Seoul Metropolitan Council and Education Office Express Regret Over 'Habitual Requests for Reconsideration'

Education Office Requests Reconsideration of Three Ordinances Aimed at Saving and Properly Using Citizens' Taxes... Reconsideration to be Held at August Special Session

Concerns Over Habitual Reconsideration Requests... Urging Dedication to Restoring Collapsed Educational Authority and Revitalizing Public Education

Kim Hyun-ki, Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council

The Seoul Metropolitan Council (Chairman Kim Hyun-ki) expressed deep regret over Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon's refusal to promulgate ordinances that were lawfully passed by the council after thorough deliberation in accordance with the will of Seoul citizens, instead requesting reconsideration.

Earlier on the 27th, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education requested reconsideration of three ordinances passed by the Seoul Metropolitan Council earlier this month: the "Ordinance on Support Standards for Labor Unions of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education," the "Ordinance to Repeal the Ordinance on Activation and Support of Ecological Transition Education," and the "Ordinance on Activation and Support of School Environmental Education."

The Seoul Metropolitan Council announced that, pursuant to the Local Autonomy Act and the Seoul Metropolitan Council Basic Ordinance, it will seek the collective opinion of all council members again on the three ordinances requested for reconsideration at the upcoming August special session.

However, the council maintains that the recently passed ordinance on labor union support standards is intended to save and properly use Seoul citizens' taxes. This aligns with Chairman Kim Hyun-ki’s firm and consistent promotion of the "3-No Principles" (No unnecessary use, No unclear execution purpose, No unclear effect).

The Seoul Metropolitan Council particularly pointed out that, while school closures continue in Seoul leading to an increase in internal idle facilities, it is difficult to justify the necessity of spending billions of won of citizens' taxes to lease numerous external buildings, and the effectiveness of using external buildings remains unclear.

Currently, more than ten education office labor unions lease external buildings for office use, and notably, the Seoul branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (Jeongyojo) occupies an entire floor spanning several hundred pyeong in a building in Jongno-gu, supported by tens of billions of won in tax funding.

Unlike the council, which views Seoul citizens' taxes with gravity, Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon is seen as representing only the positions of groups like Jeongyojo, prompting the Seoul Metropolitan Council to express regret.

Regarding the ordinance to repeal ecological education, the council stated that it aims to enhance financial transparency and that related matters can be sufficiently addressed within the existing Environmental Education Activation Ordinance.

Chairman Kim Hyun-ki said, "It is deeply concerning that the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education habitually requests reconsideration of ordinances prepared by the council, the representative body of citizens, after sufficient review and discussion," and urged, "The Education Office should focus on its fundamental role of restoring collapsed educational authority and revitalizing public education."

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