[Exclusive] Election of Kim Hyun-gi as Chairperson of Seoul Metropolitan Council (Comprehensive)

The 11th Seoul Metropolitan Council's First Half Chairman Elected: Kim Hyunki (4-term) of the People Power Party (Gangnam 3)... Vice Chairmen Elected: Nam Changjin (2-term) of the People Power Party and Woo Hyungchan (3-term) of the Democratic Party

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Kim Hyun-ki, Seoul City Councilor (Gangnam 3, People Power Party), has been elected as the Chairperson of the 11th Seoul City Council's first half term.

The Seoul City Council held the 309th extraordinary session's first plenary meeting at 2 p.m. on the 4th and elected four-term councilor Kim Hyun-ki as Chairperson.

Nam Chang-jin (Songpa 2) from the People Power Party and Woo Hyung-chan (Yangcheon 3) from the Democratic Party of Korea were elected as Vice Chairpersons, respectively.

Chairperson Kim was elected with 106 votes out of 110 cast. Vice Chairperson Nam received 104 votes out of 110, and Vice Chairperson Woo received 108 votes out of 110.

After his election, Chairperson Kim said, "I will operate the council based on principles and common sense," and emphasized, "I will clearly pursue dialogue and compromise." He also stressed communication by saying, "The council must first practice cooperative governance that considers the opposition party," and "My office is always open."

Immediately following the Chairperson and Vice Chairpersons' election, the opening ceremony was held, featuring the oath-taking of the 11th Seoul Metropolitan Council members, an inaugural address by Chairperson Kim Hyun-ki, and congratulatory speeches from the Mayor and Superintendent of Education.

Newly appointed Chairperson Kim Hyun-ki emphasized, "The 11th Seoul Metropolitan Council convened faster than any previous council and any metropolitan local council nationwide," adding, "This early convening is to swiftly transform the 11th council into a 'working council' and actively respond to the expectations shown by citizens in the recent local elections." He also expressed gratitude as Chairperson to People Power Party floor leader Choi Ho-jung and Democratic Party floor leader Jeong Jin-sul for their cooperation.

In his inaugural address, Chairperson Kim promised ▲ advancing a united Seoul ▲ reforming Seoul education for future generations ▲ leading Seoul city administration through the council.

To advance Seoul, he pledged to take a leading role in key city projects such as protecting socially vulnerable groups, establishing a delicate job creation system for youth, revitalizing neighborhood commercial districts, and promoting redevelopment and reconstruction to ensure stable housing supply. For Seoul education reform, he committed to reducing academic disparities by region and social class, raising basic academic skills, improving aging facilities, investing in new infrastructure, rationally allocating finances, and accelerating necessary educational legislative reforms to restore the true nature of Seoul education.

He also stated that the council will lead city administration by responding quickly and more actively to the appeals of young citizens and socially vulnerable groups, who are the future leaders of Seoul.

The 11th Seoul Metropolitan Council plans to begin full legislative activities once the organization of standing committee chair elections and other council formations are completed.

Inaugural Address

Respected ten million citizens of Seoul!

Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Superintendent of Education Cho Hee-yeon, and all related officials,

and fellow senior and colleague councilors,

I sincerely thank you for joining this meaningful occasion marking the launch of the 11th Seoul Metropolitan Council.

At the same time, as the representative institution of ten million citizens and the standard-bearer and eldest brother of local councils, I feel both great honor and heavy responsibility as Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council.

Nam Chang-jin, Vice Chairman

I pledge to the citizens that I will do my utmost as Chairperson solely for the safety and happiness of the citizens, the sustainable advancement of our Seoul, and the development of the council. I will work diligently.

Let me share the basic policy for the operation of the first half of the 11th council.

First, I will make Seoul move forward again.

This is not just my hope.

It is the unanimous wish of Seoul citizens confirmed in the June 1 local elections.

Because when Seoul advances, we can offer a bright and hopeful tomorrow to the next generation.

We know from past experience that during times when Seoul regressed, young people and citizens could not find proper jobs and cried out in despair and pain.

Seoul has long been a young and dynamic city.

However, now it is becoming a city where the younger generation leaves due to high housing costs and unemployment.

Soon, we may no longer be able to call it a city of ten million citizens.

This is a crisis.

Woo Hyeong-chan, Vice Chairman

Nevertheless, there was a backward movement in the previous Seoul city administration that betrayed the earnest expectations of the majority of citizens for a better Seoul.

The city council shamefully rode along with this regression at times.

The great choice of citizens expressed in every vote is that the 11th council, together with Seoul city, must boldly and decisively shake off the shackles and obstacles hindering Seoul's advancement.

The Seoul City Council has been entrusted with this duty.

We will clearly sever ties with groups opposing the overall interests of citizens in Seoul and its surroundings.

However, Seoul's advancement must never be the exclusive privilege of certain classes. It must be a Seoul where we live together and share together for that advancement to have value.

Our council will take a leading role in key Seoul city projects such as protecting socially vulnerable groups, establishing a delicate job creation system for youth, revitalizing neighborhood commercial districts, and promoting redevelopment and reconstruction to ensure stable housing supply.

We will also actively support central government policies for economic recovery at the council level.

Second, together with fellow councilors, we will vigorously pursue Seoul education reform.

Through this election process, we clearly confirmed that Seoul citizens have great concerns about today's Seoul education.

The support rate for the Superintendent of Education is regrettably below 40%. There are cases where a candidate for a basic local government head, who ran for a third term and whose party's mayoral candidate was significantly behind, won by a considerable margin.

We have witnessed that wise citizens are coldly evaluating past achievements.

Seoul citizens have issued a strong warning against the decline in academic achievement in current Seoul education, especially the poor basic academic skills which are fundamental human rights, school management led by specific individuals, and educational administration prioritizing certain areas over children's learning rights and teachers' educational rights.

My fellow councilors and I take this grave warning from citizens seriously and must become the agents of Seoul education reform.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education must clearly recognize that it stands at a crossroads: whether to join the council on the path of reform for our children and future Seoul education or to face harsh public criticism for clumsy inaction.

The council will accelerate rational financial allocation and necessary educational legislative reforms to reduce academic disparities by region and social class, raise basic academic skills, improve aging facilities, invest in new infrastructure, and restore the true nature of Seoul education.

Third, we aim to establish a council that leads Seoul city administration.

The role of the council should not be limited to merely checking the executive branch.

I am a councilist to the core. I have long experience working in the National Assembly and local councils.

Major city administration issues should be discussed broadly and deeply through plenary sessions, standing committees, and various meetings.

This approach aligns with the legislator's intent in the Local Autonomy Act, which defines the council as the body following residents.

If any Seoul city officials expect the 11th council to be a 'rubber stamp' like previous councils, I boldly ask you to correct that thought immediately.

For the council to lead city administration, it must continuously enhance its capabilities and always stay alert to properly hear citizens' voices.

When the council quickly responds and actively answers the appeals of young citizens and socially vulnerable groups, who are the future leaders of Seoul, citizens' expectations for the council will grow even more.

As Chairperson, I promise to support councilors to perform their best legislative activities.

We will organize council systems and closely communicate with councilors to ensure that citizens' earnest wishes are broadly reflected in city administration.

I always keep in mind, as a councilist, that the active legislative activities of each councilor are the most reliable guarantee for leading the 11th Seoul Metropolitan Council to success.

Respected citizens of Seoul!

I am grateful for our Seoul and love Seoul. I have always wished that Seoul's tomorrow will be better than today.

I proudly say that I have worked hard to contribute even a little to making a better Seoul.

I believe that the Seoul where our next generation will live must be a much brighter and more vibrant community than the Seoul we live in.

Seoul must rise again as a dynamic community and a globally competitive city. It must be a stage where young citizens can dream and realize hope.

After losing the election in 2018, I spent four years listening to the stories of ordinary people and residents, reflecting and studying.

I hung the famous phrase by Seosan Dae-sa, ‘踏雪野中去 不須胡亂行 今日我行跡 遂作後人程 (Tapseol Yajunggeo, Bulsuhoranhaeng, Geumil Ahengjeok, Sujak Huinjeong)’ in my office and pondered its meaning dozens, even hundreds of times.

I will take consistent and definite steps as Chairperson.

Advancing Seoul together with the vulnerable and youth,

reforming Seoul education for future generations,

and leading Seoul city administration through the council,

I will faithfully fulfill my duties as Chairperson.

Citizens will watch and sharply judge my and our council's actions.

I will work hard with councilors and be a Chairperson who is confidently evaluated.

Finally, I deeply thank the citizens of Seoul who allowed me and my 111 fellow councilors to stand in this precious position.

I will surely repay your support with achievements that enhance citizens' happiness.

Also, I thank everyone who joined the opening ceremony of the 11th Seoul Metropolitan Council. Thank you for listening.

July 4, 2022

Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, Kim Hyun-ki