‘Harmony of Boldness and Stability’ The Completely Changed 9th Gwangju Seo-gu Council

Active Legislative Activities Compared to the 8th Council: Ordinance Proposals and 5-Minute Speeches

Two Council Member Research Groups Formed: ‘Climate Action Seogu’ and ‘Value’

Excellent Communication and Cooperation Between First-Term and Veteran Members... Synergy 'Popping'

The 9th Gwangju Metropolitan City Seo-gu Council, which saw a large influx of first-term councilors through last year's local elections, is demonstrating active legislative activities to an extent that dispels early concerns.

With first-term councilors occupying 5 out of the total 13 seats, there were concerns that it might take time to establish smooth legislative activities, but within just one year of its inauguration, the council has confidently dispelled those worries.

According to the Seo-gu Council of Gwangju on the 31st, a total of 101 ordinances were proposed from July last year, when the term began, to June this year. This is a clear increase compared to the 88 ordinances proposed during the same period of the 8th council.

There were 51 five-minute speeches (22 in the 8th council), 12 resolutions (5 in the 8th council), and 11 proposals (5 in the 8th council), all showing an increase compared to the previous council. Of course, there are differences in circumstances between each council that make simple numerical comparisons limited, but the active and vigorous legislative activities are recognized by both the district office and council staff.

One public official said, "It's not that the 8th council did poorly, but the 9th council's activities are so active and vigorous that public officials are more exhausted," adding, "It seems that cooperation between first-term and multi-term councilors is also going well."

Two new voluntary study groups formed by councilors have also emerged. There were no study groups during the 8th council.

They are ‘Climate Action Seo-gu,’ focused on responding to the climate crisis, and ‘Value (WITH),’ which researches understanding local autonomy and legislative practices.

The Climate Action Seo-gu group was formed to develop practical response measures to the climate crisis in daily life and to research citizen-experienced policies. Councilor Ahn Hyeong-ju serves as the representative, Kim Hyeong-mi as the secretary, and members include Ko Gyeong-ae, Kim Su-young, Baek Jong-han, Oh Gwang-rok, Jeon Seung-il, Oh Mi-seop, Im Seong-hwa, and Yoon Jeong-min.

The Value group, aimed at strengthening councilors' autonomy capabilities and proposing proper alternatives for Seo-gu policies and major projects, is composed entirely of first-term councilors. Councilor Kim Gyun-ho serves as the representative, Oh Mi-seop as the secretary, and members include Ahn Hyeong-ju, Kim Hyeong-mi, and Im Seong-hwa.

Besides the Ethics Special Committee and the Budget and Accounts Special Committee, another committee with a different nature has been formed and is actively operating: the ‘Climate Crisis Response Special Committee.’

Again, the chairperson and vice-chairperson are first-term councilors Ahn Hyeong-ju and Oh Mi-seop, respectively, with members Kim Tae-jin, Kim Hyeong-mi, Oh Gwang-rok, Yoon Jeong-min, and Im Seong-hwa participating.

During the last 7th local government term, Seo-gu was the first among the five autonomous districts in Gwangju to declare ‘2045 Carbon Neutral Seo-gu,’ and multi-term and first-term councilors agreed on the need for continuous revision of related laws and the establishment of concrete alternative policies to achieve this goal, leading to the formation of this committee.

The reason this council has been able to become so active is analyzed as the synergy effect created by the combination of the passion and dynamism of first-term councilors with the stability and experience of multi-term councilors.

Ko Gyeong-ae, chairperson of the Seo-gu Council, said, "I believe that communication and cooperation between first-term and multi-term councilors are well established in this 9th council," adding, "The roles of re-elected councilors and first-term councilors harmonize well, pushing and pulling each other, which acts as the driving force to move in the right direction."

She continued, "The diligence and capability of the current first-term councilors in Seo-gu are second to none," and added, "If re-elected councilors continue to learn from first-term councilors, and vice versa, the synergy will work excellently."

Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shin Dong-ho yjm3070@asiae.co.kr

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