Seodaemun-gu "Cannot Trust Democratic Party Council Members... Will Execute Budget Normally"

Suspension of Quasi-Budget System, Continued Calls for Reconsideration
Execution of 786.5 Billion KRW Budget

Seodaemun-gu, Seoul (Mayor Lee Seong-heon) announced on the 10th that “it can no longer trust the Seodaemun-gu Council, which ignores damage to people’s livelihoods,” and “has decided to proceed with the normal execution of the 2025 budget amounting to 786.5 billion KRW from a magnanimous perspective.”

Exterior view of Seodaemun-gu Office building. The white building visible in the back is the Seodaemun-gu Council building. Provided by Seodaemun-gu.

Since the council, which did not pass this year’s budget, is refusing even to accept the legally mandated request for reconsideration, the district plans to take the strong measure of stopping the temporary quasi-budget system and executing the budget as determined by the district.

Seodaemun-gu explained that the longer the council delays reconsideration, the more welfare projects and other services will be delayed due to legal restrictions under the quasi-budget system, inevitably increasing inconvenience for residents.

Following the breakdown of bipartisan agreement and violation of laws during the council’s unilateral budget approval process on December 20 last year, the district made a total of six requests for reconsideration and urging reapproval against the council starting December 24, as well as four requests to convene temporary sessions (including two requests from ruling party council members).

The exercise of the right to request reconsideration is a lawful measure under Article 120 of the Local Autonomy Act. However, the council chairman has not convened meetings citing reasons such as staff shortages, and on February 10, notified the district that it would not hold even the 305th temporary session scheduled for a seven-day period.

This clearly violates Article 54, Paragraph 3 of the Local Autonomy Act, which states that “the chairperson of a local council must convene a temporary session within 15 days if the head of the local government or at least one-third of the council members request it.”

The district criticized, “We cannot trust the Democratic Party council members of the Seodaemun-gu Council who completely neglect their duty to prioritize residents’ welfare and safety and refuse to convene meetings altogether. The chairman is exercising unauthorized powers as if representing the entire council without consulting other council members.”

During the past 50 days of the council’s irresponsible stance, the district continuously urged the council to convene meetings and simultaneously activated an unprecedented preemptive disposition authority for an urgent livelihood budget of 29.8 billion KRW, striving to minimize damage to residents.

Mayor Lee Seong-heon stated, “The council’s failure to represent residents’ interests and its continued irresponsible attitude toward budget approval is a betrayal of the council’s fundamental duties entrusted by the residents. This decision to proceed with the ‘normal execution of the 2025 budget’ was made from a magnanimous standpoint.”

Despite achieving results and receiving high resident approval during the 8th elected term, Seodaemun-gu plans to continue demanding reconsideration from the council regarding the budget cuts to six major projects, which were reduced due to the party line of certain council members.