Seoul City Council Elects Do Mun-yeol as Chair of Urban Planning Committee, Min Byeong-ju as Chair of Urban Housing Committee, and Kim Won-tae as Chair of Administration and Autonomy Committee

Seoul City Council Members Jonghwan Lee Elected Chair of Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee · Seungmi Lee Elected Chair of Education Committee

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] The Seoul Metropolitan Council held the 311th extraordinary session on the 15th and elected Assemblyman Domunyeol (People Power Party, Yeongdeungpo-gu District 3) as the chairman of the 11th Urban Planning Committee.

Chairman Domun-yeol

Chairman Domunyeol is a re-elected assemblyman from Yeongdeungpo-gu District 3, who previously served as the vice chairman of the Saenuri Party Seoul City Party and spokesperson for the People Power Party Seoul City Party, and was active as the vice chairman of the 9th Seoul Metropolitan Council Environment and Water Resources Committee.

Chairman Domunyeol stated, “Although Seoul promotes itself as a global advanced city, its urban competitiveness has fallen from 11th to 17th place, and financial competitiveness from 10th to 25th place over the past decade,” adding, “To restore Seoul’s diminished urban competitiveness and improve citizens’ quality of life, I will work to improve outdated urban planning regulations and seek policy support measures.” He also added, “In the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution and the era of low birthrate, aging, and low growth, I will cooperate with the executive branch to ensure that citizens’ opinions are actively reflected in the process of discovering and promoting life-oriented policies for Seoul’s sustainable development.”

Chairman Domunyeol expressed his ambition, saying, “For the next two years as the standing committee chairman, I will do my best to check and monitor the executive agencies, and rather than grand words, I will strive to produce results that citizens can feel.”

The Seoul Metropolitan Council held the 311th extraordinary session on the 15th and elected Assemblyman Min Byeongju (People Power Party, Jungnang-gu District 4) as the chairman who will lead the Urban Housing Committee for the next two years.

Chairman Min Byeong-ju

Chairman Min Byeongju is a re-elected assemblyman from Jungnang-gu District 4, who has served as a member of the 7th Seoul Metropolitan Council Construction Committee and Urban Management Committee, and as vice chairman of the Special Committee on Regional Balanced Development Support, possessing expertise and extensive legislative experience in Seoul’s urban planning and housing construction fields.

In his victory speech, Chairman Min said, “Due to the shortage of housing supply, housing prices and monthly rent prices have surged, increasing housing instability for Seoul citizens. Recently, the housing crisis has worsened due to overlapping issues such as changes in international affairs and household credit deterioration amid a high-interest rate trend,” adding, “I feel a heavy responsibility and mission in taking on the chairmanship of the Urban Housing Committee, which is in charge of the housing issues of ten million citizens in this urgent time.”

Regarding the committee’s operational direction, Chairman Min stated, “I will closely cooperate with Mayor Oh Se-hoon and accompany him in policy efforts for citizens, but I also plan to faithfully fulfill the council’s original role of checking and monitoring the executive branch,” and added, “I will focus on expanding housing supply to stabilize housing and balanced development between Gangnam and Gangbuk, and lead the committee by actively communicating with fellow members to contribute to improving the quality of life of Seoul citizens.”

Chairman Min plans to hold a standing committee meeting soon, appoint a vice chairman, and begin full-scale duties such as listening to executive branch reports.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council announced that Assemblyman Kim Wontae (People Power Party, Songpa 6) was elected as the chairman of the 11th Administrative Autonomy Committee for the first half of the term.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council held the 311th extraordinary session’s first plenary meeting on the 15th, electing the chairman of the Administrative Autonomy Committee and others, and deliberated on matters including the improvement of standing committee members.

Chairman Kim Wontae has extensive experience and expertise, having served as a member of the Administrative Autonomy Committee, Education and Culture Committee, Special Budget and Accounts Committee, and Ethics Special Committee during the 7th Seoul Metropolitan Council.

In particular, Chairman Kim is recognized for his leadership in communication and harmony, having served as vice chairman of the Administrative Autonomy Committee in the latter half of the 7th council, managing the committee rationally and smoothly, leading it as a model standing committee.

Chairman Kim Wontae said, “This local election reflects the stern voice of the people urging both the ruling and opposition parties not to be complacent but to ‘constantly change amid stability,’” adding, “I will listen to the voices of ten million Seoul citizens and make the council continuously evolving.”

He continued, “The Administrative Autonomy Committee is a pivotal standing committee among the 11 standing committees of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, overseeing 10 core executive offices including the Administration Bureau, Finance Bureau, and Lifelong Education Bureau,” emphasizing, “I will create a ‘strong council’ that faithfully performs its original mission of ‘checking and monitoring’ the executive branch within a rational and flexible relationship.”

Chairman Kim also added, “The 11th council faces new issues and many tasks entrusted by ten million Seoul citizens,” promising, “I will respond to the demands of Seoul citizens through vigorous activities within the council and the community, delivering results of ‘change amid stability.’”

Chairman Kim Wontae’s term is two years, and the 11th Administrative Autonomy Committee for the first half of the term consists of nine members including Chairman Kim Wontae, Koo Mi-kyung, Park Hwan-hee, Seo Ho-yeon, Song Kyung-taek, Ok Jae-eun, Park Soo-bin, Park Yoo-jin, and Song Jae-hyuk.

The Administrative Autonomy Committee will begin full-scale activities starting with its first standing committee meeting on July 18.

Assemblyman Lee Jonghwan (People Power Party, Gangbuk 1) was elected as the chairman of the 11th Seoul Metropolitan Council Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee at the 311th extraordinary session plenary meeting held on the 15th.

Chairman Lee Jong-hwan

Assemblyman Lee Jonghwan was elected as a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Council from Gangbuk-gu District 1 (Beonje 1 and 2-dong, Suyu 2 and 3-dong) in the by-election held last April and actively engaged in legislative activities as a member of the 10th Seoul Metropolitan Council Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee. Based on this, he is expected to fully demonstrate his capabilities as chairman of the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee.

After his election, Assemblyman Lee said, “First, I am grateful for being entrusted with this important role, and I will make it a principle to handle current issues by consensus rather than voting to respect minority opinions,” adding, “I will actively cooperate in reforming not only the media foundation TBS, which is currently embroiled in bias controversies, but also affiliated investment and foundation institutions that rely solely on Seoul city funds.”

He continued, “To become a ‘cultural and tourism city Seoul’ that the world pays attention to after the pandemic, I will support various policies to strengthen competitiveness and create jobs, contributing to urban development and improving citizens’ quality of life,” and expressed strong ambition, saying, “In the sports field, I will create a living sports ecosystem for ‘Seoul citizens running again’ and will not neglect elite sports.”

The Seoul Metropolitan Council held the 311th extraordinary session’s first plenary meeting on the 15th and elected Assemblywoman Lee Seungmi (Democratic Party, Seodaemun District 3) as the chairman of the 11th Education Committee for the first half of the term.

Chairperson Lee Seung-mi

Newly appointed Chairman Lee Seungmi has broad experience and expertise in Seoul city, the education office, and Seoul’s legislative affairs, having served as vice chairman of the 10th Seoul Metropolitan Council Transportation Committee and as a member of the Special Budget and Accounts Committee.

In regional activities, she has been recognized for her strong drive, having publicized the promotion of the establishment of the Gangbuk Transverse Line Nursing College Station and successfully completed the creation of the Hongjecheon Mulbit Road, demonstrating dense legislative activities.

In her victory speech, Chairman Lee said, “Considering the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on education recovery and the decline in school-age population, I feel a great and heavy responsibility in taking on this important role during difficult times,” adding, “I will devote myself fully to meet citizens’ expectations.”

She further stated, “The educational field we should aim for is a ‘school faithful to the basics’ where the passion for learning and teaching harmonizes,” and outlined the committee’s future operational direction, saying, “Based on the local council’s original role of checks and balances, I plan to actively seek roles and activities in nurturing digital talents and improving aging educational environments.”

Finally, Chairman Lee expressed her ambition, saying, “I will closely communicate with newly appointed Education Committee members and many senior and fellow assembly members to create a committee that leads Seoul education innovation based on creative policy alternatives.”