Kim Hyun-ki, Chairman of Seoul Metropolitan Council, "Cho Hee-yeon Superintendent's Disregard for Council is the Height of Absurdity"

Chairman Kim Hyun-ki: "Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon's Disregard for the Council Crosses the Line, an Unthinkable Act Shaking the Foundation of Local Autonomy"
On the 22nd, Clarifies Facts to Citizens Regarding Superintendent's Attendance at City Council... Attendance Possible Despite Leaving Early, Anti-Democratic Behavior and Challenge to the Council... Non-Partisan Superintendent Role Demands Greater Political Neutrality, Must Self-Reflect and Present Position to Citizens

On the 29th, Kim Hyun-gi, Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, clarified the facts to the citizens during the plenary session of the extraordinary meeting held on the same day regarding the attendance of the Superintendent of Education on the 22nd.

Chairman Kim sharply criticized Superintendent Jo Hee-yeon, who described the demand for council attendance as a "violent act that hinders Seoul's educational administration," saying, "The disregard for the council has crossed the line," and called it "an anti-democratic behavior and a challenge to the council, representing the height of absurdity that shakes the foundation of local autonomy."

Previously, Superintendent Jo Hee-yeon stated in a press release on the 22nd that the demand for attendance at the council on the day of the General Assembly of the Association of Superintendents of Education was a "violent act that hinders Seoul's educational administration."

In response, Chairman Kim took the floor for a five-minute free speech as a council member during the plenary session on the 29th.

Chairman Kim explained, "In local autonomy, it is mandatory for the head of the executive agency to attend the council," adding, "Attendance is a respect for the council as the representative body of the citizens and a duty of the head of the organization."

He continued, "Although it was possible to attend the council first and then participate in the Superintendent's meeting, Superintendent Jo requested not to attend," and revealed the situation at the time, saying, "I proposed not to allow absence and to request a leave of absence, but Superintendent Jo issued a press release calling it a violent act."

On the 22nd, the Association of Superintendents of Education held a lunch at a certain galbi restaurant in Sejong City at 12:40 p.m., a Bacchalaureate introduction agreement ceremony at 2:20 p.m., and the General Assembly at 3:00 p.m. The agreement ceremony was hosted by the Daegu Superintendent of Education and was attended directly by only five education offices, so Superintendent Jo's attendance was not mandatory.

Therefore, Superintendent Jo only needed to be in Sejong City by 3:00 p.m., and since the plenary session was scheduled to end by 12:40 p.m., it was fully possible to attend the Superintendent's meeting after the council's administrative questions.

Especially on that day, the Deputy Superintendent had an urgent central government meeting regarding the introduction of Neulbom School and was granted leave. Since it was difficult for both the Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent to be absent from the plenary session simultaneously, it was requested that the leave be taken after 11 a.m., considering travel time.

Chairman Kim said, "Nevertheless, Superintendent Jo insisted that the Superintendent's meeting was scheduled before the council's administrative questions and that he had to attend. I am appalled by this neglect of duty and find it pitiful and disgraceful that an education superintendent with such a level of awareness is in charge of Seoul's educational administration," and sternly warned, "The place Superintendent Jo should attend is the council plenary session with administrative questions, not a galbi restaurant."

Chairman Kim also stated, "If such a refusal decision is a violent act, I will continue to refuse a thousand and ten thousand times for the citizens and the council." He further pointed out, "The Superintendent is the one who requires political neutrality without party affiliation," and criticized, "Nevertheless, under the pretext of surveys, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has repeatedly distributed the survey contents of lawmakers belonging to specific political parties to hundreds of thousands of parents without filtering." He added, "It is the height of sophistry for the Superintendent, who has been negligent in political neutrality, to mention the Chairman's party affiliation while claiming neutrality," and strongly demanded self-restraint.

Finally, Chairman Kim asked, "I seriously question whether publicly expressing deep anger toward the council, saying 'the Seoul Metropolitan Council is caught in a vicious cycle where hostile factional logic continues to amplify,' is behavior befitting the 'world of coexistence' that the Superintendent aims for," urging the Superintendent to self-reflect and present a position before the citizens.

Kim Hyun-gi

Chairman of Seoul Metropolitan Council (People Power Party) Full Text of 5-Minute Free Speech at the Plenary Session on February 29

This is Chairman Kim Hyun-gi.

I would like to speak regarding attendance at the council.

In local autonomy, it is mandatory for the head of the executive agency to attend the council.

Attendance is a respect for the council as the representative body of the citizens and a duty of the head of the organization.

The council annually announces the schedule of meetings in advance to make attendance predictable, and on the first day of each session, it has resolved to request attendance from related officials such as the mayor and superintendent.

Nevertheless, on February 15, Superintendent Jo Hee-yeon requested absence on February 22, the day of administrative questions, citing attendance at the Superintendent's meeting as the reason.

I naturally disallowed it. Attendance at the council takes priority, and it was possible to attend the Superintendent's meeting after the council session due to the timing.

In response, the Superintendent issued a press release stating that the demand for attendance at the council on that day was a "violent act that hinders Seoul's educational administration." This is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

This is a clear declaration of war against the council and the height of absurdity that shakes the foundation of the local autonomy system.

To seek understanding from citizens and council members, I would like to briefly explain the facts.

The Association of Superintendents of Education meeting on February 22 was scheduled to start at 3 p.m. Before the event, there was a lunch at a galbi restaurant at 12:40 p.m. and a Bacchalaureate introduction agreement ceremony at 2:20 p.m.

In other words, Superintendent Jo had no problem attending the meeting in Sejong City by 3 p.m. Therefore, I disallowed the absence request.

Especially, the Bacchalaureate agreement ceremony was hosted by the Daegu Superintendent of Education, and only five out of 17 education offices attended. Superintendent Jo did not need to attend in person. The Chungnam Office of Education was represented by the Deputy Superintendent.

In other words, Superintendent Jo could have fulfilled the schedule by being in Sejong City by 3 p.m.

What is even more absurd is that the Superintendent argued that the Superintendent's meeting was scheduled before the council's administrative questions, so he had to attend.

This is a neglect of duty that leaves one speechless.

It is pitiful and disgraceful that an education superintendent with such a level of awareness is in charge of Seoul's educational administration.

I sternly warn that the place Superintendent Jo should attend is the council plenary session with administrative questions, not a galbi restaurant.

The Deputy Superintendent's leave that morning was permitted due to an urgent central government meeting regarding the introduction of Neulbom School.

I required that neither the Superintendent nor the Deputy Superintendent be absent from the plenary session, and considering travel time between Seoul and Sejong, requested leave only after 11 a.m.

The plenary session on the 22nd was scheduled to end at 12:40 p.m., and it ended exactly at that time. I also suggested prior consultation on this matter in the Chairman's office.

The Superintendent issued a press release calling this a violent act by the Chairman. If this refusal decision is a violent act, I will continue to refuse a thousand and ten thousand times for the citizens and the council.

This is a legitimate exercise of authority as the Chairman who must protect the council's powers.

The Superintendent's disregard for the council has crossed the line. It is an anti-democratic behavior and a challenge to the council. It is absolutely unacceptable.

The Superintendent claimed in a press release that the Chairman should give up party affiliation. The Chairman is a party member and a politician.

However, the Superintendent has no party affiliation. Political neutrality is even more required in this position.

Nevertheless, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has repeatedly distributed the survey contents of lawmakers belonging to specific political parties to hundreds of thousands of parents under the pretext of surveys.

It is the height of sophistry for the Superintendent, who has been negligent in political neutrality, to mention the Chairman's party affiliation while claiming neutrality. I strongly demand self-restraint.

Also, ignoring the beam in one's own eye, the Superintendent publicly expressed deep anger toward the council, saying, "The Seoul Metropolitan Council is caught in a vicious cycle where hostile factional logic continues to amplify." I seriously question whether this behavior fits the "world of coexistence" that the Superintendent aims for.

The Superintendent must immediately self-reflect and present a position before the citizens. Thank you.

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