Chairperson Choi Hojung Expands Scope... Meets Minister Lee Sangmin of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to Discuss Local Council Issues

On the 22nd, Explanation and Cooperation Request on Local Council Issues Including 'Policy Support Specialist System Improvement'

Choi Ho-jeong, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, is gradually expanding her scope.

On the 22nd, Chairperson Choi met with Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, to propose policies for the development of local councils.

Chairperson Choi stated, “For the current government’s local era to be fully realized, the local councils, one of the two pillars of local autonomy, must be able to properly fulfill their roles, and the system must be improved to suit the times,” adding, “Since the Ministry of the Interior and Safety can take the lead in many areas, I ask for active cooperation.”

The main proposals include ▲improving the system for policy support specialists (policy support officers) ▲establishing director-level positions (local government grade 2 and 3) in local councils ▲and improving systems to enhance the efficiency of local financial management.

Policy support officers are personnel who assist local council members in their legislative activities and were introduced in 2022 following amendments to the Local Autonomy Act. However, one support officer currently assists two council members, making smooth support difficult. Also, since they are hired as general fixed-term public officials, it is difficult 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 one 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 operating without intermediate levels. Currently, metropolitan councils operate under a grade 1 or 2 secretary-general without grade 2 or 3 directors, instead managed by grade 4 officers.

In this situation, for example, the Seoul Metropolitan Council’s single grade 1 secretary-general oversees all departments (19 divisions), causing limitations in smooth work supervision. Promotion to grade 4 is difficult, lowering staff morale.

Chairperson Choi requested an amendment to the “Regulations on Administrative Organization and Staffing Standards of Local Governments,” which restricts the establishment of council secretariats.

Additionally, she urged attention to amendments to the Local Education Finance Grant Act. The current law specifies transfer ratios, but the proposal would allow metropolitan local councils to set these ratios according to regional circumstances through ordinances.

Minister Lee Sang-min said, “One-third of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s work involves local autonomy, so we pay close attention to local autonomy and understand the difficulties well,” and added, “We will carefully review the areas that need improvement.”

Since taking office, Chairperson Choi has also proposed these matters to Assemblywoman Cho Eun-hee, the People Power Party’s whip on the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee.

In this way, Chairperson Choi is visiting the government through the National Assembly to propose increasing support officers for city council members and establishing new ranks in the city council secretariat.