Lee Bong-rak, the 1st Vice Chairman (73, Michuhol-gu 3rd electoral district), was elected as the chairman of the 9th Incheon Metropolitan Council's first half, filling the vacancy caused by the controversy over the denigration of the May 18 Democratic Movement.
On the 5th, the city council held the 3rd plenary session of the 292nd extraordinary meeting and elected Vice Chairman Lee, a member of the People Power Party, as the new chairman.
Out of 40 council members, 33 attended and voted anonymously. Vice Chairman Lee received a total of 21 votes (12 invalid votes, 0 abstentions), exceeding the majority. His term as chairman will last until June 30, the remaining term of former Chairman Heo Sik.
Lee, a three-term member of the 5th to 7th Michuhol-gu Council in Incheon and former chairman of the 7th Michuhol-gu Council, entered the 9th Incheon Metropolitan Council and served as the 1st Vice Chairman in the first half.
Chairman Lee said, "I feel a heavy responsibility as I take on this important role during a critical time," and "I will start with a reformist attitude, respect the opinions of the council members, actively reflect them, and bring about revolutionary changes and reforms in council operations."
Earlier, the city council passed a vote of no confidence against former Chairman Heo on the 24th of last month, who distributed a special edition newspaper from a certain media outlet containing content denigrating the May 18 Democratic Movement to fellow council members.
Heo, who was a member of the People Power Party, left the party on the 7th of last month after the Incheon City Party Ethics Committee announced a meeting to discuss his disciplinary action related to the May 18 denigration controversy.
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