Kim In-ho Seoul City Council Chairman Criticizes Mayor Oh Se-hoon for Forcing Appointment of Kim Heon-dong as SH President

Chairman Kim In-ho Strongly Criticizes Mayor Oh for Forcibly Appointing SH President Despite Seoul City Council Hearing Disqualification Opinion on Former Kyungsilyeon Director Kim Heon-dong in Opening Remarks at the 303rd Regular Session Plenary Meeting on the 16th at 10 AM

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Kim In-ho, Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, strongly criticized Mayor Oh Se-hoon for forcibly appointing Kim Heon-dong as the president of SH Corporation during the plenary session of the 303rd regular meeting of the Seoul Metropolitan Council on the 16th.

Before starting the meeting, Chairman Kim said, "The phrase 'there is no peaceful day' best describes the current situation of Seoul."

Chairman Kim criticized, "Yesterday, Seoul appointed Kim Heon-dong, former head of the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice, as the new president of SH Corporation. Despite the disqualification resolution by the Seoul Metropolitan Council, the appointment was forcibly carried out, which I deeply regret." He also expressed regret that the result might have been predetermined since the third recruitment was conducted after re-nominating a candidate who had failed once.

He added, "However, considering the importance of Seoul's housing policy, there was a slight expectation that this appointment would be different. But there was no surprise," and scolded, "Mayor, Seoul must never become a testing ground for policies."

The various policies advocated by President Kim Heon-dong, such as half-price apartments, are unverified policies anywhere. They were merely blueprints lacking concrete supply scale, supply timing, and funding plans, he criticized.

One person's fleeting idea cannot jeopardize the daily lives of 10 million citizens. Considering Seoul's symbolism and influence as the capital, more cautious strategies and execution are necessary, he emphasized.

Chairman Kim said, "How many sighs have our common people, especially young workers and newlyweds, had to let out because of housing? They should no longer shed tears. Mayor, I am genuinely worried about Seoul's personnel management," and criticized, "Seoul has been at the center of controversy and criticism due to revolving-door and patronage appointments."

Below is Chairman Kim In-ho’s Opening Remarks at the 2nd Plenary Session of the 303rd Regular Meeting

Before starting the meeting, I would like to say a few words.

"There is no peaceful day."

This phrase best describes the current Seoul.

But this wind

is not an unavoidable wind blowing from afar,

but a whirlwind created from within,

and the Seoul Metropolitan Council cannot hide its concerns about this fact.

Yesterday, Seoul appointed

Kim Heon-dong, former head of the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice,

as the new president of SH Corporation.

Despite the disqualification resolution by the Seoul Metropolitan Council,

the appointment was forcibly carried out, which I deeply regret.

From the moment a candidate who failed once was re-nominated

and a third recruitment was conducted,

the result might have already been predetermined.

However, considering the importance of Seoul's housing policy,

there was a slight expectation that this appointment would be different.

But there was no surprise.

Mayor,

Seoul must never become a testing ground for policies.

The various policies advocated by President Kim Heon-dong, such as half-price apartments,

are unverified policies anywhere.

They were merely blueprints lacking concrete supply scale, supply timing, and funding plans.

One person's fleeting idea

cannot jeopardize the daily lives of 10 million citizens.

Considering Seoul's symbolism and influence as the capital,

more cautious strategies and execution are necessary.

Our common people, especially young workers and newlyweds,

how many sighs have they had to let out because of housing?

They should no longer shed tears.

Mayor,

I am genuinely worried about Seoul's personnel management.

Seoul has been at the center of controversy and criticism

due to revolving-door and patronage appointments.

It is as if political figure Oh Se-hoon’s political bodyguards are being positioned,

appointing heads of open positions and investment-funded institutions,

and public concern about these aspects is growing.

Mayor,

the recent audit committee announcement is no different.

You ousted the former audit committee chairman who still had a term left

and placed someone who seemed like your former bodyguard in that position.

And shortly after showing audit intentions,

you announced three audit results on a large scale.

Typically, audits take more than six months,

sometimes over a year.

This is the minimum time needed to carefully examine complex issues

and determine right and wrong.

But in just three months, hastily and simultaneously,

not just one but three large-scale cases,

coincidentally all topics favorable to you,

were actively announced to the media during the administrative audit and budget review period.

From the moment the audit committee chairman was appointed,

this audit, done as if the answer was predetermined,

is filled with political intent.

It also shows disregard for the council.

Without any respect or consideration for democratic council procedures,

it is a gesture of pressure to manipulate the budget as you wish.

Mayor,

Seoul faces many urgent issues.

How are the COVID-19 livelihood stabilization measures progressing?

How thoroughly is the with-COVID-19 quarantine plan prepared?

Is the securing of hospital beds for the rapidly increasing confirmed cases proceeding without issues?

Is the management of exponentially increasing home treatment patients being properly handled?

Have measures been prepared to minimize student infections after the college entrance exam?

On top of that, vulnerable groups must endure a cold wave amid the quarantine crisis.

Is support for them well prepared?

Securing urea solution is an even bigger problem.

How much is currently secured?

Is there an accurate calculation of how long it can last?

Are hospital vehicles, fire trucks, and other essential vehicles that must be immediately deployed to disaster sites all operating without issues?

While ample stockpiling is a priority,

are you sufficiently explaining to citizens and seeking their understanding about meticulous inventory management based on priorities?

Everything in the world is about people and relationships between people.

Even if situations, positions, and methods differ,

if we show courtesy and respect to each other,

I believe hearts can still connect.

What is desperately needed between Seoul City and the Seoul Metropolitan Council,

and between Seoul City and its 10 million citizens,

is precisely this attitude of communication and consideration.

What citizens want

is not personnel or audits for a few,

but a strong protective shield of

quarantine, safety, and welfare that embraces us all.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council also wishes for that.

We want Seoul City and the council to openly discuss

and set the priorities for next year’s policies.

Without wasting administrative power and budget on unnecessary areas,

we want to implement policies in the order that 10 million citizens desire.

Mayor,

You proposed the guaranteed income.

I propose going beyond that to a ‘Seoul-type Basic Income.’

The intention of guaranteed income is good.

But 500 households is too few.

If the target is limited, the effect will inevitably be limited.

What use is it if the budget is spent but the impact is not felt?

Especially in terms of recovering everyone’s daily lives from a prolonged crisis,

support for only a very few may be useless.

Moreover, the households not selected among the 500 will have to endure relative deprivation.

Rather, we should choose a method that fills the pockets of all citizens a little

to stimulate consumption.

We need to unblock the clogged flow of the local economy

and provide the initial capital so it can circulate on its own.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council envisions a basic income

of 500,000 won per household, targeting about 4 million households.

2 trillion won, of course, is a large budget.

It may be burdensome to sustain every year.

But Seoul must take the lead.

Seoul must first show and model how selective and focused budget use

can bring about efficient results.

The Seoul-type Basic Income

is an opportunity to guarantee citizens’ minimum living standards

and revive the damaged capillaries of our economy.

Dripping raindrops cannot fill cracked rice paddies.

Leaving the cracks as they are,

there is no way to sprout life and cultivate the landscape.

Please remember that the future of Seoul you envision

is inseparable from the future of Seoul envisioned by the council.

I sincerely hope the remaining regular meeting proceeds smoothly,

and that the path Seoul’s administration and council walk forward

is one of coexistence and cooperation.

Thank you.

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