Kim In-ho, Chair of Seoul Metropolitan Council, Will He Cooperate with Oh Se-hoon’s Seoul City Organization Restructuring Plan?

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon Requests City Council Approval for Organizational Restructuring Plan Reducing Urban Regeneration Functions... Demands Special Council Session This Month to Pass Plan... However, Opposition Grows Among First-Term Councilors Questioning Urgency Ahead of Regular Meeting on June 10, Drawing Attention to Outcome

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The Seoul Metropolitan Council (Chairman Kim In-ho) is deeply deliberating over the ordinance amendment issue for the first organizational restructuring since Mayor Oh Se-hoon's inauguration.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council is repeatedly discussing the convening of a 'one-point council session' requested by the Seoul Metropolitan Government for organizational restructuring.

Chairman Kim recently held a meeting with the standing committee chairpersons to gather opinions but reportedly did not reach any conclusion, stating, "Let's gather more opinions from the council members."

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is requesting the council to hold a one-day session within this month to review and approve the organizational restructuring plan.

However, it is reported that some first-term council members are opposing this, questioning the necessity of holding a separate one-day session when the regular session starts on June 10.

Meanwhile, the Planning and Economy Committee, the standing committee responsible for the ordinance amendment, is reportedly gaining traction for the idea of thoroughly discussing the matter first and then either convening the 'one-point council session' or handling it during the 'June regular session.'

Since Mayor Oh Se-hoon's inauguration, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has prepared an organizational restructuring plan that significantly reduces the urban regeneration organization established under former Mayor Park Won-soon and merges it with the Balanced Development Committee, and has requested this from the council.

Accordingly, Chairman Kim In-ho, who has consistently emphasized 'co-governance for Seoul citizens whenever possible' since Mayor Oh's first day in office and has spared no effort in cooperation, appears hesitant due to the perceived need for 'some degree of checks and balances' mainly from first-term council members.