Lee Suk-ja, Chairperson of the Steering Committee, Holds Meeting with Chairperson of Gyeongsangnam-do Council Ahead of the 11th Second Half of the Korea Council of Steering Committee Chairpersons of Provincial Councils, Discussing Cooperation and Local Council Development Plans
Lee Suk-ja, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council's Steering Committee (People Power Party·Seocho 2), met with the Chairpersons of the Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Council's Steering Committee on the 1st at the Steering Committee meeting room.
This meeting was organized to promote exchange and cooperation between the Seoul Metropolitan Council and the Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Council ahead of the first half of the 11th Korea City and Provincial Council Steering Committee, and to share current issues for efficient legislative activities of local councils.
Attending the meeting were Chairperson Lee Suk-ja, Jeong Gyu-heon, Chairperson of the Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Council's Steering Committee (People Power Party·Changwon 9), Lee Jang-woo, Vice Chairperson of the Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Council's Steering Committee (People Power Party·Changwon 12), and eight officials from the Seoul Metropolitan Council and Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Council's Steering Committees.
At the meeting, Chairperson Lee Suk-ja stated, “Although we have consistently worked for the development of local councils, such as securing independence of personnel authority and establishing grounds for personnel hearings, there are still many challenges, including the enactment of the Local Council Act and the introduction of a system assigning one policy support officer per council member.” She proposed, “Let us review the issues raised through the City and Provincial Steering Committee and actively discover new agendas for the development of local councils and each local government.”
Jeong Gyu-heon, Chairperson of the Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Council's Steering Committee, said, “This visit to the Seoul Metropolitan Council was meaningful as we could agree on the need for institutional improvements, such as expanding the departments under the jurisdiction of the Steering Committee to include offices like the Mayor’s Secretariat, similar to Seoul, and increasing policy support officers.” He added, “The Steering Committee must play an important role in the operation of local councils, so let us continue exchanging diverse opinions related to council operations.”
In response, Chairperson Lee requested cooperation and solidarity, saying, “Let us create opportunities for exchange between local councils in the future and work together to strengthen the expertise of local councils and promote efficient legislative activities.”
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The 11th Korea City and Provincial Council Steering Committee is scheduled to begin its two-year activities starting with the regular meeting in August, following the election of the second half Steering Committee Chairpersons of city and provincial councils nationwide.
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