January 2022, aiming to establish independent personnel and organizational management plans for the Seoul Metropolitan Council and to promote related legislation and amendments.

Specifically, the Personnel Innovation TF is tasked with reviewing matters related to the appointment and dismissal of Seoul Metropolitan Council administrative staff, preparing detailed plans for the introduction of policy support specialists, reviewing the reorganization and staffing plans of the Secretariat, establishing new council job series, and examining integrated personnel management for local councils. The TF plans to develop improvement measures for personnel and organizational management of the Seoul Metropolitan Council and actively present opinions to the National Assembly and government.

Kim In-ho, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, stated, “With the passage of the full revision of the Local Autonomy Act for the first time in 32 years, a systemic foundation has been established for the independence of personnel authority and the enhancement of professionalism in local councils. Based on this, we intend to newly organize and operate the 10th Seoul Metropolitan Council Personnel Innovation TF to prepare proactive and innovative follow-up measures.”

He continued, “Jo Sang-ho, who has taken responsibility as the head of the 10th Seoul Metropolitan Council Personnel Innovation TF, is a three-term council member with a strong will for personnel innovation and professionalism enhancement in local councils. The TF members were composed of individuals with negotiation skills and expertise with the National Assembly and government, so I believe they will find the optimal personnel and operational reform plan.”

The 10th Seoul Metropolitan Council Personnel Innovation TF consists of five council members including the appointed head Jo Sang-ho (Democratic Party Representative Member, Seodaemun 4), Ko Byung-guk (Democratic Party, Jongno 1), a former secretary to the Speaker of the National Assembly; Kim Jong-mu (Democratic Party, Gangdong 2), a former National Assembly aide and currently Deputy Chair of the Democratic Party Policy Committee; Jeong Jin-sul (Democratic Party, Mapo 3); and Kim So-yang (People Power Party, proportional representation), a former policy aide to the Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. These members possess negotiation capabilities with the National Assembly and government.

External experts include Professor Lee Hyun-chul (Department of Political Science and Diplomacy, Konkuk University), former Political and Administrative Research Officer at the National Assembly Legislative Research Office; Professor Kim Young-woo (Department of Public Administration, University of Seoul), former member of the Seoul Personnel Committee; Research Professor Seo Bok-kyung (Sogang University Institute of Modern Politics), former member of the National Assembly Innovation Advisory Committee; and Lawyer Yoo Jin-hee (Law Firm Hwasu), currently serving as a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Council Local Decentralization TF. These experienced individuals in council personnel and organizational innovation will participate alongside six practical support staff including Seo Nowon, Secretary-General of the Seoul Metropolitan Council Secretariat, totaling 15 members supporting the TF’s operation.

Ko Byung-guk (Democratic Party, Jongno 1), appointed as a committee member on the day, said, “It is important to clearly define how to approach the major principle of the independence of council personnel authority as the priority issue of TF discussions. Our goal is not mechanical or formal independence but to embody the value of independent operation of local councils even within realistic measures. I will gather wisdom with the committee members on the level and direction of this.”

Kim Jong-mu (Democratic Party, Gangdong 2) expressed, “To effectively realize the independence of personnel authority, we need to select tasks by area and timing, including matters to be independently reviewed, those linked with enforcement ordinances requiring consensus among local councils, and parts to be reflected through the passage of National Assembly laws.” He promised, “I will do my best to enable the Seoul Metropolitan Council to create a standard model for local council personnel system operation.”

Jeong Jin-sul (Democratic Party, Mapo 3) said, “The unified expression of local councils’ opinions on last year’s passage of the Local Autonomy Act was thanks to the active network of Local Decentralization TFs in each city and provincial council. It is urgent to promote a network to unify the voices of local councils regarding the independence of personnel authority this time as well.”

Kim So-yang (People Power Party, proportional representation) stated, “I believe that experts with professionalism and capability in legislative personnel models have gathered in the TF. Since the role and mission of the Personnel Innovation TF include creating a personnel model that well represents our council’s identity and simultaneously a personnel model that satisfies the morale of council staff working together, I will actively communicate internally and work together.”

Professor Lee Hyun-chul (Department of Political Science and Diplomacy, Konkuk University) said, “On the 30th anniversary of local autonomy this year, I will play a role in creating a personnel model that achieves a new leap for local councils.” Professor Kim Young-woo (Department of Public Administration, University of Seoul) added, “As a personnel expert, I will contribute to properly setting the first button for the independence of local council personnel authority based on theoretical knowledge and field experience.”

Head Jo Sang-ho stated, “The Seoul Metropolitan Council Personnel Innovation TF has an important goal to build a citizen’s council with professionalism and capability ahead of the full enforcement of the Local Autonomy Act revision next year and to establish the status of the Seoul Metropolitan Council through personnel innovation. We will perform our role intensively within a short period,” adding, “We plan to respond actively and systematically through active communication with the National Assembly and government, solidarity and cooperation among local councils, and continuous communication with the media and citizens.”

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