Sookja Lee, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council Steering Committee, Elected President of the Council of Steering Committee Chairs of Provincial and Metropolitan Councils

First Female Council President
"Committed to Enacting the Local Council Act and More"

The Seoul Metropolitan Council announced on August 25 that Sookja Lee, Chairperson of the Steering Committee (People Power Party, Seocho 2), was elected as the president of the Council of Steering Committee Chairs of Provincial and Metropolitan Councils of Korea for the latter half of the 11th term at a meeting held on August 21. Chairperson Lee is the first woman to assume this role since the official launch of the council.

Sookja Lee, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council Steering Committee. Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Council.

Chairperson Sookja Lee stated, "In order to realize resident autonomy and ensure responsible governance by local governments, it is essential to expand the authority of local councils and strengthen the policy capabilities of individual council members." She added, "I will actively address current issues such as securing independent budgetary and organizational authority for local councils, introducing a system of one policy support officer per council member, strengthening the authority to conduct personnel hearings, and enacting the Local Council Act."

She also emphasized her commitment to working closely with Hojung Choi, who was elected as the president of the Council of Chairpersons for the latter half of the 19th term on August 11, to lay the groundwork for the development of local councils and to actively carry out the role of the working committee.

Chairperson Lee will serve as co-president alongside Chunwoo Lee, Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Provincial Council, until the end of June next year. Together, they plan to lead efforts to strengthen the capabilities of local councils, expand exchanges, and propose a variety of important agenda items.

Meanwhile, the Council of Steering Committee Chairs of Provincial and Metropolitan Councils of Korea serves as the working committee for the national council of local assembly chairpersons. Its purpose is to promote the development of local autonomy and decentralization, improve legal and institutional frameworks related to the operation of local councils, and expand inter-council exchanges. The first meeting of the latter half of the 11th term will be held in Seoul next month.

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