Controversy Over Postponement of Ordinance on Administrative Power Waste by Mapo District Office Executives, Ready to Resurface Anytime
Mayor Park Gang-su of Mapo District: “Let’s Stop the Exhausting Conflict and Take the Lead Together for Mapo’s Development and Residents’ Welfare Improvement”
The ordinance requiring prior notification to the council for events planned with over 100 residents, which sparked controversy, has ultimately been postponed.
At the 3rd closing session of the 261st Seoul Mapo District Council extraordinary meeting held on the 5th, the ordinance on notifying the council of major project plans in Mapo District was postponed following a roll-call vote proposed by the council chairman, resulting in 10 votes in favor from all Democratic Party members and 9 votes against from all People Power Party members.
However, since the postponed agenda can be reintroduced at any time, conflicts between the executive branch and the council remain.
Baek Nam-hwan, a People Power Party council member who opposed the postponement, stated during a procedural speech, “How can a matter that was carefully reviewed and passed in the standing committee suddenly change based on mood overnight? When the Administrative and Construction Committee opposed the ordinance citing its problems, all Democratic Party members voted in favor and passed it, but now they have suddenly changed their stance and voted unanimously for postponement. How do you think the residents will view our council?” He protested and all People Power Party members left the plenary hall.
The controversial ordinance was passed on March 30 in the Administrative and Construction Committee by a secret ballot with 5 votes in favor, 3 against, and 1 abstention, failing to reach unanimous agreement.
At that time, all five Democratic Party members of the nine-member Administrative and Construction Committee voted in favor, while among the four People Power Party members, three opposed and one abstained, according to reports.
The ordinance was proposed by Democratic Party members of the Seoul Mapo District Council and stipulates that project plans involving ▲construction projects costing over 50 million KRW ▲purchase of goods or service orders over 10 million KRW ▲events involving over 100 residents or costing over 10 million KRW ▲and other projects closely affecting residents’ lives or requested by the council must be immediately notified to the council once established.
The postponed ordinance was criticized for having an excessively broad, comprehensive, and vague scope. In particular, the clauses on ‘event plans involving over 100 residents’ and ‘other projects closely affecting residents’ lives or requested by the council’ could lead to unlimited prior data submissions depending on interpretation, raising concerns about massive administrative power waste.
Reviewing the document submission requests by the Mapo District Council from January 1 to April 4, 2023, it was confirmed that 298 requests were made over three months. Considering ordinance proposal reviews and individual department project reports, even more documents are likely routinely submitted to the council.
Moreover, as clarified by the Supreme Court precedent (Dec 11, 2001, Case 2001Chu64), the executive branch’s exclusive authority over policy decisions and budget execution should be subject to passive and retrospective intervention within the scope of checks and balances, not active prior involvement. Therefore, passing this ordinance could foresee legal disputes including authoritative interpretation.
Although the ordinance was postponed at the plenary closing session, seemingly calming the conflict between the executive and the council, tensions could arise again anytime.
An anonymous Mapo District official said, “The district council, as servants and representatives of the residents, has crossed the line under the guise of communication. It’s incomprehensible that it was postponed rather than rejected. Staff are already working night shifts handling civil complaints and welfare projects without rest; I hope this issue is resolved amicably so employees can work energetically for the residents.”
On April 4, representatives of labor unions from 25 autonomous districts under the Seoul Regional Headquarters of the National Public Officials Labor Union gathered at Mapo District Office plaza, holding a press conference condemning the Mapo District Council with slogans such as “Withdraw the ordinance that wastes administrative power, unjustly oversteps authority, and lowers the quality of resident administrative services.”
A public official union member A, who witnessed the plenary closing session on the 5th, said, “Seeing the Democratic Party vote in favor at the Administrative and Construction Committee but postpone at the plenary closing session, the majority party’s outrageous tyranny is no longer surprising. I suspect the postponement decision is not to eliminate the conflict seed between the executive and council but to restrain the executive branch and reintroduce the ordinance for approval after the controversy dies down.”
Basically, local councils have voting rights under the Local Autonomy Act without separate ordinance enactment, and possess various powers and sufficient means to check the executive branch, including document submission requests, administrative affairs audit and investigation rights, and administrative affairs reporting and Q&A rights.
Therefore, it is difficult to dismiss suspicions that the postponed ordinance was not intended for smooth communication between Mapo District and its council but rather a forced legislative push by the Democratic Party majority in the council to control the administrative agency.
It was confirmed that on March 31, Mapo District sent a letter titled ‘Notification of Cooperation Matters for Realizing Local Autonomy’ to the district council. The letter stated that requests for attendance of relevant officials and document submissions must be made by official documents, not verbally or by email, within deadlines stipulated by the Local Autonomy Act, indicating that what was previously done as a matter of council cooperation will now be handled in principle, suggesting future equal footing in work between the council and executive branch.
Kim Young-mi, chairperson of the Mapo District Council, said in closing remarks at the 261st extraordinary meeting, “The ordinance conclusion has not yet been reached, but the public officials’ union came to the plenary hall to protest, and the executive branch sent official letters, which seems to indicate a lack of informal communication. The legislative power of ordinances is an inherent right of the local council, and proposing this ordinance was the only way to overcome difficulties within the council’s authority. Please understand that it was never intended to check the mayor or increase public officials’ workload.”
In response, Park Gang-su, mayor of Mapo District, said, “Despite clearly stating at the start of the 2nd plenary session that we would actively communicate with the council, passing the ordinance in the Administrative and Construction Committee is not only an unnecessary confrontation between Mapo District and the council but also neglects the struggling local economy due to COVID-19. Although it is regrettable that the ordinance was postponed rather than rejected at the closing session, the Mapo District Council and executive branch, who represent residents and are responsible for their stable lives, should now stop the exhausting conflict and take the lead together in preparing policies for Mapo’s development and residents’ welfare improvement.”
Mapo District Operates ‘Han River Historical and Cultural Waterway Exploration’ Walking Jeoldusan and Riding Han River Cruise with a Guide
20 Sessions from the 11th to September... Participation Fee 10,000 KRW, Phone Registration Only
Mapo District (Mayor Park Gang-su) will operate the Han River Historical and Cultural Waterway Exploration program titled ‘Riding the Waves of Modernity’ starting from the 11th.
The Han River Historical and Cultural Waterway Exploration ‘Riding the Waves of Modernity’ is a cultural experience program consisting of a walking tour focusing on Yanghwa Naru and the Jangdu-bong site (Historic Site No. 399) and a cruise tour on the Han River.
The walking tour alternates between Jeoldusan Martyrs’ Shrine and Yanghwajin Foreign Missionary Cemetery for each session. Participants walk with a guide for about 50 minutes, listening to stories of modern and contemporary history, then move to the Jangdu-bong dock to board the cruise ship.
Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, who joined the Han River onboard inspection after the onboard talk show
The cruise tour consists of the ‘Han River West Course’ passing Danginri Power Plant and Bamseom Island towards Yanghwa Bridge, Seongsan Bridge, and Gayang Bridge, and the ‘Han River East Course’ circling Danginri Power Plant and Bamseom Island and visiting Wonhyo Bridge, Hangang Bridge, Dongjak Bridge, and Banpo Bridge. Only one course is conducted per session.
The program runs 20 times from the 11th through September, with sessions from 12:50 PM to 3:40 PM.
Those wishing to participate can register by phone through Culture & Road Cultural Heritage Utilization Research Institute, with a participation fee of 10,000 KRW. Preschool children accompanied by guardians are free.
Schedules may change due to weather or other reasons. For more details, check the Seoul Public Service Reservation website or contact Culture & Road Cultural Heritage Utilization Research Institute.
Park Gang-su, mayor of Mapo District, said, “The Han River Historical and Cultural Waterway Exploration is a unique experience program utilizing our district’s historical cultural assets, only available in Mapo. We ask for your interest so that we can nurture it as a representative tourism resource of Mapo by highlighting the value of our historical cultural heritage.”
Guro District Opens 3rd Recruitment for ‘Dojeon-suk’ Residents
Targeting Young Entrepreneurs... Recruiting 11 Units
April 11-14 Email Applications... Scheduled to Move In Second Half of the Year
Thinking of starting a business at ‘Dojeon-suk’?
Guro District (Mayor Moon Heon-il) is recruiting additional residents for ‘Dojeon-suk’.
‘Dojeon-suk’ was established to provide young entrepreneurs with affordable work and living spaces to support their independence and growth.
Located at 70 Gyeongin-ro, floors 6 and 7 of the rental housing are used as Dojeon-suk, with a total of 43 units. The first recruitment in 2021 admitted 16 units, the second in 2022 admitted 16 units, and this time 11 units are being recruited.
Applicants must meet all criteria as of the announcement date (March 27, 2023): single-person creative entrepreneurs, prospective entrepreneurs, (prospective) social entrepreneurs aged 19 to 39, residents of Seoul, members of single-person households without home ownership, and meet specified standards for urban worker average monthly income and assets.
Rental prices vary by unit size and income and asset criteria. The rental period is two years, with up to two extensions possible based on evaluations before contract expiration.
Applicants should submit required documents via email from April 11 to 14. Detailed information is available on the district office website.
Guro District plans to announce residents in July after document screening and income and asset verification.
A Guro District official said, “We hope this house supports the dreams of those who challenge themselves and helps them unfold their future. We will continue to promote various policies for youth.”
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