Kim In-ho, Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, Awarded the '2020 Outstanding Council Member Award for Completion of Capacity Building Training'

Four lawmakers including Yang Min-gyu (Democratic Party, Yeongdeungpo 4), Kim Jeong-tae (Democratic Party, Yeongdeungpo 2), Lim Jong-guk (Democratic Party, Jongno 2), and Kim Kyung (Democratic Party, Proportional) selected and awarded for contributing to the activation of the first systematically prepared 'Lawmakers Capacity Building Education Program' nationwide in 2020

From the left, Representative Yang Min-gyu, Representative Kim Kyung, Chairman Kim In-ho, Representative Lim Jong-guk

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Kim In-ho, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, selected and awarded four outstanding council members for completing the 2020 Council Member Capacity Building Training: Yang Min-gyu (The Democratic Party, Yeongdeungpo 4), Kim Jeong-tae (The Democratic Party, Yeongdeungpo 2), Lim Jong-guk (The Democratic Party, Jongno 2), and Kim Gyeong (The Democratic Party, Proportional Representation).

The award ceremony was held with a minimized number of attendees in compliance with COVID-19 response guidelines and social distancing measures.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council identified various training needs through two research projects on council member education conducted in 2018 and 2019, and developed a systematic and continuous job-related training program.

Based on this, in 2020, it operated the nation’s first capacity-building training program specifically for council members to support the professionalism of legislative activities.

Unlike basic training such as annual integrity education and violence prevention education, the capacity-building training program was designed as an in-house Seoul Metropolitan Council education program to strengthen council members’ practical skills and expertise for drafting and discovering region-specific policies. The program consisted of expert lectures by specialists in various fields, including domestic and international policy directions and case studies in legislative practice, along with in-depth Q&A sessions. It was conducted intensively over 8 sessions totaling 16 hours throughout October last year.

Due to COVID-19, the number of participants was limited to fewer than 30 people, but the program was simultaneously live-streamed on the ‘Seoul Metropolitan Council YouTube’ channel, allowing council members who could not attend in person to watch. Attending members praised the lectures as so beneficial that the time felt too short.

Chairperson Kim In-ho said, “Despite the very busy period last October with administrative audits and budget review preparations, I am truly proud of the council members who actively participated to create policies essential to citizens’ daily lives. Strengthening the capacity of each Seoul council member is the way to enhance the overall capability of the Seoul Metropolitan Council and will serve as the foundation for the development of local autonomy. We will actively support council member training activities with more diverse and in-depth educational programs in the future.”

Operations Committee Chairperson Kim Jeong-tae expressed gratitude and respect to the Seoul council members who tirelessly work for the development of Seoul and local councils and voluntarily participated in the month-long capacity-building program, contributing to legislative activities.