"The essence of the council is to listen to and reflect the voices of citizens as closely as possible"
Efforts to incorporate diverse perspectives, including the socially disadvantaged, youth, and farmers, into policy
Im Dalhee, Chairperson of Gongju City Council in South Chungcheong Province, marks one year since taking office as chairperson for the latter half of the council's term. Guided by the conviction that "local councils are the democratic institutions closest to citizens' lives," Chairperson Im has led the council with "communication" as its core value.
In an interview with Asia Economy on May 9, Chairperson Im stated, "The essential role of the council is to listen to and reflect the voices of citizens as closely as possible." She continued, "I have made it a priority to visit sites ahead of anyone else to hear directly from people across various social groups, and to work with fellow council members to carry out legislative activities focused on public livelihood."
She further defined politics as "a matter of people," emphasizing that "no policy can succeed without communication."
Chairperson Im has focused on establishing structures to ensure that the voices of various citizens?including the socially disadvantaged, youth, farmers, and small business owners?are reflected in policy.
Among the council's major achievements last year, she cited the deliberation and resolution of a total of 167 agenda items through two regular sessions and five extraordinary sessions. These included 90 ordinances closely related to residents' daily lives and 77 various opinion statements and resolutions.
The formation of special committees to address local issues is also regarded as a significant accomplishment.
Practical steps were taken to resolve long-standing local aspirations, such as attracting the College of Medicine to Gongju National University, resuming intercity bus service between Yuguterminal and Seoul, and advancing the four-lane expansion of National Road No. 39.
Chairperson Im identified "population decline" as the most urgent issue facing Gongju City. She explained, "The outflow of young people is a serious crisis that erodes the city's vitality, and it requires comprehensive responses including jobs, housing, education, and cultural infrastructure." She stressed that "this is not solely the responsibility of the administration; the council must also deliberate and take action together."
Chairperson Im is also committed to realizing an "open council." By making meeting minutes and videos publicly accessible and holding briefings and policy forums, the council is expanding the foundation for citizen participation and trust.
Chairperson Im Dalhee emphasized, "True democracy is realized when citizens trust the council and repeatedly experience their voices being reflected in actual policies." She added, "I will do my utmost to communicate from the citizens' perspective and to make the council one that changes the lives of Gongju residents."
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