'O Se-hoon Organizational Restructuring Plan' to be Reviewed by City Council on the 10th... Will It Overcome the Hurdle?

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's Breakfast Reform Plan... Attention on Whether It Passes the City Council Regular Session Plenary on the Afternoon of the 10th

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Seoul Metropolitan Council Chairman Kim In-ho attended the 'Seoul Small Business 4-No Safety Finance Support Business Agreement Ceremony to Overcome the COVID-19 Crisis' held at the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation in Mapo-gu, Seoul on the 8th. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's 'organizational restructuring plan' has reached a crossroads. Seoul City has repeatedly revised the original plan submitted in mid-last month and continued consultations with the Seoul Metropolitan Council, but has faced difficulties in processing due to disagreements over maintaining the 'Seoul Democracy Committee.'

According to Seoul City and the Metropolitan Council on the 10th, the council plans to hold a regular plenary session in the afternoon to review the Seoul City organizational restructuring plan. The plan originally included upgrading the Housing Construction Headquarters to the Housing Policy Office to accelerate housing supply aimed at curbing housing prices, abolishing the Seoul Democracy Committee, and changing the Labor and Livelihood Policy Officer to the Fair Coexistence Policy Officer, but it faced internal opposition within the council.

The key is the outcome of the Democratic Party of Korea's caucus meeting held just before the regular plenary session. Since 101 out of the 110 seats in the council belong to the Democratic Party, this result is likely to directly influence the plenary session's decision. On the 8th, Kim In-ho, chairman of the council, appeared on 'TBS Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' and explained, "There were some disagreements, but we are coordinating, and we plan to reach a conclusion at the caucus meeting on the morning of the 10th."

The organizational restructuring plan, which Seoul City and the council are at odds over, includes abolishing the Seoul Democracy Committee and changing the Labor and Livelihood Policy Officer to the Fair Coexistence Policy Officer. There are also reported disagreements regarding the newly established 'Education Platform Promotion Team,' created to fulfill Mayor Oh's campaign promises.

In response, fearing a prolonged deadlock, Seoul City has taken a step back by deciding not to change the Labor and Livelihood Policy Officer to the Fair Coexistence Policy Officer for the time being. In fact, through consultations with the council, Seoul City has preserved the term 'Labor.' A Seoul City official explained, "The name itself is not the crucial part," adding, "We have been conducting mutual coordination."

However, neither side seems willing to back down on the abolition of the Seoul Democracy Committee. Seoul City argues that there have been considerable inefficiencies in its operation and that the change is aimed at more efficient management, while the council, led by senior members, counters that this is part of an effort to erase the legacy of the late Park Won-soon.

In reality, the Seoul Democracy Committee, which is maintained until the deadline in July, is likely to be downsized or abolished under the Seoul City organizational restructuring plan. During former Mayor Park's term, the committee operated with 4 divisions and 16 teams. However, Seoul City plans to absorb it by establishing the Citizen Cooperation Bureau, a level 2 bureau, expanding from the current 3 divisions and 9 teams under the level 3 Seoul Innovation Planning Officer.

The council argues that the restructuring plan goes against the era of local autonomy and decentralization that expands citizen participation, and that concluding the committee is inefficient due to a lack of results in just two years is premature. Chairman Kim also emphasized, "It seems hasty to judge based on two years of results," adding, "If Mayor Oh expands the committee centered on citizen participation, it will be well received."

Seoul City says it is awaiting the results after final coordination with the council. Mayor Oh recently held breakfast meetings with council members, and senior officials at the bureau chief level frequently visited the council to request cooperation.

The Seoul City Government Employees' Union also raised their voices, stating that delays in processing the organizational restructuring plan have postponed regular personnel appointments, which could disrupt city administration, and called for "a decisive decision from the council."

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