Gyeongju City Council Closes 296th Extraordinary Session... Addresses 13 Agenda Items Including ‘Post-APEC’ and Public Welfare Ordinances

Kim Donghae, Lim Hwal, and Park Kwangho Deliver Five-Minute Speeches on Forest Restoration and International Trade Strategies
Eight-Day Session Concludes... Chairman Lee Donghyup Urges Policy Implementation and Thorough Follow-Up Measures

The Gyeongju City Council (Chairman Lee Donghyup) concluded the 296th extraordinary session after eight days with the 2nd plenary meeting on March 18, 2026.

During this extraordinary session, a total of 13 agenda items were reviewed and resolved, including policy proposals to address regional issues and ordinance bills closely related to citizens’ daily lives.

Gyeongju City Council (Chairman Lee Donghyeop) concluded the 8-day schedule of the 296th Extraordinary Session on the 18th with the 2nd plenary session. Provided by Gyeongju City Council

During the five-minute free speech session held prior to the start of the plenary meeting, council members presented in-depth proposals for the future of Gyeongju.

Assemblyman Kim Donghae highlighted the severity of the damage to Songhwasan and Oknyeobong caused by pine wilt disease, urging the introduction of the “Gyeongju Model for Alternative Tree Species,” which would comprehensively manage the removal of infected trees and the conversion to alternative species.

Vice Chairman Lim Hwal proposed strategies to transform Gyeongju into an international trade hub city, suggesting the establishment of an “International Trade Task Force” and the creation of the “Gyeongju International Trade Hall” as key measures to connect the achievements of the 2025 APEC Summit to economic growth.

Park Kwangho, Chairman of the Culture City Committee, emphasized the importance of community cooperation to foster civic ownership and revitalize the local economy as a way to overcome urban crises such as population decline.

At the plenary meeting, 13 agenda items were handled, including six ordinance bills, three consent bills, two opinion-hearing bills, and two amendments to the public property management plan.

As a result of the review, the “Partial Amendment Ordinance on Gyeongju City’s Waterworks Source Charges” was approved with modifications after further review, while the remaining items were passed or adopted as originally proposed.

Notably, this session included several ordinances focused on public welfare, such as ▲support for industrial accident prevention and occupational safety and health, ▲prevention of noise between floors in apartment complexes, and ▲support for public transportation costs for children and adolescents.

Additionally, the first amendment for 2026 to the public property management plan, which centers on the acquisition of a temporary transfer parking lot for APEC and the construction of a one-stop cultural complex center in Hyeongok-myeon, passed smoothly, providing momentum for major priority projects.

In his closing remarks, Chairman Lee Donghyup expressed his gratitude to fellow council members for their efforts in reviewing the agenda, as well as to Mayor Joo Nakyoung and public officials for their cooperation, and called for thorough follow-up measures by the executive branch to ensure that the proposed policies lead to improvements in citizens’ quality of life.

Meanwhile, the 9th Gyeongju City Council plans to conclude its four-year official legislative activities with the 297th extraordinary session scheduled for June.

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