Muan County Council Proposes Improvements for County Administration in 'Organization, Legislation, and Agriculture'

Kim Won-jung "Dedicated Organization for Public Development Projects Must Be Established"
Lim Dong-hyun "Ensure Effectiveness of Ordinances to Revitalize Autonomous Legislation"
Lim Yoon-taek "Prepare Income Compensation Measures to Overcome Farm Crisis"

Members of the Muan County Council have initiated public discussions on various county administration issues through '5-minute free speeches.'

According to the county council on the 19th, during the first plenary session of the 2nd regular meeting of the 298th session held on the 18th, council members Kim Won-jung, Lim Dong-hyun, and Lim Yoon-taek delivered '5-minute speeches,' each proposing improvement measures in the areas of Muan County organization, legislation, and agriculture.

Kim Won-jung, a member of the Muan County Council, is delivering a 5-minute free speech. Photo by Muan County Council

The first to speak was Councilor Kim Won-jung, who presented a plan to establish a 'Dedicated Public Development Organization.'

Councilor Kim opened by saying, “Our county has achieved a sense of accomplishment by developing the Naman New Town, laying the groundwork for its leap as a hub city in the southwest region; however, the issue of profit distribution from the Naman district development remains a painful experience that is not easily forgotten.”

He continued, “In that process, there is a self-critical reflection on whether our county had prepared and implemented the optimal administrative and organizational measures to carry out large-scale public development projects,” pointing out, “If a specialized organizational system had been in place from the early stages, unnecessary disputes could have been prevented through clear negotiation strategies and coordination mechanisms,” explaining the necessity of a dedicated organization.

He added, “A dedicated organizational system can identify and manage various risk factors that may arise during the promotion of medium to large-scale development projects in advance, thereby enhancing project stability,” and argued, “Since there are scattered demands for public development projects such as the development of residential land in the Mangwol district, development around Muan International Airport station area, large-scale tourism and leisure complexes, and industrial complexes, the need and justification for establishing a dedicated organization are sufficient.”

Im Dong-hyun, a member of the Muan County Council, is delivering a 5-minute free speech. Photo by Muan County Council

Councilor Lim Dong-hyun proposed measures to secure the 'effectiveness of ordinances' to revitalize autonomous legislation.

Councilor Lim first stated, “Our county has seen a significant increase in the number of ordinances proposed each year due to diversified administrative demands such as overcoming the risk of regional extinction and securing future new growth engines,” adding, “However, the need for post-evaluation and management regarding the effectiveness, appropriateness, achievement of objectives, and similar or overlapping ordinances has also been consistently raised.”

He continued, “Among the 53 ordinances proposed by council members that involve budgets, 14 ordinances, accounting for 26%, have not been implemented with budgets, raising concerns about weakening the council’s inherent legislative authority,” urging, “The executive branch must work together so that the council, as partners looking in the same direction and running together, can revitalize its fundamental legislative functions.”

Finally, he emphasized, “There are quite a few ordinances where the responsibilities assigned and related projects are not implemented, as well as ordinances containing excessive regulations,” and stressed, “We need to devise a plan to introduce an ordinance legislative evaluation system to secure the effectiveness of ordinances and minimize inconvenience to county residents.”

Im Yuntaek, a member of the Muan County Council, is delivering a 5-minute free speech. Photo by Muan County Council

The last speaker, Councilor Lim Yoon-taek, spoke about measures to 'preserve farm income' to overcome the agricultural management crisis.

Councilor Lim diagnosed the current situation, saying, “In the current state where the voices of the agricultural field are thoroughly ignored to the point of near anarchy, the role of local governments in carefully embracing the pain of farmers is more important than anything else,” and added, “Although Muan County continues various efforts through building agricultural production bases and crop-specific policy projects, there seems to be some distance from the expectations of the county residents.”

He continued, “Our farmers are in a desperate situation where they suffer losses after paying water fees and rental fees, to the extent that they have to consider giving up rice farming,” and proposed, “The executive branch should break away from the existing passive stance of relying on government measures or market functions and respond to the farmers’ urgent needs with agricultural policies that make the existence of local governments felt.”

Councilor Lim concluded by stating, “Despite the annual collapse of various agricultural product prices, it is questionable whether the agricultural product price stabilization fund is even reviewed as a support target,” and pointed out, “Although there are grounds for implementation and resources, the agricultural product price stabilization fund is not functioning properly, so measures to secure its effectiveness must be prepared.”

Meanwhile, the proposals made through the 5-minute free speeches will be reviewed by the executive branch before the final decision on whether to draft them is made.