Seoul City Council Elects Song Doho as Chair of Urban Safety and Construction Committee, Park Junghwa as Chair of Transportation Committee, and Lee Sukja as Chair of Planning and Economy Committee

[Seoul City Council News] Song Doho Chairman "Leading Seoul as a waterfront-centered innovative city through restoration of covered streams"... Park Junghwa Chairman "Resolving Seoul transportation issues alongside public transit recovery"... Lee Sukja Chairman "Contributing to the success of the 8th term Seoul administration as a policy council driving the executive branch"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] The Seoul Metropolitan Council held the 311th extraordinary session on the 15th to elect the chairpersons of the standing committees for the first half of the 11th Council and elected Councilor Song Do-ho (Democratic Party, Gwanak 1) as the Chairperson of the Urban Safety and Construction Committee.

In his acceptance speech, Chairperson Song said, “Rather than the joy of being elected, I feel a heavy responsibility to ensure the safety of 10 million Seoul citizens,” and presented several pledges as the committee chair.

He promised to transform urban expressways such as the Gyeongbu Expressway and Gangbyeonbuk-ro into people-centered roads through three-dimensional restructuring, and to promote balanced regional development by expanding arterial road networks including Eunpyeong Saegil, Isu-Gwacheon complex tunnel, and Dongbu arterial underground road. He also pledged to establish an integrated safety and health management system to prevent major disasters and to introduce smart safety management systems for infrastructure and construction sites using advanced technology.

Additionally, he stated plans to restore bleak covered streams such as Bongcheoncheon and Nokbeoncheon into ecological streams, turning them into urban waterways and wind corridors. He also aims to create waterfront cultural spaces centered around Dorimcheon, Jeongneungcheon, and Hongjecheon, leading the city into an innovative waterfront city where citizens can enjoy history, culture, and tourism from the streams.

Furthermore, he announced a significant expansion of Seoul-style disaster response special firefighting equipment for the future leap of Seoul Fire Department, as well as the construction of a joint fire station, modernization of firefighting training facilities and equipment, and the establishment of a smart firefighting safety information system.

Finally, expressing his determination to conduct dynamic, field-centered legislative activities, he emphasized his strong will to lead a communicative committee by embracing the principle of 以聽得心 (listening attentively to win hearts) as a chairperson from a minority party.

Chairperson Song previously served as a member of the 6th and 7th Gwanak District Council, holding positions such as Chairperson of the Special Budget and Accounts Committee and Chairperson of the Health and Welfare Committee in the latter half of the 7th Council. He also served as Vice Chairperson of the Transportation Committee in the 10th Seoul Metropolitan Council. As a re-elected member of the 10th and 11th Seoul Metropolitan Council and currently Vice Chairperson of the Democratic Party Policy Committee, he is known for his amicable and rational character and outstanding leadership, earning deep trust from local residents and fellow councilors.

During the 311th extraordinary session of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, Councilor Park Jung-hwa (People Power Party, Seongdong 1) was elected as Chairperson of the Transportation Committee for the first half of the 11th Seoul Metropolitan Council on July 15 (Friday).

Chairman Park Jung-hwa, Transportation Committee

Newly appointed Transportation Committee Chairperson Park Jung-hwa is a re-elected councilor with extensive experience and expertise in Seoul’s transportation, having served as a member of the 9th Seoul Metropolitan Council Transportation Committee, Vice Chairperson of the Special Committee for Personnel Hearings of Seoul Metro President Candidates, member of the Special Committee for Personnel Hearings of Seoul Facilities Management Corporation Chairman Candidates, member of the Special Committee for Personnel Hearings of Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation President Candidates, member of the Special Committee for Personnel Hearings of Seoul Transportation Corporation President Candidates, member of the Special Committee for Personnel Hearings of Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation President Candidates, and member of the Special Committee on Sinkhole Cause Investigation and Safety Measures.

Chairperson Park stated, “I will communicate and cooperate with the newly formed 11th Seoul Metropolitan Council Transportation Committee members to contribute to improving Seoul’s traffic safety and transportation welfare, striving to provide comfortable, safe, and beloved public transportation services to Seoul citizens.”

He also said, “Along with the recovery of public transportation amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, we will address current issues in Seoul’s transportation. We will make further efforts to provide practical transportation welfare by installing mobility convenience facilities such as escalators and elevators in subway stations for transportation-vulnerable groups, as well as expanding low-floor buses and disability call taxis.”

Furthermore, Chairperson Park expressed his ambition, saying, “To help Seoul, the capital of South Korea, become an advanced transportation city with international competitiveness, I will actively cooperate with the Seoul Metropolitan Government for policy development. At the same time, I will faithfully fulfill the council’s original role based on checks and balances, ensuring transparent and fair city administration and driving the incorporation of citizens’ valuable opinions into policy alternatives, thereby creating a Transportation Committee with strong momentum and practical action.”

Councilor Lee Sook-ja (People Power Party, Seocho 2), a re-elected councilor from Seocho District, was elected as Chairperson of the Planning and Economy Committee of the Seoul Metropolitan Council.

At the 311th extraordinary session held on July 15, Chairperson Lee was elected with overwhelming support from 106 fellow councilors.

Having served as Vice Chairperson of the Planning and Economy Committee in the 9th Seoul Metropolitan Council, Chairperson Lee has been recognized for pointing out issues in wasteful projects such as New Deal job programs and proposing realistic policy alternatives like export projects for domestic agricultural and marine products through Garak Market, demonstrating practical legislative activities.

Chairperson Lee expressed gratitude, saying, “I thank my senior and fellow councilors who have given their support and encouragement. In this severe situation where Seoul citizens are suffering from the double burden of interest rate hikes and price increases due to inflation concerns and global supply chain disruptions, I feel a heavy responsibility as the Chairperson overseeing Seoul’s finances and economy.”

She added, “I will not only perform the council’s fundamental roles of oversight and checks but also become a pacemaker leading the success of Seoul’s administration through field-centered committee management and continuous communication and cooperation with the executive branch. Together with fellow councilors, I plan to prioritize resolving the livelihood issues of 10 million Seoul citizens.”

The Planning and Economy Committee is a key standing committee overseeing the Planning and Coordination Office, which manages Seoul’s administrative direction, organization, staffing, budget, and finances; the Economic Policy Office, responsible for industrial promotion, corporate support, and job policies; and the Labor, Fair Trade, and Coexistence Policy Office, which handles labor and small business policies.

The 11th first half Planning and Economy Committee is composed of Chairperson Lee Sook-ja, along with Councilors Kim Dong-wook, Kim Ji-hyang, Shin Bok-ja, Lim Chun-dae, Jang Tae-yong, Choi Min-gyu, and Hong Guk-pyo (all from the People Power Party), and Councilors Kim In-je, Wang Jeong-soon, Lee Min-ok, and Lee Won-hyung (all from the Democratic Party). The committee plans to review the organizational restructuring plan of the 8th elected Seoul Metropolitan Government as its first agenda item after its launch.