Kim In-ho, Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, "Supporting Youth to Take Root in Seoul"

Regular Session No. 301 Held for 23 Days from June 10 to July 2... Handling of Settlement and Supplementary Budget Proposals

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The Seoul Metropolitan Council (Chairman Kim In-ho) will hold the 301st regular session for 23 days from June 10 to July 2, handling various agenda items including the 2020 settlement of accounts and the 1st supplementary budget for 2021.

This regular session was originally scheduled to hold the first plenary session on the 10th, but due to COVID-19, it was postponed and held on the 15th after thorough quarantine measures.

Chairman Kim In-ho (Democratic Party) stated in his opening remarks that the 10th Seoul Metropolitan Council is approaching the second half of its term, nearly one year since, and that over the past year, they have worked hard to keep the promises made at inauguration: ▲to govern Seoul unwaveringly as a co-responsible party ▲to do their best for daily recovery ▲to achieve a leap in local autonomy.

He first mentioned that through active fiscal expansion by securing supplementary budgets and disaster management funds, support was provided to small business owners and vulnerable groups, and that while handling the significantly increased civil complaints amid COVID-19, the council responded carefully to citizens' anxieties. He also noted that with the passage of the Local Autonomy Act amendment, the Seoul Metropolitan Council will become more independent and stand solely on the side of citizens, representing them.

He added that the remaining year of the 10th Seoul Metropolitan Council should devote all capabilities to restoring livelihoods depressed by COVID-19 and laying the foundation for new local autonomy.

In particular, he emphasized that from this year, due to the Local Transfer Act, the autonomous police system, and the new Local Autonomy Act, a paradigm shift in local autonomy is expected, and urged dedication in the remaining time to build a council that looks after more citizens from a lower place, building true trust and authority.

Furthermore, he stressed that the youth generation is the target that the 10th council should support with its last strength for Seoul’s sustainable future, stating that the tangled knots of low growth, low birthrate, and worsening conflicts in society will be untied when youth issues are resolved.

He emphasized the need to devote full attention to financial support and system establishment so that young people can deeply root themselves in Seoul, highlighting ▲job creation ▲housing solutions ▲expansion of social participation opportunities.

First, he stressed the need for full support so that young people can become leaders in new industries amid a shortage of quality jobs. He mentioned basic ladder guarantees such as youth allowances and expansion of Youth Hope Plus targets, as well as proactive public nurturing of future talents in intellectual property rights and AI, and short-term expansion of public sector jobs in Seoul.

Second, he emphasized 'housing solutions.' He said about 4 out of 10 young people in Seoul are at a 'housing poverty' level, and the Seoul Metropolitan Council has worked to reduce housing cost burdens through legislation, such as raising the deposit support for youth housing near subway stations.

He also stressed that public institutions will take the lead in significantly expanding the supply of youth housing.

Third, he said the council will increase opportunities for social participation. He noted that the sharply increased number of single-person households requires expanding communication and participation spaces throughout Seoul to build a close-knit community, and that the council will explore legislation to expand small-scale communities so that local libraries and cultural centers can become strong platforms connecting individuals.

Additionally, he said legislation and administrative participation should be expanded so that any citizen can play a responsible role as a member of society, and that the 'Resident Ordinance Proposal System' included in the Local Autonomy Act amendment will be the first step. He added that efforts will be made to actively reflect the voices of the youth generation in city administration through the Youth Basic Ordinance and the Youth Development Special Committee.

Finally, he said that the Seoul Metropolitan Council, revived by the breath of democratization, will continue to engage in more intensive legislative activities to protect citizens' lives, striving to achieve more complete sovereignty of the people, and to create a Seoul where hope can always be regained, and coexistence and fairness live.

This regular session will start with an opening ceremony on June 15, followed by deliberations on various agenda items by each standing committee from June 16 to 22, and then operate the Budget and Accounts Special Committee for six days from June 23.

From June 29 to July 1, questions regarding Seoul city administration and education administration will be asked, and on the last day, July 2, a plenary session will be held to process agenda items referred after in-depth discussions in the standing committees.

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◆Chairman Kim In-ho’s Opening Remarks

Respected and beloved ten million citizens,

Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Superintendent of Education Cho Hee-yeon, related officials, and fellow council members,

Thank you for attending the 301st regular session.

The 10th Seoul Metropolitan Council is approaching the second half of its term,

nearly one year has passed.

Last July,

I took office as chairman with the urgent and enormous tasks of overcoming COVID-19 and strengthening local autonomy.

And I made promises.

As a co-responsible party of Seoul,

I promised to govern without wavering,

as chairman of the representative body of ten million people,

I promised to do my best for daily recovery.

And as the leader of local councils,

I promised to achieve a leap in local autonomy.

I have kept these three promises in mind and worked hard over the past year.

First, the Seoul Metropolitan Council placed emphasis on active fiscal expansion amid the COVID-19 situation.

Following the passage of four supplementary budgets last year,

this year’s budget was also increased by over 100 billion won, focusing on quarantine and livelihoods.

We secured 300 billion won in disaster management funds

to support small business owners and vulnerable groups,

aiming to protect the golden time.

Also, to ensure that all students in Seoul

do not feel disparities from the school threshold,

we approved the budget for entrance preparation funds for the first time,

and unanimously promoted free meals in kindergartens,

achieving a leap in educational welfare.

Another effort was,

through unwavering communication in the non-face-to-face phase,

to soothe citizens’ anxieties.

Last year, the Seoul Metropolitan Council received

over 800 civil complaints.

The council handled 260 complaints alone, more than triple the previous year,

and referred the rest to autonomous districts,

acting as a bridge between citizens and administration.

The council has taken citizens’ increased demands seriously amid COVID-19,

and continues active complaint responses this year.

Finally, the passage of the Local Autonomy Act amendment

was the greatest achievement for the Seoul Metropolitan Council.

The 110 members of the 10th Seoul Metropolitan Council have always been at the forefront

working in various ways to realize and activate grassroots democracy.

Especially over the past five years, through the Local Decentralization TF,

we gathered voices from local councils nationwide,

and conveyed the public’s desire for mature democracy

to the government and the National Assembly.

The road is still long and rough,

but with firm determination and fierce will,

we will advance step by step as a council solely on the side of citizens, representing them.

The council’s goal is clear and simple.

To ensure that citizens’ foundations do not shake,

that citizens’ sentiments are not harmed,

and that citizens’ dignity is guaranteed,

we will spare no effort.

Respected fellow council members,

this is the last year of the 10th Seoul Metropolitan Council.

We must devote all policy capabilities

to restoring livelihoods depressed by COVID-19

and laying the foundation for new local autonomy.

Especially from this year,

due to the Local Transfer Act, the autonomous police system,

and the new Local Autonomy Act,

a paradigm shift in local autonomy is expected.

Let us establish and operate systems so that the council’s functions, including personnel independence and introduction of policy support professionals,

are fully exercised for citizens.

Looking up at more citizens from a lower place,

let us dedicate the remaining year to building a council that gains true trust and authority.

Furthermore, for Seoul’s sustainable future,

there is a target that the 10th council should support with its last strength.

That is the youth generation.

According to a recent Seoul city survey,

57% of Seoul’s youth suffer from depression,

and 10% of all solitary deaths in Seoul are youth solitary deaths.

Youth employment rates are at their worst since statistics began.

One in four youths is effectively unemployed,

and the number of youths lacking job-seeking motivation is increasing.

As youth smiles disappear,

Seoul’s future loses hope.

As youth lives collapse,

the entire Republic of Korea will lose growth momentum.

Issues such as low growth, low birthrate, and vicious cycles of intergenerational conflicts

will gradually be resolved when youth problems are addressed.

Respected Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon,

and fellow council members,

If you dream of a Seoul that grows and leaps forward,

you must devote all efforts to ‘making roots for youth.’

Our youth, who have lost their way physically and mentally,

must be able to deeply root themselves in Seoul,

and we must devote all our hearts to financial support and system establishment.

The first root for youth is jobs.

The government is investing 5.9 trillion won

and focusing on job creation, but

there is a gap and insufficiency compared to the quality jobs desired by the youth generation.

Due to COVID-19,

the entire industrial structure is undergoing a great transformation,

and Korea’s economy, mainly manufacturing, is gradually weakening.

As a city leading industry and economy, Seoul

must more actively build new industrial momentum.

Our youth, with ideas fitting the 4th Industrial Revolution era

and tireless vitality,

should be able to become the protagonists of the new era,

and public full support is necessary.

Fortunately, Seoul has a well-established foundation for youth support.

Including youth allowances to promote social entry,

and expansion of Youth Hope Plus targets in this supplementary budget,

there is a strong will to guarantee youth ladders.

Moreover, we must continue to create foundations for youth to thrive in the post-COVID era.

We can start by greatly expanding targets for Seoul’s digital talent training courses and youth startup programs like ‘Next Local.’

Furthermore, rather than leaving future talent development in intellectual property rights, AI, and data fields solely to the private sector,

we must actively nurture them ourselves.

By greatly increasing academic support for Seoul youth, including intellectual property education courses,

we hope to open paths for them to discover new opportunities on their own.

Moreover, nothing revives life faster than providing direct economic opportunities.

Due to the global economic recession,

private investment is sluggish, so

we must increase jobs within the public sector as much as possible until this year.

As citizens’ demands for public services diversify,

Seoul should expand jobs in various public sectors such as medical care, care, welfare, and safety.

The second root for youth is 'housing solutions.'

About 4 out of 10 young people in Seoul

are at a ‘housing poverty’ level.

They live in goshiwon (small rooms), one-room apartments, and jjokbang (tiny rooms),

without a comfortable space to call home,

and their gray youth is fading away.

With the housing ladder collapsed,

marriage and childbirth have become even more luxurious.

Housing is a fundamental component of life.

Only when this fundamental problem is solved first

can youth achieve life leaps, feel happiness,

and our society advance strongly.

Currently, Seoul is continuously expanding public rental housing and housing cost support, such as youth housing near subway stations and happy housing.

Through this supplementary budget, the target for youth monthly rent support will be expanded from 5,000 to 27,000,

and the supply of youth housing near subway stations will also increase.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council is also steadily working through legislation

to raise deposit support for youth housing near subway stations to reduce housing cost burdens.

Nevertheless, the fact that support is insufficient for the many youth in Seoul is a great pain.

This year, Seoul city and the council will diligently continue efforts

to embrace more youth with public rental housing.

Public institutions will take the wheel for youth housing,

and prioritize significantly expanding supply.

For youth, the council will closely consult with each autonomous district

and fulfill its role as a mediator to prevent regional selfishness.

Furthermore, we will not fall behind in applying new housing paradigms such as shared housing expansion.

The third root for youth is

'expanding opportunities for social participation.'

This is also essential for the sharply increased number of single-person households.

Although single-person households are increasing due to various structural problems,

the youth generation must not fall into ‘isolation’ and ‘loneliness.’

We must restart efforts to expand communication and participation spaces throughout Seoul

to build a close-knit community.

To fill the empty hearts of single-person households,

a community that embraces them even when alone

is essential in today’s Seoul.

The council will explore legislation to expand small-scale communities

so that local libraries and cultural centers can become strong platforms connecting individuals.

Also, legislation and administrative participation should be expanded

so that any citizen can play a responsible role as a member of society.

The ‘Resident Ordinance Proposal System’ included in the Local Autonomy Act amendment

will be the first step.

We aim for a community where anyone can discuss local politics and economic situations,

propose ordinances together, and participate actively in daily life at libraries.

Furthermore, based on the Youth Basic Ordinance and the Youth Development Special Committee,

we will actively reflect the voices of the youth generation

in solving Seoul’s pressing issues.

When the lives of Seoul’s youth hold moisture like spring flowers,

and their days bloom fragrantly like roses,

Seoul will welcome joy and vitality like fresh greenery.

Respected and beloved ten million citizens,

Although I spoke mainly about youth,

I understand that all citizens are experiencing mental and material ups and downs

due to issues of jobs, housing, and communication.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council will do its best to help each citizen

regain lost joy.

We will spare no legislative and financial efforts

to restore pride in life and social ownership,

so that citizens can root themselves more deeply in Seoul.

Moreover, the council will renew its mindset

as being on the front line of COVID-19 quarantine.

With vaccination rates exceeding 70%,

until herd immunity is sufficiently formed,

all 110 members must never loosen their vigilance.

We will strengthen internal infection prevention

so that the representative body of ten million citizens

will never waver before the virus’s momentum again.

June always makes us bow our heads solemnly

in remembrance of the patriotic martyrs.

We remember the citizens who did not spare their lives

to protect this country’s freedom and democracy.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council, revived by the breath of democratization,

will continue to engage in more intensive legislative activities

to protect citizens’ lives.

We will achieve more complete sovereignty of the people,

and create a Seoul where hope can always be regained,

a Seoul where coexistence and fairness live.

Thank you.

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