Kim In-ho, Chairman of Seoul Metropolitan Council, Demands Official Statement from Seoul Mayor on Presidential Office Relocation to Yongsan

Seoul Metropolitan Council 306th Extraordinary Session Held March 25 - April 8 Thorough Review to Reflect Supplementary Budget and Local Field's Practical Demands... Chairman Kim In-ho Emphasizes "Becoming a Shield Protecting Citizens' Safety and Dignity with Bold Leadership and Detailed Policies"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] The Seoul Metropolitan Council (Chairman Kim In-ho, Democratic Party of Korea, Dongdaemun-gu District 3) will hold the 306th extraordinary session for 15 days from March 25 to April 8.

During this extraordinary session, various pending issues, including the first supplementary budget for 2022, are expected to be addressed.

Chairman Kim In-ho, in his opening remarks, mentioned the difficult situations inside and outside Seoul such as the Omicron pandemic, the wildfires in Uljin and Samcheok, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, emphasizing that this is a critical time for the role of local governments.

He particularly requested an official stance from the administrative head of Seoul regarding the president-elect's plan to relocate the presidential office to Yongsan.

Chairman Kim stated, "The existing Blue House, used as the presidential office and residence, and the newly proposed Yongsan Ministry of National Defense and Hannam-dong official residence area are all located in Seoul," emphasizing, "This issue is not only a national matter but also a regional matter that must reflect the opinions of Seoul citizens."

He also said, "Seoul is currently experiencing unprecedented generational, gender, and class conflicts. To resolve the culture of hatred that antagonizes differences, advanced conflict management policies are urgently needed," and stressed, "Specifically, the organization of the Women and Family Policy Office should be expanded and restructured to strengthen women's policies."

Chairman Kim added, "The most important agenda of this session is the supplementary budget bill," and pointed out, "While I agree with the urgency of the supplementary budget and each proposed project, it is regrettable that it is a top-down budget considering only the city's position rather than the practical demands of each autonomous district. I will thoroughly review it to ensure that procedural importance is not overlooked due to the urgency of the supplementary budget."

He also announced that he would thoroughly examine whether the mayoral pledge projects, which were cut during the main budget review but included in this supplementary budget, have addressed the previously pointed-out issues.

Furthermore, he emphasized the need for more inclusive support measures than ever before, urging a positive reconsideration of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's request for reconsideration of the ordinance on the payment of creative allowances to artists, from the perspective of not only the daily recovery of individual artists but also securing the sustainability of the entire cultural and arts industry.

Additionally, he called for local governments to actively engage in healing the widespread generational, gender, and class conflicts in society, proposing the establishment of the Seoul Women and Family Support Agency and strengthening women's policies as part of efforts to resolve gender gaps and conflicts. He also emphasized the need to expand and reorganize the Seoul Youth Agency to implement customized youth policies.

Finally, regarding the plan to relocate the presidential office, he urged the mayor to make an official statement. Despite the relocation being a national issue that affects all Seoul citizens, the minimum process of gathering opinions from Yongsan-gu residents, the proposed site, has not been conducted. Considering this, he requested a clear stance as the administrative head of Seoul to reduce citizens' anxiety and harm.

Chairman Kim recalled that this extraordinary session is the last session before the nationwide local elections, applauded senior and fellow council members who have expressed new challenges, and expressed gratitude to the mayor, superintendent of education, and public officials who have worked together for citizens' safety amid the unexpected COVID-19 crisis.

This extraordinary session will begin with an opening ceremony on March 25, followed by a policy speech on the submission of the first supplementary budget for 2022 and questions regarding Seoul city administration and education administration on the same day. From March 26 to April 4, each standing committee will review the supplementary budget and deliberate on various agenda items from relevant offices, headquarters, and bureaus.

From April 5 to April 7, the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts will operate, and on the final day, April 8, a plenary session will be held to process the agenda items thoroughly discussed and submitted by the standing committees.

Opening Remarks

Dear ten million respected and beloved citizens,

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

And senior and fellow council members,

Starting today, the 306th extraordinary session of the Seoul Metropolitan Council will proceed over 15 days.

Every year around this time,

the long winter recedes and spring arrives.

Just as new sprouts break through the frozen ground,

this is also a season to overcome hardships and embrace hope.

However, unfortunately, this year,

the situation surrounding Seoul is not favorable.

Due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic,

livelihoods are still enduring a harsh winter.

With the Omicron pandemic continuing for several months,

the existing response system has become insufficient,

and a new form of quarantine system is urgently needed.

Additionally, the wildfires that occurred earlier this month in the Uljin and Samcheok areas

were barely extinguished after a fierce ten-day battle,

leaving scars that are difficult to heal.

As the longest-lasting wildfire in history,

the burned area exceeds one-third of Seoul,

and the estimated damage amounts to 160 billion won,

making full recovery realistically impossible.

The international situation is equally severe.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine

is a ruthless act of violence that shattered the peace and stability of the earth,

which the world had fought to protect even amid the pandemic.

War not only harms innocent lives,

but also undermines the political and economic stability of neighboring countries.

In these times when the harsh winds of conflict do not cease,

the role of local governments is extremely important.

If we remember that the role and responsibility of local governments is to reach out before citizens do,

now is the time to be the place everyone can rely on with all our strength.

With bold leadership and meticulous policies,

we must become a shield protecting citizens' safety and dignity from natural disasters, calamities, and war.

This is why the extraordinary session starting today must be a sincere policy stage to relieve citizens' economic and psychological tensions.

One of the core issues is

the review of the first supplementary budget for 2022.

Seoul has unusually submitted a supplementary budget before the final accounts to support COVID-19 damage relief and quarantine.

It has allocated budgets intensively to three urgent support areas: 424.8 billion won for livelihood recovery, 206.1 billion won for quarantine, and 113 billion won for safety and security.

Support for small business owners and SMEs, living expenses for COVID-19 inpatients and isolated individuals, and deficit operation support for subways, buses, and village buses constitute large portions.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council deeply sympathizes with the urgency of the supplementary budget and each proposed project.

However, it is also true that there are regrettable aspects.

The submitted supplementary budget is a top-down budget prioritizing the city's position only.

It appears that the practical demands of each autonomous district have not been reflected.

During the main budget review at the end of last year,

to secure the COVID-19 livelihood recovery budget,

local issues such as aging facility improvements had to be postponed.

Essential local budgets that had to be reluctantly conceded are now piling up one after another.

Seoul must prioritize reflecting the needs of local sites,

and exercise restraint by not being greedy about issues that are not urgent on the ground.

In particular, some mayoral pledge projects included in this supplementary budget raise questions.

There were valid reasons for cutting the budgets of these projects during the main budget.

Not only were they less urgent,

but also procedural supplements were needed as prior procedures were not fully completed.

It is necessary to thoroughly re-examine from the beginning whether these projects have addressed all the pointed-out issues.

To ensure that procedural importance is not ignored due to the urgency of the supplementary budget,

the Seoul Metropolitan Council will review it with the same strong responsibility as the main budget.

Respected Mayor Oh Se-hoon,

To erase the traces of the harsh winter,

we must consider new forms of support.

It is time to implement inclusive policies

that water the dry land and blow warm air into the barren atmosphere.

Today, I would like to talk about support measures for cultural artists as one of these.

Cultural artists have faced great difficulties outside the social safety net even before the COVID-19 outbreak.

As the crisis prolongs,

serious damage has accumulated across the cultural and arts sector,

putting the ecosystem itself at risk of collapse.

Mayor,

Seoul is not just a city,

but the capital responsible for the status of the Republic of Korea.

The status of a nation is established when mature civic consciousness combines with laws and systems.

Seoul must lead a more mature public opinion by implementing advanced and creative policies that meet citizens' expectations.

This applies equally to the cultural and arts industry.

We must prepare forward-looking cultural policies,

not cling to policies lagging behind other regions,

driving away promising artists.

If we remember that K-Culture and K-Content are at the center of Seoul's future economic growth,

we must consider artist support measures from the perspective of regional economic development.

The "Ordinance on the Payment of Creative Allowances to Artists in Seoul," passed by the Seoul Metropolitan Council at the 305th extraordinary session,

was prepared with this awareness.

Therefore, it is regrettable that Seoul City has requested reconsideration of this ordinance.

We ask for a positive reconsideration to secure the sustainability of the cultural and arts industry through the daily recovery of individual artists.

Furthermore, please actively engage in healing the widespread conflicts in our society.

Seoul is currently experiencing unprecedented

generational, gender, and class conflicts.

To resolve the culture of hatred that antagonizes differences,

advanced conflict management policies are urgently needed.

Specifically,

the organization of the Women and Family Policy Office should be expanded and restructured,

and women's policies should be strengthened.

Our society has taken difficult steps over a long time

toward the advancement of women's rights.

Though slow, we did not give up,

and thanks to that, we have been able to create gradual change.

We cannot now turn back from that arduous journey.

The current era demands more than ever

the abolition of gender discrimination and the spread of gender equality culture,

and we must respond to that call.

While laws and systems may not lead civic consciousness,

we cannot afford to even fall behind.

Seoul must deeply understand the patterns of gender gaps and conflicts

and implement policies to eliminate discrimination.

Accordingly, the Seoul Metropolitan Council proposes

the establishment of the Seoul Women and Family Support Agency.

Also, the Seoul Youth Agency should be expanded and reorganized.

Youth demands and expectations have become more specific than before.

Customized youth policies tailored to each demand are necessary,

and for this, organizational restructuring is required.

While restructuring alone is not enough,

it will be the first step toward healing conflicts.

One more thing I want to mention is

a request to represent citizens' opinions regarding the plan to relocate the presidential office.

The president-elect has announced plans to move the presidential office to Yongsan,

and as the administrative head of Seoul, an official stance is necessary.

The existing Blue House, used as the presidential office and residence,

and the newly proposed Yongsan Ministry of National Defense and Hannam-dong official residence area

are all located in Seoul.

This issue is both a national matter and a regional matter that must reflect the opinions of Seoul citizens.

It may not be easy to gather all citizens' opinions,

but at least for Yongsan-gu residents, the proposed site,

a public hearing should have been held in advance to collect opinions,

and a promise that no unexpected damage would occur should have preceded.

In any case, Mayor, please promptly represent the citizens' will with an official statement,

and alleviate citizens' worries and anxieties.

Respected senior and fellow council members,

The nationwide local elections are now just two months away.

This extraordinary session is also the last session before the election.

Despite the busy minds, I believe you will show enthusiastic legislative activities until the end,

and I express my gratitude in advance.

Many senior and fellow council members have already expressed new challenges.

Wherever you go, knowing that it is a path toward the development of local autonomy,

I sincerely send you applause of support.

The 10th Seoul Metropolitan Council has passed a historic period

marked by the full revision of the Local Autonomy Act,

one of the most memorable achievements in 30 years of local autonomy history.

I consider it a great honor to have worked with you during this historic moment.

And to the mayor, superintendent of education, and public officials!

I will never forget your efforts for citizens' safety and happiness

in the unexpected crisis of COVID-19.

Although there were difficulties in coordinating opinions at times,

I deeply appreciate your efforts to work together.

Though our reality is still winter,

please remember that spring will surely come.

And if we all work together,

please keep the hope in your hearts that we can bring spring forward,

and continue to give your best until the end.

I wish everyone success. Thank you.

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