"No Unauthorized Exit for Oh Se-hoon!"... Institutionalizing Respectful Attitudes of Seoul City Officials Toward the Assembly

Seoul Metropolitan Council Steering Committee Approves Partial Amendment to 'Seoul Metropolitan Council Basic Ordinance'...Chairperson May Order Suspension of Mayor's Unauthorized Remarks and Removal During Council Meetings

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The Seoul Metropolitan Council's Steering Committee (Chairman Kim Jeong-tae·photo) held the 4th meeting of the 303rd regular session on the 21st and passed a partial amendment to the Seoul Metropolitan Council Basic Ordinance.

The ordinance passed on this day reflects the amendments to the 'Local Autonomy Act' scheduled to take effect from January 13, 2022, by revising related provisions to enhance legal compliance, and also reorganizes regulations institutionalizing that officials such as the Mayor and Superintendent of Education respect the council.

According to the amended Article 52 of the Seoul Metropolitan Council Basic Ordinance, if officials such as the Mayor and Superintendent of Education speak in the plenary session or committee meetings without permission from the chairperson or committee chair, the chairperson or committee chair may order them to stop speaking or leave. Additionally, Article 60 of the same ordinance stipulates that the chairperson or committee chair may allow officials such as the Mayor and Superintendent of Education who have been ordered to leave to participate in the meeting after issuing an apology.

Kim Jeong-tae, Chairman of the Steering Committee, said, “In September, there was an unfortunate incident where Mayor Oh Se-hoon left the plenary session in protest against the questioning method during a city council member's inquiry. Accordingly, we amended related regulations to ensure that officials, including the Mayor, respect the council as representatives of the citizens when speaking in the council.” He added, “As the Seoul Metropolitan Council is the highest decision-making body that ultimately coordinates and agrees on all affairs of local administration, including general administration, educational administration, and autonomous police, we hope that the Mayor, Superintendent of Education, and related officials recognize and respect the authority of the council and cooperate to work for the citizens.”

The partial amendment to the Seoul Metropolitan Council Basic Ordinance, which was passed by the Steering Committee on this day, is scheduled to be enacted from January 13 next year after being approved by the plenary session in December.