Emergency Budget Execution for Flood Recovery in Preparation for School Opening Schedules by School in Seoul

Emergency Measures 3+1 Agreement on Flood Damage Recovery and Current Issues Following Urgent Meeting Between Seoul City Council People Power Party and Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education... ▲Urgent Budget Execution for Flood Recovery in Preparation for School Opening Schedules ▲Reconducting Comprehensive Survey of Seoul Schools and Educational Facilities ▲Prompt Implementation of Improvements Based on Re-survey Results ▲Submission of Revised Supplementary Budget Proposal to Education Committee by 10th for Re-examination of Deferred Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Supplementary Budget

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] On the morning of the 11th at 11 a.m., the Seoul Metropolitan Council's People Power Party (Representative Assemblymen Choi Hojung, Seocho 4) held an emergency meeting with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education in the People Power Party meeting room and agreed on three urgent measures to support schools affected by floods in the Seoul area and to submit a revised proposal for the supplementary budget review.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, the flood damage status of schools in Seoul includes a total of 61 institutions: 1 school in Jungnang-gu, 1 school in Dobong-gu, 3 schools in Yangcheon-gu, 4 schools in Guro-gu, 4 schools in Geumcheon-gu, 2 schools in Yeongdeungpo-gu, 15 schools in Dongjak-gu, 16 schools in Gwanak-gu, 6 schools in Seocho-gu, 7 schools in Gangnam-gu, 1 school in Songpa-gu, as well as the Student Education Center and Dongjak-Gwanak Education Support Office.

With the second semester scheduled to start next week, both sides agreed that to minimize disruptions to academic operations, available budgets and administrative resources must be maximally utilized to promptly repair school facilities, leading to the preparation of urgent measures.

The 3+1 measures agreed upon by the Seoul Metropolitan Council's People Power Party and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education are as follows.

First, urgent execution of the budget for flood recovery.

Second, re-conducting a full survey of Seoul schools and educational facilities to prepare for climate change and other factors.

Third, rapid implementation of improvements based on the results of the full survey.

Additionally, to re-examine the 2022 supplementary budget proposal of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, which was previously withheld due to poor and complacent budget formulation, a revised proposal reflecting the opinions of the Seoul Metropolitan Education Committee and the Seoul Metropolitan Council will be submitted to the Education Committee by the end of the day.

Representative Assemblyman Choi Hojung of the People Power Party stated, “It has been confirmed that the difficulties at school sites due to this heavy rain, such as power outages, fence damage, and soil inflow, are severe. Although the Office of Education says there is no problem with the academic schedule, many schools visited by People Power Party assemblymen are judged to have difficulty meeting the opening date.” He added, “There is no ruling or opposition party in the education field. We will work closely with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education to do our best to guarantee students' right to education.”

The Seoul Metropolitan Council's People Power Party plans to continue cooperating with the Office of Education to ensure that the contents agreed upon in this emergency meeting are implemented without any setbacks.