Seoul City Council Chair Choi Hojung Meets National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee Whip Jo Eunhee on the 4th to Explain Local Council Issues and Request Cooperation
Jo Eun-hee, a two-term member of the National Assembly and former Seocho District Mayor, met with Choi Ho-jung, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council from Seocho District.
On the 4th, Chairperson Choi held a meeting with Assemblywoman Jo Eun-hee, the People Power Party’s secretary of the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee, to discuss policy proposals for the development of local councils.
The meeting was interpreted as a courtesy visit and a policy proposal from the Seocho District-born Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council to Jo Eun-hee, the Seocho Gap National Assembly member.
Lee Seong-bae, the People Power Party’s representative member of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, also attended the meeting.
Chairperson Choi emphasized the need for active cooperation from the National Assembly to resolve local council issues and conveyed the “Key Policy Proposals for Local Councils” to Assemblywoman Jo Eun-hee.
The main proposals included ▲improvements to the policy support specialist (Policy Support Officer) system and ▲the establishment of director-level positions (local government grade 2 and 3) in local councils.
The Policy Support Officer system, introduced in 2022 following amendments to the Local Autonomy Act, provides personnel to support local council members’ legislative activities. However, one support officer currently assists two council members, causing difficulties in providing adequate support. Additionally, since these officers are hired as general fixed-term public officials, it is challenging to promptly replace them during leave or dismissal, and there are work restrictions due to obligations of political neutrality.
Accordingly, Chairperson Choi requested a legal amendment to change the ratio from one support officer per two council members to one support officer per council member and to allow hiring as appointed public officials instead of general fixed-term public officials.
The establishment of local government grade 2 and 3 positions aims to resolve organizational structure issues that are currently operating abnormally. At present, metropolitan councils operate under a grade 1 or 2 secretary-general without grade 2 or 3 directors, instead managed by grade 4 section chiefs.
In Seoul Metropolitan Council’s case, one grade 1 secretary-general oversees all departments (19 divisions), which limits effective management.
Moreover, the absence of higher positions above the section chief (grade 4) completely blocks promotion opportunities, lowering staff morale and making it difficult to attract talented personnel through personnel exchanges with the executive branch and other institutions.
Therefore, Chairperson Choi asked for active interest in amending the “Regulations on Administrative Organization and Staffing Standards of Local Governments,” which restrict the establishment of council secretariats.
Chairperson Choi stated, “To properly perform the role of local councils in checking and monitoring executive agencies, appropriate organizational structures and support personnel are essential. We ask for active cooperation so that local councils can work diligently and lead the development of local autonomy.”
Assemblywoman Jo Eun-hee pledged to examine the reasons why these proposals have not been realized so far and to act as a guide in the process.
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