Seoul City Council Holds the 318th Extraordinary Session... Key Agendas?

Chairman Kim Hyun-ki Calls for Comprehensive Diagnosis and Prompt, Prudent Response to Seoul’s Issues Ranging from Mega Development Plans, Bridge Accidents, Youth Drug Crimes, to Declining School-Age Population

Seoul Metropolitan Council Holds the 318th Extraordinary Session from April 14 to May 3 for 20 Days, Reviewing a Total of 133 Livelihood and Reform Agendas

Chairman Kim Emphasizes the Need for 'Selection and Concentration' in Mega Development Plans and Demands Urgent Bridge Inspections to Prevent Another 'Second Bundang Pedestrian Bridge' Incident

Highlights Prevention of Drug Crimes in Youth-Dense Areas Such as Academy Districts and Mid-to-Long-Term Educational Measures to Address Rapid Decline in School-Age Population

The Seoul Metropolitan Council (Chairman Kim Hyun-ki) opened the 318th extraordinary session on April 14 and commenced full-scale legislative activities for a 20-day period until May 3.

During this extraordinary session, a total of 133 livelihood and reform bills are scheduled to be processed.

Chairman Kim Hyun-ki (People Power Party, Gangnam 3rd Electoral District), in his opening remarks, conveyed both expectations and concerns regarding various issues surrounding Seoul’s administration and educational affairs, including ▲Seoul’s mega development and future policies ▲safety issues of aging infrastructure such as bridges ▲drug crimes targeting youth ▲declining school-age population due to low birth rates ▲resignation of MZ generation public officials ▲and the ‘2030 Busan World Expo’ bid as a united team, urging the executive branch for a response that is both prudent and swift.

Regarding Seoul’s continuously announced mega development plans and future policies, Chairman Kim evaluated them as “blueprints for enhancing citizens’ welfare and Seoul’s bright future,” but also expressed concerns that “citizens worry whether these are refined and restrained policies or if immature policies are being produced amid flashy explanations,” emphasizing the need for selection and concentration to prevent bureaucratic excesses from the competitively produced policies.

He also expressed shock and concern over the recent pedestrian bridge collapse accident in Bundang, Seongnam, stating, “Urgent inspections of both directly managed and outsourced bridges are necessary. We must examine whether there have been only formal inspections so far and call for a detailed full-scale investigation once again.” He reiterated the need to inspect housing sites and apartment complexes developed around the same time as the first-generation new towns, expand maintenance of aging infrastructure facilities, and proactively prepare for flood control.

Chairman Kim also urged Seoul City and the Metropolitan Office of Education to respond to drug crimes that have extended their reach to youth. He said, “Seoul must mobilize all autonomous police forces to prevent serious crimes such as drugs in youth-dense areas,” and “the Office of Education must devise the best measures to protect students in academy districts,” calling for active responses.

Regarding the first supplementary budget for 2023 passed by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on April 10, Chairman Kim evaluated that “the ‘three no’ principle was strictly applied to sharply and incisively review the conventionally wasteful budget,” and stated, “We will continue to closely monitor to ensure that the reviewed contents and opinions are definitely reflected in budget execution in the future.”

On the ‘Basic Academic Ability Guarantee Support Ordinance’ re-requested for reconsideration by the Office of Education, he expressed respect for the Office’s judgment but said they would seek opinions again. However, he strongly urged serious reflection on the Office of Education’s rudeness in submitting the reconsideration request with a single document without prior explanation to the council while simultaneously distributing a press release.

He further stated, “Seoul’s birth rate of 0.59 is a red alert. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education must proactively devise mid-to-long-term measures regarding the appropriate scale of schools in preparation for the rapid decline in the school-age population,” demanding preemptive measures to address the decrease in student numbers due to low birth rates.

Finally, regarding the 2030 Busan World Expo, he evaluated it as “one of the world’s three major mega events and the largest international event where Korea can once again elevate its status in the international community,” urging that “the Seoul Metropolitan Council and executive agencies must unite as one team and make every effort to support the Expo bid.”

This extraordinary session plans to start with an opening ceremony on April 14, followed by committee reviews of agendas related to respective offices, headquarters, and bureaus from April 17 to May 2, and conclude with a plenary session on May 3 to process the submitted agendas.

Opening Remarks by Chairman Kim Hyun-ki of the Seoul Metropolitan Council

Respected ten million citizens of Seoul!

Honorable public officials present, including the Mayor and Superintendent of Education!

And esteemed senior and fellow council members!

As we enter the second quarter of 2023,

Seoul City Hall and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education are accelerating the implementation of this year’s budget projects approved and decided by the council.

Seeing the brightly lit government buildings late into the evening,

citizens’ trust in the dedication of public officials is steadily increasing.

This is truly a desirable sight.

Although working beyond regular hours is a bittersweet matter,

our council wishes to offer support and encouragement for the diligent work of the executive agencies for the citizens and Seoul.

Recently, Seoul has been announcing mega development plans and future policies daily.

These are blueprints aimed at enhancing citizens’ welfare and Seoul’s bright future. They can be described as a dazzling array of initiatives.

However, amidst this flood of policies,

we cannot deny that citizens also have concerns.

They wonder whether these policies are refined and restrained or if immature policies are being produced amid flashy explanations.

They demand the council’s final decision-making role on policies.

In particular, we must heed the criticism that competitively produced policies by each department may become bureaucratic excesses.

As the saying goes, “More haste, less speed.”

This is a time for selection and concentration.

The recent pedestrian bridge collapse accident in Bundang, Seongnam, is shocking.

It was reportedly rated as satisfactory during an inspection not long ago.

The first-generation new towns built between 1989 and 1996

have caused and predicted numerous aftereffects even at that time.

Issues such as poor-quality materials due to shortages of sand, cement, and rebar,

and the use of many unskilled workers leading to substandard concrete problems were raised.

The government also promised rapid reconstruction by enacting special laws.

Seoul City must urgently inspect both directly managed and outsourced bridges.

Bridges hold a deep pain for Seoul citizens.

We urge a detailed full-scale investigation to determine whether only formal inspections have been conducted so far.

Especially, Seoul has several large-scale housing development districts and apartment complexes developed around the same time as the first-generation new towns,

and precise inspections of these are urgently required.

At that time, the reconstruction period for apartments was 20 years,

and experts generally view these buildings as having a basic lifespan of 20 years rather than lasting over 50 years.

This expert opinion must not be overlooked.

Furthermore, investment in maintenance and management of aging infrastructure facilities must be expanded.

According to statistics, Korea’s infrastructure was mainly supplied in the 1980s and 1990s, and about 20% of facilities nationwide are over 30 years old.

Thirty years is the standard for judging aging facilities.

In other words, 30% will be reached in five years, and 40% in ten years.

By 2032, half of infrastructure facilities such as tunnels, bridges, and water supply and sewage systems

will be aging facilities.

Seoul urgently needs fundamental countermeasures.

Flood control is the most basic element of urban administration.

The essence of flood control is to collect water well and discharge it well. Proper collection prepares for droughts, and proper discharge prevents damage during heavy rains.

Due to climate anomalies, heavy rains have intensified and droughts have worsened. Who can guarantee that drought will not occur in the Han River basin?

Seoul must proactively prepare. Research on reducing water pipe leaks and constructing underground drinking water dams must begin now.

Delaying today’s tasks until tomorrow inevitably increases costs, which is one of the most basic teachings of economics.

The council approved the first supplementary budget for this year submitted by the Office of Education on April 10.

The so-called ‘three no’ budget principle was strictly applied to eliminate unnecessary, unclear, and ineffective budget items.

This was the result of sharp and incisive scrutiny of conventionally wasteful budget practices.

The council will continue to closely monitor to ensure that the reviewed contents and opinions are definitely reflected in budget execution.

Please keep this in mind.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education requested reconsideration of the ‘Basic Academic Ability Guarantee Support Ordinance’ approved by the council.

Differences of opinion between the council and the Office of Education may exist.

The council respects the Office’s judgment and plans to seek opinions again.

However, the Office of Education submitted the reconsideration request without any prior explanation to the council, sending only a single document and simultaneously issuing a press release.

We strongly urge serious reflection on this rudeness, which shows no respect or consideration for the council.

The council is a partner for consultation and cooperation, not an object of disdain or neglect.

The recent incident involving drug-laced drinks in the Gangnam academy district is shocking.

Protecting youth is an important duty of the autonomous police.

Seoul must mobilize all autonomous police forces to prevent serious crimes such as drugs in youth-dense areas.

The Office of Education must also devise the best measures to protect students in academy districts. Immediate measures must be established and thoroughly implemented.

Recently, resignations among MZ generation public officials have sharply increased.

The competition rate for public official recruitment exams has also significantly declined.

This is a clear sign that the morale of young public officials has greatly dropped.

This is a loss and a crisis for the organization as a whole.

Low salaries and rigid organizational culture are cited as primary reasons.

Salary issues are not tasks for the Mayor or Superintendent of Education to resolve.

However, improving organizational culture requires careful and continuous efforts by senior public officials.

They must consider this a matter critical to the organization’s future.

A thorough organizational diagnosis must be prepared.

Seoul’s birth rate of 0.59 is a red alert.

Especially, fundamental measures are required to address the decrease in student numbers due to low birth rates at school sites.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education must proactively devise mid-to-long-term plans regarding the appropriate scale of schools in preparation for the rapid decline in the school-age population.

We urge the Office of Education for swift response and preparation.

Currently, the entire nation is uniting efforts to bid for the 2030 Busan World Expo. The World Expo is counted among the three major mega events alongside the World Cup and the Olympics. It is an absolute element necessary for joining the ranks of advanced countries.

The four major local government associations have resolved to cooperate jointly at the Central-Local Cooperation Council.

This is the largest international event where Korea can once again elevate its status in the international community.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council and executive agencies must unite as the ‘2030 Busan World Expo Bid One Team’ and make every effort.

Respected council members!

This morning, I happened to read a phrase displayed in front of a religious facility.

“Do not lead but push forward, do not follow but walk together, do not step aside but hold hands, let us welcome spring together.”

Poet Cho Byung-hwa wrote a poem about spring long ago.

He said, ‘Always be diligent like spring, always be fresh like spring.’

At this extraordinary session held in the new spring, citizens have great expectations that council members and executive officials will diligently discuss and prepare new alternatives for Seoul. I urge you to strive.

Thank you.

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