The 9th Seocho District Council's 1 Year and 10 Months Since Inauguration... Numerous Ordinances Proposed to Support Seocho's Future Generations and Various Socially Vulnerable Groups
It has already been 1 year and 10 months since the 9th Seocho District Council opened. Amidst more active legislative activities than ever before, a total of 45 ordinances have been proposed by council members. Among the approved ordinances, a significant number focus on socially vulnerable groups such as youth and young adults who will be the future leaders of our society, as well as people with disabilities and the elderly.
Chairman Oh Se-cheol stated, “This is the result of continuous efforts to prioritize socially vulnerable groups whom the council, being closest to the residents, must care for first,” and added, “We will continue to do our best to listen to the diverse voices of residents and reflect them in ordinances.” Below is a summary of key contents organized by ordinance themes proposed by council members so far.
Ordinances for the Future of Seocho
First, regarding youth and young adult-related ordinances, there is the revised Seoul Special City Seocho District Ordinance on Support for the Independence of Children under Protection and Young Adults Preparing for Independence (proposed by Council Member Park Jae-hyung), which supplements existing ordinances, and the Seoul Special City Seocho District Ordinance on Support for Socially Isolated Youth (proposed by Council Member Shin Jeong-tae), enacted in September last year. These two ordinances were created to promote the independence of children and youth in need of social support and to establish the basis for implementing various projects required for their adaptation to society, while also creating conditions for them to grow into healthy members of society. Furthermore, to overcome the serious social issue of low birth rates, the Seoul Special City Seocho District Ordinance on Support for Overcoming Infertility (proposed by Council Member Oh Ji-hwan) was approved, providing legislative backing for infertility policies. Additionally, the Seoul Special City Seocho District Ordinance on Interest Support for Jeonse and Monthly Rent Deposits for Newlyweds and Youth (proposed by Council Member Lee Hyun-sook) was passed to alleviate housing cost burdens for young people and encourage the influx of younger generations into Seocho District.
Other notable ordinances include the Seoul Special City Seocho District Ordinance on Vehicle Operation Support for Reserve Forces Training Grounds (proposed by Council Member Kim Ji-hoon), which carefully addresses inconveniences experienced by the youth generation.
Ordinances for a Healthy Seocho for Everyone
With the approval of the Seoul Special City Seocho District Ordinance on Vaccination Support and Delegation (proposed by Council Members Oh Ji-hwan and Park Mi-jung), influenza vaccinations can now be supported for recipients under the National Basic Livelihood Security Act, severely disabled persons, and national veterans. Additionally, whooping cough vaccination coverage was expanded beyond infants and young children, who are mandatory recipients, to include expectant and postpartum mothers to protect the health of both mothers and babies. Furthermore, the ordinance established grounds to support shingles vaccination for recipients aged 65 and older and low-income groups, helping reduce the incidence of shingles among vulnerable elderly populations and easing their economic burden. The enactment of these ordinances has led to tangible results. For example, from August 1, 2023, when the ordinance was implemented, through the end of December 2023, a total of 1,875 people received free influenza vaccinations, 596 received whooping cough vaccinations, and 783 received shingles vaccinations in our district.
Ordinances for the Happiness of People with Disabilities and Non-Disabled People Together
Many ordinances related to people with disabilities have also been passed. Starting with the Seoul Special City Seocho District Ordinance on Support for Families of People with Disabilities (proposed by Council Member Ahn Jong-sook), which empathizes with the hardships of families of people with disabilities and establishes support systems, followed by the Seoul Special City Seocho District Ordinance on Closing the Information Gap for People with Disabilities and Their Caregivers (proposed by Council Member Ahn Byung-do), which aims to guarantee information accessibility for people with disabilities and their families who face difficulties accessing digital information, thereby reducing their information gap. Notably, both ordinances include provisions not only for people with disabilities but also for their caregiving families, adding meaningful support for their challenges.
Additionally, the Seoul Special City Seocho District Ordinance on Lifelong Education Support for People with Borderline Intellectual Functioning (proposed by Council Member Lee Eun-kyung) expanded the support target from those under 19 years old to all residents of Seocho District with borderline intellectual functioning. It includes provisions necessary for systematic lifelong education to help their independence and social participation.
Ordinances Embracing the Pain of Victims
Through the enactment of ordinances, protection for victims of socially pressing issues such as “digital sex crimes” and “workplace harassment” has been strengthened. The Seoul Special City Seocho District Ordinance on Prevention of Digital Sex Crimes and Support for Victims (proposed by Council Member Lee Hyun-sook) was created in response to the recent surge in digital sex crimes both online and offline, regulating prevention and victim support measures. Among the Gangnam 3 districts, the Seoul Special City Seocho District Ordinance on Prohibition of Workplace Harassment and Support for Victims (proposed by Council Member Kang Yeo-jung) was the first to be enacted. After its approval, a forum titled “Workplace Harassment and the Role of Local Governments” was held to discuss the ordinance’s effectiveness and practical implementation plans.
Most of the passed ordinances are significant in that they provide a basis for improving the quality of life for socially vulnerable groups and addressing various emerging social issues at the local government level. The Seocho District Council plans to continue legislative and financial efforts to minimize welfare blind spots for vulnerable groups and promote policies that meet the expectations of Seocho residents.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
