Seoul Metropolitan Council Begins Untact Deliberation on Seoul City's 2022 Budget Proposal

Seoul Metropolitan Council's Video Conference System Enables Voting, Agenda Processing, and Policy Questions... Live Broadcast System Accessible to All Citizens Expands Council Democracy Horizons... 'Nation's First' Self-Developed System Sets New Direction for Untact Budget Review in Local Councils

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] The Seoul Metropolitan Council's Budget and Accounts Special Committee is conducting the review of next year's Seoul city budget on the 15th using untact and non-face-to-face methods.

This demonstrates how the video conferencing system, which the Seoul Metropolitan Council had prepared in advance, is effectively functioning amid the crisis situation and is leading the way in showing the direction local councils should take in the future.

The non-face-to-face video conferencing system, completed by the Seoul Metropolitan Council in October, is equipped with detailed functions that allow all parliamentary proceedings such as Q&A sessions, administrative questions, and agenda processing.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council's video conferencing system includes features such as objection status per agenda item, electronic voting, and confirmation of voting results, enabling the processing of various agendas. It also allows real-time monitoring of council members attending the video conference, making it easy to manage the quorum for decisions.

Additionally, the video conferencing system enables 5-minute free speeches and administrative questions and answers. Large TVs were installed in front of the chairperson's seat in the main assembly hall and the standing committee chairpersons' seats, linking the video conferencing system with the existing audio and video systems to prepare a new non-face-to-face parliamentary environment that facilitates smooth communication.

Unlike Zoom, which only allows invited participants, the Seoul Metropolitan Council's video conference is broadcast live through the council's official website and YouTube, allowing numerous citizens to watch the meeting situation with just one click.

Under the strong initiative of Chairperson Kim In-ho, the council began building the non-face-to-face video conferencing system in June and completed it in October. Before the 303rd regular session, they even conducted mock operations for standing committees and the plenary session. Seoul Metropolitan Council is the first in the nation to independently establish a video conferencing system in preparation for the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

Chairperson Kim In-ho expressed relief that the Budget and Accounts Committee, which had been suspended for over a week, is proceeding smoothly through the video conferencing system. He also stated that, as the "eldest brother" of local councils, he will continue to lead the direction local councils should take in the untact era.

Chairperson Kim said, “I was very anxious because the budget approval was uncertain due to the COVID-19 threat, but seeing sharp questions and answers exchanged through the pre-established video conferencing system gives me hope that we can move toward a new horizon called the 'non-face-to-face council.' We will actively utilize this system for plenary and standing committee activities in emergency situations next year as well.”

He also emphasized, “As Seoul Metropolitan Council enters the era of Autonomy Decentralization 2.0, as the eldest brother of local councils, we will diligently establish new milestones such as building video conferencing systems to serve as a bridge connecting 10 million citizens and the executive branch.”

Kim Ho-pyeong, chairperson of the Budget and Accounts Committee currently conducting the review through the video conferencing system, previously stated, “Non-face-to-face video conferencing is the council’s determination to conduct substantial budget reviews amid the unavoidable situation of COVID-19,” and expressed his commitment to doing his best to prevent delays in support for people's livelihoods or administrative confusion.

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