Kim Hyun-ki, Chairperson of Seoul Metropolitan Council, "Reestablished as the Final Decision-Maker of Council Policies Over the Past Two Years"

Seoul Metropolitan Council Holds the 324th Regular Session
Regular Session Held for 19 Days from June 10 to June 28, Processing 135 Proposed and Submitted Agendas
Last Regular Session of the 11th Council's First Half...Chairman Kim: "Wholehearted Efforts for Citizens' Happiness and Seoul's Rebound"
Only Two Youth Audience Members in the Past Two Years Criticized, Urging Improvement Due to Heavy Burden on Field Experience Schools and Teachers
Measures Against Poor School Meals and Lowest Teacher Satisfaction Pointing Out "Seoul Education Currently Trapped in a Sense of Defeat"
Thorough Follow-up on Traffic Broadcasting,

The Seoul Metropolitan Council (Chairman Kim Hyun-ki) will hold the 324th regular session for 19 days from June 10 to June 28, 2024.

During this regular session, a total of 135 agenda items, including the 2023 settlement of accounts and the 2024 supplementary budget proposal, will be reviewed and resolved.

First, Chairman Kim Hyun-ki shared his reflections on the past two years at the opening ceremony of the last regular session of the first half of the 11th Council.

Chairman Kim said, “We devoted ourselves wholeheartedly solely for the happiness of citizens and the re-leap of Seoul,” adding, “We led changes and reforms in city administration and educational administration, and boldly pursued the normalization of abnormalities, which is both the citizens’ demand and the spirit of the times.”

He continued, “Although there were various controversies, sharp confrontations, and conflicts, we engaged in heated debates on each issue, always placing citizens at the center and focusing on reflecting their will,” and said, “There were achievements, but unfinished tasks also remain. The important fact is the newly established outcome that the ‘final decision-maker of policies’ is not the head of the executive agency but the Seoul Metropolitan Council, the representative body of the citizens.”

Regarding educational administration, he pointed out that Seoul education is trapped in a swamp of defeatism. Chairman Kim said, “During the past two years, there were only two youth spectators in the council, whereas the 10th Council had 1,347 students attending despite a roughly three-year suspension of attendance due to COVID-19,” and added, “The fact that about 1,300 elementary, middle, and high school students have had no attendance in the council, a cradle of grassroots democracy, is because out-of-school experiential activities impose a heavy burden on schools and teachers.”

Chairman Kim said, “Currently, the Seoul education school field is filled with self-deprecation and cynicism that ‘there are no teachers teaching with passion, nor students eager to learn,’” and urged immediate administrative, legal, and financial institutional improvements, including council attendance and field learning.

Regarding the recent controversy over poor school meals in middle schools, he said, “This is a structural problem and a tragic scene of school meals caused by a chronic shortage of cooking staff,” and demanded thorough reflection and deep remorse on the timeliness of administrative response and handling, questioning why proactive measures were not taken earlier.

He also referred to a recent survey conducted by the Korea Teachers and Education Workers Union, urging a fundamental change in the superintendent’s perception to break away from specific ideologies and face reality so that teachers can focus on student education. The survey showed that only 19.7% of teachers would choose the teaching profession again, the lowest ever, and job satisfaction was also at a record low of 21%.

In particular, regarding the ‘Student Human Rights Act’ that the Seoul Superintendent of Education plans to legislate, opposition stood at 79.1%, overwhelmingly surpassing the 20.9% in favor, which he pointed out as the public sentiment and opinion.

Regarding Seoul city administration, Chairman Kim also requested thorough follow-up measures for the loss of effect of the Traffic Broadcasting Support Ordinance as of June 1. Seoul City announced this morning that it requested the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to revoke the designation of the investment and contribution institution, urging swift completion of privatization through cooperation with related government agencies.

Additionally, Chairman Kim cited the announcement of the metropolitan area living mobility big data analysis using commuting and school-going population big data as a very useful basic data for metropolitan transportation plans, urban planning, etc., and as an advanced example of Seoul’s smart administration.

Chairman Kim said, “The Seoul-type low birthrate overcoming model proposed by the council at the beginning of the year is now aligned with Seoul City’s recent announcement of low birthrate measures in the housing sector,” and urged, “Please speed up the abolition of income criteria and the expansion of supply in preferred areas through the release of the Greenbelt, which has become practically meaningless in use.”

Regarding the Seoul Mayor’s announcement of the ‘Sangam Re-creation Vision’ overseas in May, Chairman Kim asked for caution in unilaterally announcing it without sufficient prior discussion with the council and without collecting citizens’ opinions.

He especially criticized the half-price tuition system at Seoul Metropolitan University, which has been continuously declining in global university rankings, calling it a complete failure and urging immediate restoration and normalization measures without using the Higher Education Act as an excuse.

Seoul Metropolitan University was ranked within the top 500 in the QS rankings in 2012, but after the implementation of the half-price tuition, it fell to around 800 in 2022, 997 in 2023, and 1,167 in 2024, ranking among the lowest out of 1,505 universities overall.

Chairman Kim also requested strict application of the ‘three no principles’?no unnecessary or urgent use, unclear purpose, and unclear effect?in reviewing the 2023 settlement and supplementary budget proposals.

Finally, Chairman Kim said, “In soccer, the ‘half-time’ between the first and second halves is called the ‘miraculous 15 minutes,’” and added, “Now, at the turning point of the year and the 11th Council, this should be a ‘half-time’ for us as well, a 324th regular session to reflect on the original intention made when the council was inaugurated.”

He mentioned ‘Ilmodowon’ (日暮途遠, The day is ending but the road ahead is long), saying, “This exactly reflects my feelings. There is much to do but little time left, which is truly regrettable and disappointing,” and expressed his intention to complete unfinished tasks together with fellow council members.

This regular session will start with the opening ceremony on June 10, followed by two days of questions regarding Seoul city administration and educational administration from June 11. From June 13 to 18 and June 26 to 27, a total of six days will be spent reviewing agenda items of relevant offices, headquarters, and bureaus by standing committees. Then, from June 19 to 24, the Budget and Accounts Special Committee will operate for four days, and on June 25 and 28, two plenary sessions will be held to process various submitted agenda items. Notably, the plenary session on June 25 will include elections for the second half chairman and vice-chairman.

Opening Address

The Council is the Final Decision-Maker of Policy

Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council

Opening Address of the 324th Session

Respected citizens of Seoul!

Esteemed fellow council members!

Attending officials including the Mayor and Superintendent of Education!

Today, we begin the regular session marking the end of the ambitious first half of the 11th Council.

Over the past two years, we have devoted ourselves wholeheartedly solely for the happiness of citizens and the re-leap of Seoul.

We led changes and reforms in city administration and educational administration.

We boldly pursued the normalization of abnormalities, which is both the citizens’ demand and the spirit of the times.

Of course, there were various controversies, sharp confrontations, and conflicts.

The abolition of the Traffic Broadcasting Support Ordinance, the abolition of the Village Community Support Ordinance,

public discussion on the half-price tuition issue at Seoul Metropolitan University,

the sudden proposal of the Seoul-type low birthrate overcoming model,

the abolition of the Student Human Rights Ordinance, the enactment of the Rights and Responsibilities of School Members Ordinance,

the enactment of the Basic Academic Ability Evaluation Support Ordinance,

the nation’s first basic academic ability diagnostic evaluation focusing on literacy and numeracy,

on each issue, we engaged in heated debates, always placing citizens at the center

and focusing on reflecting their will.

Of course, there were achievements, but unfinished tasks also remain.

However, we never detoured from principles and the public good, nor feared criticism.

The important fact and noble lesson is that the ‘final decision-maker of policies’

is not the head of the executive agency but the Seoul Metropolitan Council, the representative body of the citizens, which we have newly established.

Fellow council members,

you may take great pride in this.

Today, I will first speak about Seoul education.

Council members and officials,

please briefly turn your heads and look at the gallery.

The gallery is empty.

I am a four-term council member and have been with the council for a long time.

In the past, group attendance by students never ceased.

The clear voices of elementary, middle, and high school students chattering before meetings

were a mirror reflecting the future and a refreshing tonic.

The chairman would joyfully announce,

“Students from such-and-such school in a certain council member’s district have come,” and council members and responding officials would attend the meeting sincerely and carefully in front of the students.

Field experience for students was a precious opportunity to nurture dreams and experience the operation of the community. It was a living field education of local autonomy.

Since the opening of the 11th Council two years ago, many plenary sessions have been held, but only two youth spectators have attended.

In contrast, the 10th Council had 1,347 students attending despite about a three-year suspension of attendance due to COVID-19.

What does it mean that about 1,300 elementary, middle, and high school students in Seoul have had no attendance in the council, a cradle of grassroots democracy, over the past two years?

It is because out-of-school experiential activities impose a heavy burden on schools and teachers.

Currently, the Seoul education school field is filled with self-deprecation and cynicism that “there are no teachers teaching with passion, nor students eager to learn.”

A representative example is experiential learning such as field trips.

Why has group attendance disappeared?

Because teachers avoid it due to the infinite responsibility imposed on them.

The Superintendent of Education is urged to immediately improve administrative, legal, and financial systems regarding field learning, including council attendance.

Recently, poor school meals in middle schools became controversial.

Parents and citizens were shocked to see the extremely poor state of meals during a critical growth period when children should be eating well and growing well.

This is not a problem of a specific school.

It is a structural problem and a tragic scene of school meals caused by a chronic shortage of cooking staff.

Thorough reflection and deep remorse on the timeliness of administrative response and handling are required regarding why proactive measures were insufficient.

The Education Office has allocated 5 billion KRW in the supplementary budget for improving school meal cooking environments.

Meanwhile, 134.9 billion KRW was allocated for the ‘Divet’ budget, which remains controversial among parents. Digital education is important.

However, providing quality meals to growing children is a more urgent necessity.

We urge proper policy review on what should be prioritized in schools.

<‘Would Choose Teaching Again’ Hits Record Low, Serious School Crisis>

According to a nationwide teacher survey conducted by the Korea Teachers and Education Workers Union on May 15, only 19.7% responded that they would choose the teaching profession again, the lowest ever.

This has sharply declined from 52.6% in 2016.

Job satisfaction was also at a record low of 21%.

In a 2006 survey 18 years ago, 67.8% responded they were satisfied, 3.2 times higher than now.

Schools are in a serious crisis. Seoul education is on the brink.

Meanwhile, opposition to the ‘Student Human Rights Act’ that the Seoul Superintendent of Education plans to legislate stood at 79.1%, overwhelmingly surpassing the 20.9% in favor. This is public sentiment and opinion.

We urge a fundamental change in the superintendent’s perception to correct Seoul education and allow teachers to focus on student education by breaking away from specific ideologies and facing reality.

Now, I will speak about city administration.

The Traffic Broadcasting Support Ordinance lost its effect as of June 1.

This is the demand of the citizens.

This morning, Seoul City requested the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to revoke the designation of the investment and contribution institution. This is an important start to privatization.

We urge swift completion through cooperation with related central government agencies.

The announcement of the metropolitan area living mobility big data analysis, which analyzes commuting and school-going population movements between specific times and regions,

is an advanced example of Seoul’s smart administration.

In particular, the number of population movements in the metropolitan area on weekdays, commuting time, and

average daily travel time related to daily life

are very useful basic data for metropolitan transportation plans, urban planning, and selection of candidate sites for living and cultural facilities.

We expect private sectors and academia to share this data and open new policy horizons.

Seoul City is also focusing investments in future industries, such as opening the Seoul AI Hub, which is a desirable measure.

On the other hand, despite having an optimal location, the Gaepo Digital Innovation Park is reportedly being operated in a way completely contrary to its establishment purpose. Fundamental improvements are urged.

On January 23, as Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, I held the first press briefing in 33 years since the council’s establishment,

presenting the ‘Seoul-type low birthrate overcoming model’ and strongly proposing the abolition of income criteria.

Citizens responded positively, and the media showed great interest.

During the general election, it was adopted as a pledge by a political party.

Seoul City is now aligned and promoting this direction.

This is policy alignment between the legislative and executive branches.

One in four young couples aged 25 to 39 has no children.

However, in Seoul, this rate exceeds 45%.

The main reason Seoul is particularly serious is the high housing burden.

It is very difficult for young couples to buy or rent a house.

In the opening speech of the last temporary session, I proposed that public rental housing provided by Seoul City be widely distributed in preferred areas for young couples.

Among the low birthrate measures in the housing sector announced by Seoul City on May 29,

public housing for newlyweds includes a highly preferred reconstruction complex in Gangdong-gu scheduled for occupancy by the end of this year.

Income criteria have also been greatly relaxed. This is a timely decision.

Thanks to the efforts of those involved.

Furthermore, in low birthrate housing measures, I urge the abolition of income criteria and the prompt expansion of supply in preferred areas through the release of the Greenbelt, which has become practically meaningless in use.

The Seoul Mayor announced the ‘Sangam Re-creation Vision’ overseas during a visit to Dubai in May.

Despite repeated requests from the council to reconsider such policy announcement methods, the behavior of ignoring the council again recurred.

It is unacceptable to unilaterally announce important and huge-budget projects overseas without sufficient prior discussion with the council and without collecting citizens’ opinions.

These are important projects that require legislation and budget approval.

If the projects fail, the damage will be directly passed on to the citizens.

In 2018, Mayor Park Won-soon announced the ‘Yeouido-Yongsan integrated development’ plan during an overseas tour, which only stimulated apartment prices in the area,

and eventually withdrew it, saying, ‘The project will be indefinitely postponed until housing prices stabilize.’

Now, citizens are fatigued by showy and immature policy announcements.

Please respect the council and be more cautious in policy announcements.

Recently, the global university ranking agency QS announced university rankings.

Seoul Metropolitan University, which receives massive financial support from Seoul City, was ranked within the top 500 in 2012.

However, after the implementation of the half-price tuition, it fell to around 800 in 2022, 997 in 2023, and 1,167 this year, ranking among the lowest out of 1,503 universities overall. It is a complete failure of policy.

Fundamental surgical reform is urgently needed.

In the current reality where tuition is a major source of revenue, the half-price tuition system, which causes financial deterioration of the university, must be immediately stopped and normalized.

The Higher Education Act should not be used as an excuse.

Full tuition is not a legal requirement.

Once the bargain sale period ends, the principle is to return to the normal price.

Restoration measures can be implemented immediately.

We strongly urge immediate improvement in the name of the citizens.

This regular session includes the review of the 2023 settlement and the first supplementary budget proposal for 2024.

Seoul City submitted a supplementary budget of 1.511 trillion KRW, and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education submitted 1.2881 trillion KRW.

The budget aims to revitalize the stagnant livelihood economy caused by high prices, high interest rates, and high exchange rates,

and to urgently improve projects such as school meal cooking environment improvements in the education field.

The council should actively cooperate but strictly apply the ‘three no principles’?no unnecessary or urgent use, unclear purpose, and unclear effect?when reviewing the supplementary budget.

Last year, the total cash debt of Seoul City and investment and contribution institutions was 21.7141 trillion KRW, and the total debt burdening future generations was 43.3992 trillion KRW.

The problem is that while Seoul City is repaying debt, the debt of investment and contribution institutions is increasing.

Management and supervision of investment and contribution institutions are urgently needed.

Respected council members!

Due to various issues such as the organization of the second half, there are concerns about decreased focus on bills.

I earnestly request your attention.

The taxes that citizens have worked hard to earn are the numbers written in the settlement and supplementary budget documents.

Do not see those numbers, whether in thousands or millions of won, as mere numbers, but feel the sweat of the citizens and the passion of entrepreneurs contained therein.

Carefully review the settlement to identify and improve problems, and review the supplementary budget to ensure that taxes are properly used in the right place at the right time.

That is our duty, right, and reason for existence.

A coach leading a 90-minute soccer game calls the ‘half-time’ between the first and second halves the ‘miraculous 15 minutes.’

Half-time is a time to catch one’s breath while reflecting on the first half, which was run without rest.

Now, at the turning point of the year,

and the turning point of the 11th Seoul Metropolitan Council, this is our half-time.

The 324th regular session should be a time to recall the original intention made when inaugurating the 11th Council.

Respected council members!

Ilmodowon (日暮途遠),

means the day is ending but the road ahead is long.

This exactly reflects my feelings.

There is much to do but little time left, which is truly regrettable and disappointing.

I will complete unfinished tasks together with fellow council members.

Thank you.

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