Baek Jong-han, Gwangju Seo-gu Council Member, Calls for Improvement of Hearing Regulations

Baek Jong-han, a member of the Gwangju Seo-gu Council, stated on the 15th during a 5-minute free speech at the 310th extraordinary session plenary meeting that the hearing system should be improved to protect the rights and interests of district residents.

A hearing is a process in which an administrative agency informs the other party of the matter before administrative action, giving them an opportunity to assert their rights and interests.

Councilor Baek said, "The hearing procedure is an indispensable system to enhance fairness and transparency and to protect the rights and interests of district residents."

He continued, "Recently, the National Assembly expanded the scope of hearings and improved the hearing methods to protect the rights and interests of the people," and argued, "Excessive administrative actions not only worsen the economic situation of district residents but also may cause administrative resource waste," urging for prompt administrative improvements according to the Administrative Procedures Act.

In the current difficult economic environment, Councilor Baek proposed institutional improvements for citizen rights relief, including ▲expanding the selection scope of hearing moderators ▲forming a pool of hearing moderators ▲expanding the scope of hearings ▲selecting two or more hearing moderators in cases of specialized administrative actions.

Shin Dong-ho, Honam Reporting Headquarters, Asia Economy bless4ya@asiae.co.kr