[New Year's Address] Kim In-ho, Chairman of Seoul Metropolitan Council, "We Must Support Small Business Owners and Self-Employed Victims"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] New Year's Address for the Year of the Black Tiger 2022

Dear ten million citizens, I am Kim In-ho, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council.

In the midst of an unending crisis, the new year of 2022, the Year of the Black Tiger (Im In-nyeon, 壬寅年), has dawned. Contrary to our hopes of soon returning to normal life, the crisis remains by our side in a different form. Despite repeated hardships, I extend my gratitude and encouragement to the ten million citizens who are fulfilling their responsibilities in their respective places.

This year, our collective goal is "recovery."

We must recover from illness and from the fear of illness. We must restore the expectation that the situation will surely improve, and recover the confidence that by joining forces we can overcome this, along with the community spirit that arises from that confidence. We must also recover the sense of responsibility that we are both the agents overcoming the current crisis and the protagonists pioneering a new era. Not only the recovery of values but also the recovery of tangible realities is urgent. The stagnant local economies and neighborhood businesses must regain vitality, and opportunities must be created in the frozen employment market. The chaotic education field must regain stability, and the widening educational gap must be narrowed. Warm support must reach the blind spots of care where proper attention has not been given.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council will devote all its efforts to accelerating such recovery.

Recovery does not happen by itself. Like forging a sword through relentless tempering and polishing, it requires selection and concentration. Although the national and local governments have implemented various policies to overcome the crisis, more proactive and concrete measures are needed for complete recovery.

First, we must care for the damages suffered by small business owners and self-employed individuals.

Due to high-intensity social distancing and business restrictions, self-employed people have suffered immeasurable losses. Even the year-end sales they had hoped for were dashed by further strengthened distancing measures. The ongoing state-led compensation for losses is grossly insufficient. Even those designated as affected industries find it difficult to have all their losses recognized, and those excluded from support suffer from relative deprivation. Considering the prolonged business restrictions in the metropolitan area, efforts must be made without delay to provide sufficient compensation for damages.

Second, we must open the future for the youth.

Over the past two years, income inequality has widened and social mobility has deteriorated. The sense of deprivation and isolation felt by the younger generation has grown accordingly. At a time when they should be energetically preparing for the future, young people have instead been forced to give up. For society to recover healthily, expanding youth employment and entrepreneurship opportunities must be prioritized. As work styles have changed due to COVID-19, there is growing awareness not only among job-seeking youth but also those seeking flexible work. The Seoul Metropolitan Council will make greater efforts not only to expand regular employment for youth but also to build an entrepreneurial environment that encourages challenges.

Third, we will expand the social care function.

At every precarious moment, the burden of care within families has increased. When schools and welfare institutions closed, the responsibility for caring for young children and elderly parents was entirely shifted to families. Now society must alleviate that burden. Even after the crisis ends, care institutions and care professionals must be steadily expanded to establish an advanced care system. The Seoul Metropolitan Council will actively pursue legislative efforts in the areas of infant care, elementary education, and elderly welfare.

Fourth, we will become a trusted Seoul Metropolitan Council.

For the recovery policies planned by the Seoul Metropolitan Council to be implemented without setbacks, the support and encouragement of citizens for legislative activities must be backed. For that, citizens' trust in the Seoul Metropolitan Council is paramount. We will become a council that meets the heightened expectations of citizens through policy-centered legislative activities, integrity in governance, and outreach activities.

This year marks significant changes in the local autonomy system. With the enforcement of the revised Local Autonomy Act, true decentralized autonomy where residents are the masters will be accelerated. Until now, residents' political participation was limited to voting every four years, but with the introduction of the resident ordinance proposal system, continuous political participation is now possible. Local councils will also rise as institutions with greater authority and responsibility. Above all, with the independence of personnel authority in the council secretariat, we can demonstrate enhanced expertise. We will show capable performance across all legislative areas including oversight and checks on the executive, policy legislation, and resolving civil complaints.

Dear ten million citizens,

Just as the Delta variant appeared when COVID-19 seemed to be subsiding, and the Omicron variant emerged just as we dreamed of returning to normal life, this situation can repeat at any time. It could be due to another variant or an entirely different form of crisis unrelated to COVID-19. In such times, we must gratefully live each day given to us. We must dispel anxiety and focus on what we can do now.

All members of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, including myself, will dedicate ourselves to legislative activities with renewed determination in the new year. We will walk solely toward recovery so that citizens can maintain peaceful daily lives. I sincerely hope everyone will join in making the history of recovery together in good health. Happy New Year. Thank you.

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