Seoul Metropolitan Council Considers Including Administrative Deputy Mayors 1 and 2 in Confirmation Hearings

Administrative Deputy Mayors 1 & 2 and Political Deputy Mayor Considered for Inclusion in Confirmation Hearings for Heads of 26 Investment and Affiliated Institutions

The Seoul Metropolitan Council's Steering Committee (Chairman Park Hwan-hee, People Power Party, Nowon 2) held a public hearing on the enactment of the 'Seoul Metropolitan Council Personnel Hearing Ordinance' in the Steering Committee meeting room on the 25th.

This public hearing was organized to establish the basis for the personnel hearing procedures and operations of the Seoul Metropolitan Council following the revision of the Local Autonomy Act (March 21, 2023). The 'Seoul Metropolitan Council Personnel Hearing Ordinance' was proposed separately by Councilors Kim In-je and Choi Ho-jung, and the hearing was arranged to gather expert opinions in related fields at the council level.

The main contents of each ordinance include ▲the scope of personnel hearing targets ▲the composition and operation of the special personnel hearing committee ▲the openness of personnel hearings ▲recommendations for appointment withdrawal ▲imposition of fines, reflecting delegated matters from the law to ensure the efficient operation of personnel hearings.

Following the opening by Chairman Park Hwan-hee of the Steering Committee, statements and opinions were presented by Professor Kim Jung-kwon (Chung-Ang University Law School), Team Leader Jeon Jin-young (National Assembly Legislative Research Office, Political and Parliamentary Team), Manager Yoo Tae-dong (Ministry of Government Legislation, Local Ordinance Drafting Support Division), and Kang Seok, Financial Planning Officer (Seoul City).

The key statements included that defining the Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs as a personnel hearing target by ordinance exceeds the scope delegated by higher laws and is inappropriate; that further amendments to the Local Autonomy Act are necessary to enhance the effectiveness of personnel hearings; and that, considering the efficiency of hearing operations, the introduction of a dual system of special committees and standing committees as in the National Assembly's personnel hearing operation was proposed.

Subsequently, members of the Steering Committee engaged in Q&A, urging the expansion of personnel hearing targets and measures to enhance the effectiveness of personnel hearings to pre-verify the job performance ability and morality of deputy mayors and agency heads, thereby securing excellent talent.

Chairman Park Hwan-hee stated, “Personnel hearings are an important system that can strengthen the verification of expertise and morality of public office candidates, effectively check the executive branch, and contribute to the realization of local autonomy.” He added, “After in-depth discussions and reviews with Seoul City, we plan to prepare and submit alternatives at the Steering Committee meeting on September 14,” concluding the public hearing.

The 11th Council's first half Steering Committee is composed of Chairman Park Hwan-hee and councilors Kim Ji-hyang (People Power Party, Yeongdeungpo 4), Kim Gyu-nam (People Power Party, Songpa 1), Park Chun-seon (People Power Party, Gangdong 3), Shim Mi-kyung (People Power Party, Dongdaemun 2), Ok Jae-eun (People Power Party, Jung-gu 2), Lee Kyung-sook (People Power Party, Dobong 1), Choi Ho-jung (People Power Party, Seocho 4), Heo Hoon (People Power Party, Yangcheon 2), Choi Jae-ran (Democratic Party, Proportional), Kim Kyung (Democratic Party, Gangseo 1), Park Yoo-jin (Democratic Party, Eunpyeong 3), and Lee Byung-do (Democratic Party, Eunpyeong 2).

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