When Will the Conflict in Seoul Jung-gu Council Be Resolved?...Chairman from People Power Party, Vice Chairman and 3 Standing Committee Chairs Held by Democratic Party

Seoul Jung-gu Council Operations Committee Chairperson Lee Jeong-mi and Administrative Health Committee Chairperson Song Jae-cheon Elected

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The Jung-gu Council of Seoul (Chairperson Gil Gi-young) held the election for standing committee chairpersons during the 3rd plenary session of the 272nd extraordinary meeting on August 30, electing Councilor Lee Jeong-mi as Chairperson of the Council Operations Committee and Councilor Song Jae-cheon as Chairperson of the Administration and Health Committee (both from the Democratic Party of Korea).

Previously, in July, the council completed the organization of the council during the 271st extraordinary meeting; however, the elected standing committee chairpersons from the People Power Party (Council Operations and Administration and Health) did not deliver acceptance speeches, leaving the chairperson positions vacant for nearly 50 days.

During this period, the council officially requested acceptance of the chairperson positions by sending official letters six times but received no response. Ultimately, at the 2nd plenary session of the 272nd extraordinary meeting held on August 29, it was officially announced that if no acceptance response was received by the start of the 3rd plenary session on the following day, August 30, the election for standing committee chairpersons would be conducted.

At the 3rd plenary session on the 30th, four People Power Party councilors left the plenary hall in protest against the council organization itself. As previously announced, the council proceeded with the election for standing committee chairpersons. Councilor Lee Jeong-mi was elected Chairperson of the Council Operations Committee with 4 out of 5 votes from attending councilors, and Councilor Song Jae-cheon was elected Chairperson of the Administration and Health Committee with 4 out of 5 votes from attending councilors.

As a result, the Jung-gu Council now has three positions held by the Democratic Party of Korea, including the vice-chairperson and two standing committee chairpersons, alongside Councilor Gil Gi-young from the People Power Party.

Due to a lack of quorum, the election for the vice-chairperson of the standing committee and the chairperson of the Ethics Special Committee could not proceed, and thus these elections were not submitted to the plenary session.

During the 272nd extraordinary meeting held that day, the following were passed: ▲ Change of agenda ▲ Election of standing committee chairpersons ▲ Resolution on the formation of the Ethics Special Committee ▲ Appointment of members to the Ethics Special Committee ▲ Request for attendance of related public officials.