Kim Hyun-ki, Chairman of Seoul Metropolitan Council, Elected as the 18th Chairman of the Korea City and Provincial Council Chairpersons Association

Chairman Kim Hyun-gi Expresses Commitment to Strengthening the Authority and Status of Local Councils... Emphasizes 'Complete Local Council Operation' through Enforcement of 1:1 Aide System and Strengthening of Council Organizational and Budgetary Powers... Promises Tailored Policies and Support for International Events in 17 Cities and Provinces... Also Pledges Reorganization of the Council Secretariat and Substantial Overseas Training Support for City and Provincial Chairpersons... Chairman Kim Declares Bipartisan Harmony and Operation of the Council with an Empathetic Mindset

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Kim Hyun-ki, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council (People Power Party, Gangnam 3rd District), was unanimously elected as the 18th Chairperson at the regular meeting of the Korea Council of Chairs of Provincial and Metropolitan Councils held on the 21st at Hotel In The City in Daejeon.

Chairperson Kim expressed his determination, stating, "I will devote myself to strengthening the authority and status of local councils."

The regular meeting was chaired by interim Chairperson Jo Gil-yeon (Chairperson of Chungnam Provincial Council), and among the 17 chairs nationwide, 14 attended. Kim Hyun-ki was elected through a single-candidate recommendation process.

As his top priority, Chairperson Kim emphasized the "implementation of 1:1 aides (policy support personnel)," stating, "The groundbreaking started in Seoul, and the completion will also be in Seoul."

He also stated, "The council will carry out the revision of the Local Autonomy Act and legislative work with the National Assembly to establish a foundation for the 'full operation of local councils.'"

Furthermore, Chairperson Kim presented legislative initiatives as essential tasks to strengthen the council’s organizational authority and budgetary rights, and to realize realistic council expenses, adding, "We will actively pursue activities for the enactment of the Local Council Basic Act."

Customized policy support for the 17 metropolitan and provincial councils will also be carried out at the council level. Chairperson Kim proposed, "Support for promoting international events such as the Chungcheong Summer Universiade (2027), Busan World Expo (2030), Jeonbuk’s Green New Deal, and Jeonnam’s Suncheonman International Garden Expo (2023) will also be provided."

He also suggested innovation tasks to create a clean and competitive council. Chairperson Kim said, "Along with the reorganization and restructuring of the council’s secretariat, we will promote substantial overseas training for each metropolitan and provincial chairperson and also pursue small representative delegations for cooperation with overseas local councils."

He emphasized harmony between ruling and opposition parties within the council. On the day, Chairperson Kim declared, "I will always operate the council with a spirit of empathy and mutual understanding."

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