Kim In-ho, Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, "We will fulfill our responsibilities without limits or boundaries in overcoming the crisis"

Seoul Metropolitan Council Holds 302nd Extraordinary Session... 15-Day Schedule from August 27 to September 10 to Deliberate 'COVID-19 Coexistence National Support Fund' Supplementary Budget and Address Current Issues

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The Seoul Metropolitan Council (Chairman Kim In-ho) will hold the 302nd extraordinary session from August 27 to September 10 for 15 days to address various current issues related to the 2021 Seoul city administration and educational administration, as well as to process the supplementary budget for the ‘COVID-19 Coexistence National Support Fund’.

The council plans to expedite the review schedule of the supplementary budget to ensure that the COVID-19 Coexistence National Support Fund can be distributed before the Chuseok holiday, supporting citizens’ return to daily life as soon as possible.

Chairman Kim In-ho (Democratic Party) emphasized in his opening remarks that the prolonged heatwave lasting over a month last summer, the number of confirmed cases exceeding 2,000, and the strengthened social distancing measures due to the 4th wave have increased citizens’ fatigue, making the hearts of the 110 council members heavier. However, he stressed that there is still room to gain the upper hand in the war against infectious diseases and that all possible preparations must be made to avoid the worst-case scenario.

First, he stated that the strongest defense against the virus, which continues to mutate and could once again sweep through everyone’s lives, is vaccination. The Seoul Metropolitan Council will support legislation to expand healthcare personnel to ensure safe vaccination.

He also emphasized to Seoul City that quarantine measures must become an implicit social contract and norm, like traffic laws, and that showing reckless leniency toward the virus invites danger.

He urged not to forget that until vaccination rates reach a certain level, the highest priority of city administration is flawless quarantine. When the foundation of quarantine is firmly established and confidence in immunity formation grows, the Seoul Metropolitan Council will also consider sustainable and flexible quarantine measures together.

Meanwhile, he said that amid the pandemic, Seoul City and the council will work closely to diligently support citizens through policies and finances so that they do not falter amid various changes. The second supplementary budget submitted by Seoul City mainly includes the COVID-19 Coexistence National Support Fund, expansion of livelihood benefit recipients, and job provision, which will bring relief to citizens and a small revitalizing breeze to the local economy.

Additionally, the second supplementary budget submitted by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education includes strengthening the school quarantine safety net, establishing a future-ready learning environment, and transitioning to an emotionally stable environment. He expressed hope that education for the future generation will proceed smoothly within the warm shelter of schools despite COVID-19.

Among the 195 agenda items submitted to this extraordinary session, 113 council member-initiated proposals include thorough local government responses to quarantine guideline violations, relief for small business owners, support for childcare disaster relief funds, youth job provision, and the use and management of Gwanghwamun Square. These demonstrate a will to compensate for various economic and social damages and to reconcile diverse conflicts to achieve harmony.

Finally, Chairman Kim expressed pride in the history of overcoming crises, such as repaying the debt to the IMF three years early 20 years ago in August. Though the threat of the virus is exhausting and frightening, he urged to do the best we can now rather than setting limits, and emphasized that the Seoul Metropolitan Council will fulfill its responsibilities without setting boundaries or limits.

This extraordinary session will begin with an opening ceremony on August 27, followed by the review of the supplementary budget by each standing committee from August 30 to September 1. From September 2, there will be two days of questions regarding Seoul city administration and educational administration. From September 6 to 9, each standing committee will review various agenda items from relevant offices, bureaus, and departments. On the final day, September 10, a plenary session will be held to process the agenda items thoroughly discussed and submitted by the standing committees.

Opening Remarks

Respected and beloved citizens of ten million,

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

And fellow senior and colleague council members,

Thank you for joining the 302nd extraordinary session of the 10th Seoul Metropolitan Council.

First, I sincerely hope that there will be no disruptions in the agenda of this extraordinary session for seamless Seoul city administration and prompt stabilization of people’s livelihoods.

As this is an important time, your active cooperation in quarantine over the next two weeks is necessary.

For the ten million citizens exhausted by the crisis,

Let us devote our hearts and minds and faithfully carry out the duties entrusted to us.

I also ask the citizens of Seoul to watch the council’s legislative activities through real-time video meeting records.

Summer is already drawing to a close.

Looking back over the past three months,

I feel it was a truly harsh summer.

A heatwave lasting over a month,

Confirmed cases precariously exceeding 2,000,

And the strengthened social distancing due to the 4th wave

Have greatly increased citizens’ fatigue.

The hearts of the 110 council members have grown heavier accordingly.

To avoid repeating this exhausting and difficult summer,

We spent time asking what we must do and what actions we should take.

Unfortunately, we are drifting amid the virus crisis, somewhat distant from the hope of ending COVID-19.

Voices calling for a transition to the ‘With COVID-19 era’ are growing louder,

And there are analyses suggesting herd immunity may be difficult to achieve.

With repeated mutations of the virus,

The threat of the highly fatal Lambda variant is also anticipated.

Going forward, we must assume various variables,

Break away from existing inertia and stubbornness,

And prepare for a new era.

If the virus does not end,

Ultimately, we must minimize severe cases,

And seek ways to overcome the virus with mild symptoms.

But we are not at that stage yet.

We still have room to gain the upper hand in the war against infectious diseases,

And above all, to avoid the worst situation,

We must complete all possible preparations.

We have no choice but to rely on active vaccination.

To prevent the virus, which continues to mutate relentlessly, from sweeping through everyone’s lives again,

The strongest defense is vaccination.

Also, vaccination rates must rise further

To glimpse the possibility of herd immunity formation.

Fortunately, the first-dose vaccination rate has exceeded 50% of the total population,

But there are still many hurdles to achieving practical herd immunity.

We are well aware of vaccine side effects,

But to move forward,

We must go through this process,

And I hope citizens understand this.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council will continue to support legislation to expand healthcare personnel and ensure safe vaccination.

Thorough quarantine is still essential.

We must not let the virus find gaps,

And each person must not let go of the quarantine efforts in their place.

In crisis, quarantine must become an implicit social contract and norm,

Like traffic laws that we naturally observe.

However, recently, citizens’ attitudes have changed according to public quarantine policies.

Respected Mayor Oh Se-hoon and officials of Seoul City,

Public institutions must always consider the worst of the worst.

They must respond delicately to the safety and health of ten million citizens.

Maximizing virus response capabilities is a priority.

Showing reckless leniency by saying we must live with the virus invites danger.

Seoul City must first firmly hold the reins,

Create a flawless quarantine atmosphere,

So that citizens gain grounds to endure this pain.

Furthermore, if persuading participation in quarantine,

Above all, citizens’ trust must be maintained.

If Seoul City, at the forefront of quarantine, loses the trust of citizens who have endured hardships,

The momentum of quarantine will quickly dissipate.

Even in front of citizens’ tired faces,

To continue quarantine with pride and confidence,

Seoul City’s quarantine reorganization is necessary.

Despite various controversies, I expect a more thorough quarantine policy going forward.

Until vaccination rates reach a certain level,

Do not forget that the highest priority of city administration is flawless quarantine.

When the foundation of quarantine is firmly established

And confidence in immunity formation grows,

The Seoul Metropolitan Council will also consider sustainable and flexible quarantine measures together.

Respected citizens of Seoul,

Our daily lives must continue even amid the pandemic.

Rapid changes are redrawing the industrial map,

And the scenery of daily life is changing, but

Let us take a moment to breathe and calmly do our best in the given life.

Above all, even amid confusion,

We need an agile attitude to accept change.

So that we do not falter amid various changes,

Seoul City and the Seoul Metropolitan Council

Will diligently support you through policies and finances.

With heavy responsibility,

Seoul City has submitted the second supplementary budget.

Although the COVID-19 Coexistence National Support Fund budget accounts for a large portion,

The budget also includes expanding livelihood benefit recipients,

And providing jobs.

Based on this supplementary budget,

Citizens will gain relief like timely rain,

And the local economy will experience a small revitalizing breeze.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council deeply agrees with the necessity of the second supplementary budget

And will support financial assistance.

With the new semester starting and in-person classes expanding,

Public education, a national long-term plan, is gradually regaining vitality.

To ensure education for the growing future generation

Can proceed smoothly within the warm shelter of schools,

All members of society’s help is needed.

Please work diligently on quarantine with a tense mind

So that our children’s school commute can continue to be guaranteed.

We must not let children lose their smiles again

In front of firmly closed schools.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has also submitted a second supplementary budget

Aiming to restore public education.

It includes strengthening the school quarantine safety net, establishing a future-ready learning environment,

And smoothly transitioning to an emotionally stable environment.

The council will also discuss the agenda together.

Respected senior and colleague council members,

A hectic two weeks begin to intensively discuss the heavy tasks of

‘COVID-19 quarantine’ and ‘livelihood stabilization.’

It may be difficult to devise a tremendous strategy amid the global crisis,

But we must not lightly overlook even a small policy that can protect the lives of individual citizens.

Looking at the agenda submitted to this extraordinary session,

The hearts of the 110 council members to open a path amid Seoul’s desperate crisis are clearly felt.

First, a great quantitative effort has been made.

Among the 195 agenda items proposed in this session,

113 are council member-initiated proposals.

The ordinances include intentions to compensate for economic and social damages,

And to reconcile various conflicts

To achieve harmony.

They include contents for local governments to thoroughly respond to quarantine guideline violations,

And to provide relief for small business owners.

During a time when the burden of childcare at home has increased,

Efforts to provide childcare disaster relief funds,

And to provide jobs for the youth generation facing an employment cliff, are also included.

To allow Seoul citizens to remember historical facts together,

An ordinance on the use and management of Gwanghwamun Square has also been proposed.

I hope productive discussions during the session

Will serve as an opportunity to narrow the conflicts caused by the Sewol ferry memorial space.

Twenty years ago in August,

We showed our resilience by repaying the debt to the IMF three years early.

As an individual before being chairman,

I am proud of our DNA that has always overcome crises and conflicts and written a history of triumph.

The threat of the virus is exhausting and frightening,

But rather than setting limits,

Let us devote our best efforts now.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council will also fulfill its responsibilities

Without setting limits or boundaries. Thank you.

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